1
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Conmy RN, Hall A, Sundaravadivelu D, Schaeffer BA, Murray AR. Fluorescence-estimated oil concentration (F oil) in the Deepwater Horizon subsea oil plume. Mar Pollut Bull 2022; 180:113808. [PMID: 35688067 PMCID: PMC9972361 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Tracking the subsea oil plume during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (DWH) was conducted using in situ fluorescence via vertical profilers (n = 1157) and discrete sample chemical analyses (n = 7665). During monitoring efforts, discrete samples provided a coarse picture of the oil plume footprint, but the majority of the samples were below standard analytical detection limits for petroleum hydrocarbons. In situ fluorescence data improved the spatial and temporal resolution of the subsea oil plume characterization. Here we synthesized millions of continuous fluorescence data points from hundreds of contemporaneously discrete samples collected to demonstrate how fluorescence could serve as a proxy for Benzene-Toluene-Ethylbenzene-Xylene (BTEX) concentration. Data mined from Gulf Science Data repository were well correlated, and geographically and temporally aligned to provide direct comparisons. Described here are the methods used to calibrate the fluorescence data and to spatially approximate the three-dimensional geographic extent of the oil plume.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn N Conmy
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 26 Martin Luther King Drive West, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA.
| | - Alexander Hall
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 26 Martin Luther King Drive West, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA.
| | | | - Blake A Schaeffer
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Durham, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Andrew R Murray
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 26 Martin Luther King Drive West, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA.
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2
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Abstract
A newly developed water sampling system enables autonomous detection and sampling of underwater oil plumes. The Midwater Oil Sampler collects multiple 1-L samples of seawater when preset criteria are met. The sampler has a hydrocarbon-free sample path and can be configured with several modules of six glass sample bottles. In August 2019, the sampler was deployed on an autonomous underwater vehicle and captured targeted water samples in natural oil seeps offshore Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amy L. Kukulya
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
| | | | - Robyn N. Conmy
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | | | - Lisa DiPinto
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
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3
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Solo-Gabriele HM, Fiddaman T, Mauritzen C, Ainsworth C, Abramson DM, Berenshtein I, Chassignet EP, Chen SS, Conmy RN, Court CD, Dewar WK, Farrington JW, Feldman MG, Ferguson AC, Fetherston-Resch E, French-McCay D, Hale C, He R, Kourafalou VH, Lee K, Liu Y, Masi M, Maung-Douglass ES, Morey SL, Murawski SA, Paris CB, Perlin N, Pulster EL, Quigg A, Reed DJ, Ruzicka JJ, Sandifer PA, Shepherd JG, Singer BH, Stukel MR, Sutton TT, Weisberg RH, Wiesenburg D, Wilson CA, Wilson M, Wowk KM, Yanoff C, Yoskowitz D. Towards integrated modeling of the long-term impacts of oil spills. Mar Policy 2021; 131:1-18. [PMID: 37850151 PMCID: PMC10581399 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2021.104554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Although great progress has been made to advance the scientific understanding of oil spills, tools for integrated assessment modeling of the long-term impacts on ecosystems, socioeconomics and human health are lacking. The objective of this study was to develop a conceptual framework that could be used to answer stakeholder questions about oil spill impacts and to identify knowledge gaps and future integration priorities. The framework was initially separated into four knowledge domains (ocean environment, biological ecosystems, socioeconomics, and human health) whose interactions were explored by gathering stakeholder questions through public engagement, assimilating expert input about existing models, and consolidating information through a system dynamics approach. This synthesis resulted in a causal loop diagram from which the interconnectivity of the system could be visualized. Results of this analysis indicate that the system naturally separates into two tiers, ocean environment and biological ecosystems versus socioeconomics and human health. As a result, ocean environment and ecosystem models could be used to provide input to explore human health and socioeconomic variables in hypothetical scenarios. At decadal-plus time scales, the analysis emphasized that human domains influence the natural domains through changes in oil-spill related laws and regulations. Although data gaps were identified in all four model domains, the socioeconomics and human health domains are the least established. Considerable future work is needed to address research gaps and to create fully coupled quantitative integrative assessment models that can be used in strategic decision-making that will optimize recoveries from future large oil spills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena M. Solo-Gabriele
- Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
| | | | - Cecilie Mauritzen
- Department of Climate, Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Oslo, Norway
| | - Cameron Ainsworth
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
| | - David M. Abramson
