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Organic and Inorganic Matter in Louisiana Coastal Waters: Vermilion, Atchafalaya, Terrebonne, Barataria, and Mississippi Regions.
Citation:
SCHAEFFER, B. A., R. N. CONMY, J. R. AUKAMP, G. G. CRAVEN, AND E. J. FERER. Organic and Inorganic Matter in Louisiana Coastal Waters: Vermilion, Atchafalaya, Terrebonne, Barataria, and Mississippi Regions. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 62(2):415-422, (2011).
Impact/Purpose:
The aim of this project is to provide baseline data on organic matter within Louisiana state waters and estuaries that are not frequently sampled, which is of value to hypoxia-related studies in this region. In addition, this project will provide organic matter baselines prior to the Deep Water Horizon oil rig spill.
Description:
Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) spectral absorption, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration, and the particulate fraction of inorganic (PIM) and organic matter (POM) were measured in Louisiana coastal waters at Vermilion, Atchafalaya, Terrebonne, Barataria, and Mississippi River locations, in 2007-2008. The range of CDOM was 0.092 m-1 at Barataria in June 2008 to 11.225 at Mississippi in February 2008. An indicator of organic matter quality was predicted by the spectral slope of absorption coefficients from 350 to 412 nm which was between 0.0085 m-1 at Mississippi in May 2008 and 0.0261 m-1 at Barataria in June 2008. CDOM was the dominant component of light attenuation at Terrebonne and Barataria. Detritus and CDOM were the primary components of light attenuation at Vermilion, Atchafalaya, and Mississippi. DOC ranged between 65 and 1,235 mM. PIM ranged between 1.14 and 340.03 mg L-1 and POM was between 0.30 and 104.70 mg L-1.