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NUTRIENTS AND CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER 1, 2
Author(s) -
Park P. Kilho,
Catalfomo Magdalena,
Webster George R.,
Reid Barry H.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1970.15.1.0070
Subject(s) - nitrate , carbon dioxide , alkalinity , environmental chemistry , total inorganic carbon , salinity , bicarbonate , silicate , environmental science , phosphate , estuary , chemistry , oceanography , geology , organic chemistry
During 1966, 1.8 × 10 14 liters of water; 8.3 × 10 7 , 2.1 × 10 9 , and 2.7 × 10 10 moles of phosphate, nitrate, and reactive silicate; 1.9 × 10 11 equivalents of alkalinity; and 1.9 × 10 11 moles of total carbon dioxide passed through Clatskanie, 87 km above the mouth of the Columbia River into the Astoria estuary and the Pacific Ocean. Along the main stream, phosphate, nitrate, and silicate concentrations show a definite seasonal change; their maxima occur in winter and minima in summer. On‐stream primary production greatly affects the formation of the summer minima. At Clatskanie, the nitrate: phosphate ratio is 3:1 during summer months and over 19:1 at other seasons. Bicarbonate ion is the major dissolved carbon dioxide species in the entire Columbia River system, where water pH measured at 20C ranges from 6.63 to 8.68. The major portion of the river system is undersaturated with respect to calcite solubility. Along the main stream, the river is supersaturated with respect to the atmospheric carbon dioxide pressure of 320 ppm.