- School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Igal Berenshtein
- Department of Ocean Sciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA
- Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA
| | - Eric P. Chassignet
- Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Shuyi S. Chen
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Robyn N. Conmy
- Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Christa D. Court
- Food and Resource Economics Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - William K. Dewar
- Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Geophysique de l’Environnement, French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), Grenoble, France 38000, and Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | | | - Michael G. Feldman
- Consortium for Ocean Leadership, Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, Washington, DC 20005, USA
| | - Alesia C. Ferguson
- Built Environment Department, College of Science and Technology, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
| | | | | | - Christine Hale
- Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, USA
| | - Ruoying He
- Dept. of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Vassiliki H. Kourafalou
- Department of Ocean Sciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA
| | - Kenneth Lee
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ecosystem Science, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0E6, Canada
| | - Yonggang Liu
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
| | - Michelle Masi
- Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Galveston, TX 77551, USA
| | | | - Steven L. Morey
- School of the Environment, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Tallahassee, FL 32307, USA
| | - Steven A. Murawski
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
| | - Claire B. Paris
- Department of Ocean Sciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA
| | - Natalie Perlin
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA
| | - Erin L. Pulster
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
| | - Antonietta Quigg
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77553, USA
| | - Denise J. Reed
- Pontchartrain Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of New Orleans, 2000 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans, LA 70148, USA
| | - James J. Ruzicka
- Cooperative Institute for Marine Resources Studies, Oregon State University, Newport, OR 97365, USA
| | - Paul A. Sandifer
- Center for Coastal Environmental and Human Health, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC 29424, USA
| | - John G. Shepherd
- School of Ocean & Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Burton H. Singer
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Michael R. Stukel
- Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
| | - Tracey T. Sutton
- Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center, Halmos College of Arts and Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, FL 33004, USA
| | - Robert H. Weisberg
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
| | - Denis Wiesenburg
- School of Ocean Science and Engineering, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | | | - Monica Wilson
- Florida Sea Grant, University of Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
| | - Kateryna M. Wowk
- Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, USA
| | - Callan Yanoff
- Consortium for Ocean Leadership, Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, Washington, DC 20005, USA
| | - David Yoskowitz
- Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, USA
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4
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El Serafy GY, Schaeffer BA, Neely MB, Spinosa A, Odermatt D, Weathers KC, Baracchini T, Bouffard D, Carvalho L, Conmy RN, De Keukelaere L, Hunter PD, Jamet C, Joehnk KD, Johnston JM, Knudby A, Minaudo C, Pahlevan N, Reusen I, Rose KC, Schalles J, Tzortziou M. Integrating Inland and Coastal Water Quality Data for Actionable Knowledge. Remote Sens (Basel) 2021; 13:1-24. [PMID: 36817948 PMCID: PMC9933521 DOI: 10.3390/rs13152899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Water quality measures for inland and coastal waters are available as discrete samples from professional and volunteer water quality monitoring programs and higher-frequency, near-continuous data from automated in situ sensors. Water quality parameters also are estimated from model outputs and remote sensing. The integration of these data, via data assimilation, can result in a more holistic characterization of these highly dynamic ecosystems, and consequently improve water resource management. It is becoming common to see combinations of these data applied to answer relevant scientific questions. Yet, methods for scaling water quality data across regions and beyond, to provide actionable knowledge for stakeholders, have emerged only recently, particularly with the availability of satellite data now providing global coverage at high spatial resolution. In this paper, data sources and existing data integration frameworks are reviewed to give an overview of the present status and identify the gaps in existing frameworks. We propose an integration framework to provide information to user communities through the the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) AquaWatch Initiative. This aims to develop and build the global capacity and utility of water quality data, products, and information to support equitable and inclusive access for water resource management, policy and decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghada Y.H. El Serafy
- Deltares, Boussinesqweg 1, 2629 HV Delft, The Netherlands
- Delft Institute of Applied Mathematics, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 5, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands
