Deposition of Organic Matter and Particulate Nitrogen and Phosphorus at the North Sea-Baltic Sea Transition-A GIS Study

Sediment deposition in the North Sea-Baltic Sea transition area was studied using a geographical information system, a digital bathymetry model, available lead-210/cesium-137 sedimentation rate estimations, grain size distributions and other physical data, and resuspension potential calculations. Re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Oceanologia 2003-01, Vol.45 (2), p.283-303
Main Authors: Jansen, Ditte L, Lundqvist, Dorte P, Christiansen, Christian, Lund-Hansen, Lars C, Balstrom, Thomas, Leipe, Thomas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Baltic Sea
Brackish
Deposition
GIS
Marine
North Sea
Nutrients
Sediments
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Summary:Sediment deposition in the North Sea-Baltic Sea transition area was studied using a geographical information system, a digital bathymetry model, available lead-210/cesium-137 sedimentation rate estimations, grain size distributions and other physical data, and resuspension potential calculations. Results are extrapolated from 64 sampling stations. Sections of the study area were classified as accumulation or erosion/transport areas. Sediment distribution maps agreed well with model predictions, indicating that sediment distribution is determined largely by wind-induced waves. Spatial deposition rates were determined by correlation of sediment types, deposition rates, and the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contents. Yearly depositions in the study area total 2.8 million tons of organic matter, 0.14 million tons of total N, and 0.035 million tons of total P. Amounts that exist in the top 1 cm of sediment are estimated as well. Deeper areas tend to have low resuspension potentials and therefore act as a sink for finer-grained sediments and their associated nutrients.
ISSN:0078-3234