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DISTRIBUTION OF ORGANIC CARBON IN A GLACIAL ESTUARY IN ALASKA 1
Author(s) -
Loder Theodore C.,
Hood Donald W.
Publication year - 1972
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.1972.17.3.0349
Subject(s) - particulates , estuary , inlet , glacial period , dissolved organic carbon , environmental science , total organic carbon , environmental chemistry , particulate organic carbon , organic matter , water column , hydrology (agriculture) , surface runoff , nitrogen , oceanography , chemistry , geology , nutrient , ecology , geomorphology , phytoplankton , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , biology
North Dawes Inlet, a small glacial estuary, was sampled for particulate organic carbon (POC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), particulate nitrogen (PN), and total particulate matter (PM). The POC in glacial runoff ranged from 0.24–1.24 mg/liter and DOC varied from 0.15–0.53 depending on the season and amount of local rainfall. Inlet waters ranged from 0.035–0.65 mg/liter of POC and 0.65–1.6 of DOC. Values of POC, PN, and PM decreased with depth in the top 20 m of the inlet and with distance from the mouth of the river. About half of the POC was deposited in the inlet; the remainder was carried out in suspension. During summer a biologically active layer just beneath the freshwater lens was characterized by high POC and DOC, low C: N ratios, and low PM. Adsorption or release of organic compounds by the glacial clays was not detected.