- Correspondence:
| | - Blake A. Schaeffer
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC 20460, USA
| | - Merrie-Beth Neely
- Global Science & Technology, 7855 Walker Drive, Suite 200, Greenbelt, MD 20770, USA
| | - Anna Spinosa
- Deltares, Boussinesqweg 1, 2629 HV Delft, The Netherlands
- Delft Institute of Applied Mathematics, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 5, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel Odermatt
- EAWAG, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | | | - Theo Baracchini
- EAWAG, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
- School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ecole Polytechinque Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Damien Bouffard
- EAWAG, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 6047 Kastanienbaum, Switzerland
| | | | - Robyn N. Conmy
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC 20460, USA
| | | | - Peter D. Hunter
- Earth and Planetary Observation Science (EPOS), Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, FK9 4LA Stirling, UK
| | - Cédric Jamet
- Univ. Littoral Cote d’Opale, Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8187, LOG, Laboratoire d’Océanologie et de Géosciences, F 62930 Wimereux, France
| | - Klaus D. Joehnk
- CSIRO Land and Water, Clunies Ross Street, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
| | - John M. Johnston
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC 20460, USA
| | - Anders Knudby
- Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics, University of Ottawa, 60 University, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Camille Minaudo
- School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ecole Polytechinque Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nima Pahlevan
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
- Science Systems and Applications, Inc., 10210 Greenbelt Road, Lanham, MD 20706, USA
| | - Ils Reusen
- VITO Remote Sensing, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - Kevin C. Rose
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180, USA
| | - John Schalles
- Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Maria Tzortziou
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
- The City College of New York, City University of New York, New York, NY 10003, USA
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5
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Barron MG, Moso EM, Conmy RN, Meyer P, Sundaravadivelu D. Toxicity of sediment oiled with diluted bitumens to freshwater and estuarine amphipods. Mar Pollut Bull 2021; 163:111941. [PMID: 33348288 PMCID: PMC8201642 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
To address knowledge gaps and the lack of benchmarks on the toxicity of dilbit oiled sediments, weathered Cold Lake Blend (CLB) and Western Canadian Select (WCS) were assessed in 10-day sediment tests with the amphipods Hyalella azteca and Leptocheirus plumulosus. Lowest observed effect concentrations (LOECs) and 20% effect levels (EC20s) were determined for wet weight sediment concentrations of TPH and total PAHs normalized to 1% organic carbon. LOECs and EC20s for TPH ranged from 216 to 1165 mg/kg sediment in H. azteca, and from 64 to 75 mg/kg sediment in L. plumulosus. Dilbit LOECs and EC20s for total PAHs ranged from 2.9 to 11.8 mg/kg sediment in H. azteca, and from 0.75 to 0.87 mg/kg in L. plumulosus. Comparison of toxicity-based benchmarks derived from the current study to sediment concentrations from past spills indicate that dilbit spills in aquatic habitats may pose substantial risks to freshwater and estuarine benthic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- M G Barron
- Office of Research & Development, U.S. EPA, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561, USA.
| | - E M Moso
- Office of Research & Development, U.S. EPA, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561, USA
| | - R N Conmy
- Office of Research & Development, U.S. EPA, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - P Meyer
- Hydrosphere Research, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
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6
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Barron MG, Bejarano AC, Conmy RN, Sundaravadivelu D, Meyer P. Toxicity of oil spill response agents and crude oils to five aquatic test species. Mar Pollut Bull 2020; 153:110954. [PMID: 32056858 PMCID: PMC7425839 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.110954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The majority of aquatic toxicity data for petroleum products has been limited to a few intensively studied crude oils and Corexit chemical dispersants, and acute toxicity testing in two standard estuarine test species: mysids (Americamysis bahia) and inland silversides (Menidia beryllina). This study compared the toxicity of two chemical dispersants commonly stock piled for spill response (Corexit EC9500A®, Finasol®OSR 52), three less studied agents (Accell Clean®DWD dispersant; CytoSol® surface washing agent; Gelco200® solidifier), and three crude oils differing in hydrocarbon composition (Dorado, Endicott, Alaska North Slope). Consistent with listings on the U.S. National Contingency Plan Product Schedule, general rank order toxicity was greatest for dispersants and lowest for the solidifier. The results indicate that freshwater species can have similar sensitivity as the conventionally tested mysids and silversides, and that the sea urchin (Arbacia punctulata) appears to be a reasonable addition to increase taxa diversity in standardized oil agent testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mace G Barron
- Office of Research & Development, U.S. EPA, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561, USA.
