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SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIATION OF CARBON IN THE PENSACOLA BAY SYSTEM
Citation:
Pasko, E M., J M. Macauley, AND J K. Summers. SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIATION OF CARBON IN THE PENSACOLA BAY SYSTEM. Presented at 15th Biennial International Estuarine Research Federation Conference, New Orleans, LA, September 25-30, 1999.
Description:
Carbon cycling is an important process in estuarine ecosystems, but is highly variable among systems. Precipitation is one of the driving factors of this cycle. Seasonal carbon concentrations were measured from 1997 through 1999 in Pensacola Bay and Santa Rosa Sound, Florida, located in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Concentrations (mg/L) of particulate organic carbon (POC) were determined using a Carlo Erba 1500 C:H:N: analyzer, and concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were measured with a Shimadzu TOC 5050. Spatial and temporal distribution of carbon were characterized within the system. Most recent data (1998) imply that carbon amounts vary seasonally in the system. The highest average DOC values were found in November, and the lowest in May. In contrast, POC had the highest average in August and lowest average in February. The possible sources of the carbon will be examined through a comparison of the particulate and dissolved components in the adjacent bayous. Preliminary comparisons of the carbon data suggest that the amount and type of carbon varies depending on location within the system and may be influenced by precipitation.