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Voltammetry: An In Situ Tool to Monitor the Health of Ecosystems
Author(s) -
Ma Shufen,
Luther George W.,
Scarborough Robert W.,
Mensinger Michael G.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
electroanalysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1521-4109
pISSN - 1040-0397
DOI - 10.1002/elan.200703910
Subject(s) - water column , in situ , environmental science , stratification (seeds) , water quality , environmental chemistry , salinity , oceanography , surface water , circulator , chemistry , environmental engineering , ecology , geology , germination , botany , organic chemistry , dormancy , biology , seed dormancy , electronic engineering , engineering
A solid‐state Au/Hg voltammetric microelectrode was used to monitor the development of seasonal anoxia in Delaware coastal bays which have deep holes with stratification. Since fish kills and harmful algal blooms have occurred over the years here, water circulators were installed in October 2003 to improve water quality. We conducted in situ determination of temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved O 2 and H 2 S to document the circulators' function which was evaluated by comparing in situ data obtained before and after their installation. Stratification at both sites was similar in 2004 to that in previous years. Furthermore, the circulators did not oxygenate the water column but did bring some H 2 S to the surface waters. We found that O 2 concentrations in the surface waters and H 2 S concentrations in the bottom waters were similar in different years. Thus, the H 2 S conditions were not abated and water quality was still a problem.