| | | | - Robyn N Conmy
- Office of Research & Development, U.S. EPA, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | | | - Peter Meyer
- Hydrosphere Research, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
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7
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Deshpande RS, Sundaravadivelu D, Techtmann S, Conmy RN, Santo Domingo JW, Campo P. Microbial degradation of Cold Lake Blend and Western Canadian select dilbits by freshwater enrichments. J Hazard Mater 2018; 352:111-120. [PMID: 29602070 PMCID: PMC6754826 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2018.03.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Revised: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Treatability experiments were conducted to determine the biodegradation of diluted bitumen (dilbit) at 5 and 25 °C for 72 and 60 days, respectively. Microbial consortia obtained from the Kalamazoo River Enbridge Energy spill site were enriched on dilbit at both 5 (cryo) and 25 (meso) ºC. On every sampling day, triplicates were sacrificed and residual hydrocarbon concentrations (alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) were determined by GCMS/MS. The composition and relative abundance of different bacterial groups were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis. While some physicochemical differences were observed between the two dilbits, their biodegradation profiles were similar. The rates and extent of degradation were greater at 25 °C. Both consortia metabolized 99.9% of alkanes; however, the meso consortium was more effective at removing aromatics than the cryo consortium (97.5 vs 70%). Known hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria were present in both consortia (Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus, Hydrogenophaga, Parvibaculum, Arthrobacter, Acidovorax), although their relative abundances depended on the temperatures at which they were enriched. Regardless of the dilbit type, the microbial community structure significantly changed as a response to the diminishing hydrocarbon load. Our results demonstrate that dilbit can be effectively degraded by autochthonous microbial consortia from sites with recent exposure to dilbit contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruta S Deshpande
- Pegasus Technical Services Inc., 46 E Hollister Street, Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA
| | - Devi Sundaravadivelu
- Pegasus Technical Services Inc., 46 E Hollister Street, Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA
| | - Stephen Techtmann
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA
| | - Robyn N Conmy
- U.S. EPA, 26 W. MLK Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | | | - Pablo Campo
- Cranfield Water Science Institute, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UK.
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8
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Ward CP, Armstrong CJ, Conmy RN, French-McCay DP, Reddy CM. Photochemical oxidation reduced the efficacy of aerial dispersants applied in response to the Deepwater Horizon spill. Environ Sci Technol Lett 2018; 5:226-231. [PMID: 32462041 PMCID: PMC7252568 DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.8b00084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Chemical dispersants are one of many tools used to mitigate the overall environmental impact of oil spills. In principle, dispersants break up floating oil into small droplets that disperse into the water column where they are subject to multiple fate and transport processes. The effectiveness of dispersants typically decreases as oil weathers in the environment. This decrease in effectiveness is often attributed to evaporation and emulsification, with the contribution of photochemical weathering assumed to be negligible. Here, we aim to test this assumption using Macondo well oil released during the Deepwater Horizon spill as a case study. Our results indicate that the effects of photochemical weathering on Deepwater Horizon oil properties and dispersant effectiveness can greatly outweigh the effects of evaporative weathering. The decrease in dispersant effectiveness after light exposure was principally driven by the decreased solubility of photo-oxidized crude oil residues in the solvent system that comprises COREXIT EC9500A. Kinetic modeling combined with geospatial analysis demonstrated that a considerable fraction of aerial applications targeting Deepwater Horizon surface oil had low dispersant effectiveness. Collectively, the results of this study challenge the paradigm that photochemical weathering has a negligible impact on the effectiveness of oil spill response and provide critical insights into the "window of opportunity" to apply chemical dispersants in response to oil spills in sunlit waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Collin P. Ward
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA
| | - Cassia J. Armstrong
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA
| | - Robyn N. Conmy
- National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Office of
Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH,
45268, USA
| | | | - Christopher M. Reddy
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA
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9
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Barron MG, Conmy RN, Holder EL, Meyer P, Wilson GJ, Principe VE, Willming MM. Toxicity of Cold Lake Blend and Western Canadian Select dilbits to standard aquatic test species. Chemosphere 2018; 191:1-6. [PMID: 29020608 PMCID: PMC6016379 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Revised: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Dilbits are blends of bitumen and natural gas condensates or crude oils with only limited toxicity data. Two dilbits, Cold Lake Blend and Western Canadian Select, were tested as either unweathered or weathered oils for acute and chronic toxicity to standard freshwater and estuarine organisms. Water accommodated fractions of the dilbits were characterized for total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and monoaromatics (BTEX). Acute toxicity of unweathered and weathered dilbits ranged from 4 to 16 mg/L TPH, 8 to 40 μg/L total PAHs, and 0.7 to 16 mg/L BTEX in Ceriodaphnia dubia, Pimephales promelas, Americamysis bahia, and Menidia beryllina. Concentrations of weathered dilbits causing impaired growth (A. bahia) and reproduction (C. dubia) ranged from 0.8 to 3.5 mg/L TPH and 6 to 16 μg/L PAHs. The two dilbits had generally similar acute and short term chronic toxicity expressed as TPH or total PAHs as other crude oils and other petroleum products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mace G Barron
- Gulf Ecology Division, U.S. EPA, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561, USA.
| | - Robyn N Conmy
- Land Remediation and Pollution Control Division, U.S. EPA, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | | | - Peter Meyer
- Hydrosphere Research, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
| | - Gregory J Wilson
- Office of Emergency Management, U.S. EPA, Washington, DC 20460, USA
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10
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Schaeffer BA, Bailey SW, Conmy RN, Galvin M, Ignatius AR, Johnston JM, Keith DJ, Lunetta RS, Parmar R, Stumpf RP, Urquhart EA, Werdell PJ, Wolfe K. Mobile device application for monitoring cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms using Sentinel-3 satellite Ocean and Land Colour Instruments. Environ Model Softw 2018; 109:93-103. [PMID: 31595145 PMCID: PMC6781247 DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2018.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHAB) cause human and ecological health problems in lakes worldwide. The timely distribution of satellite-derived cyanoHAB data is necessary for adaptive water quality management and for targeted deployment of water quality monitoring resources. Software platforms that permit timely, useful, and cost-effective delivery of information from satellites are required to help managers respond to cyanoHABs. The Cyanobacteria Assessment Network (CyAN) mobile device application (app) uses data from the European Space Agency Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI) in near realtime to make initial water quality assessments and quickly alert managers to potential problems and emerging threats related to cyanobacteria. App functionality and satellite data were validated with 25 state health advisories issued in 2017. The CyAN app provides water quality managers with a user-friendly platform that reduces the complexities associated with accessing satellite data to allow fast, efficient, initial assessments across lakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blake A. Schaeffer
- National Exposure Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Sean W. Bailey
- Ocean Ecology Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - Robyn N. Conmy
- National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, 45268, USA
| | - Michael Galvin
- National Exposure Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, GA, 30605, USA
| | - Amber R. Ignatius
- University of North Georgia, Institute for Environmental and Spatial Analysis, Oakwood, GA, 30566, USA
| | - John M. Johnston
- National Exposure Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, GA, 30605, USA
| | - Darryl J. Keith
- National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, RI, 02882, USA
| | - Ross S. Lunetta
- National Exposure Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Rajbir Parmar
- National Exposure Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, GA, 30605, USA
| | - Richard P. Stumpf
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Erin A. Urquhart
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Engineering (ORISE), National Exposure Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, GA, 30605, USA
| | - P. Jeremy Werdell
- Ocean Ecology Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - Kurt Wolfe
- National Exposure Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, GA, 30605, USA
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11
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Deshpande RS, Sundaravadivelu D, Campo P, SantoDomingo JW, Conmy RN. Comparative Study on Rate of Biodegradation of Diluted Bitumen and Conventional Oil in Fresh Water. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.7901/2169-3358-2017.1.2256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Abstract 2017-271
In recent years, diluted bitumen (or dilbit) has become an important source of hydrocarbon-based fuel. While information on the degradation of crude oils has been well researched, dilbit degradation has been studied at a much lesser extent. The objective of this study was to compare biodegradation of dilbit with a conventional crude oil (CCO) under various conditions. Two different microcosm experiments were set up, one containing a mixed culture acclimated to dilbit (Kalamazoo River Enrichment, KRC) and the other having a mixed culture enriched on soil contaminated with hydrocarbons (Anderson Ferry Enrichment, AFC). The microcosms were run for 60 d at 25 °C and for 72 days at 5 °C in flasks containing sterile Bushnell Hass broth and naturally dispersed oil. Each flask was inoculated with the KRC and AFC mixed cultures, and rotated on an orbital shaker (200 rpm) at the above stated temperatures. On each sampling day, triplicates were sacrificed to determine the residual hydrocarbon concentration. Additionally, some samples were used to determine the bacterial composition using 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis. Hydrocarbon analysis (alkanes and PAHs) was performed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS). Higher degradation rates were achieved at 25 °C as compared to 5 °C. All the enrichments metabolized CCO as well dilbit, but the nature and extent of the degradation was distinct. KRC meso culture was the most effective among all, as it completely removed alkanes and most of the PAHs. AFC enrichment performed differently at the two temperatures; an acclimation period (8 d) was observed at 5 °C while there was no lag at 25 °C. KRC cryo culture as well as AFC culture at both temperatures degraded alkanes completely while they were not able to metabolize heavier fractions of the oil (C2–4 homologues of 3- and 4-ring compounds). All cultures showed the presence of diverse oil degrading bacteria and the differences in their compositions affected the biodegradation. Although dilbit was biodegraded, for all the treatments except AFC at 5 °C, the rate of degradation and the extent of degradation was greater for CCO owing to the higher concentrations of lighter hydrocarbons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruta Suresh Deshpande
- 1. Pegasus Technical Services Inc., 46 E Hollister Street, Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA
| | - Devi Sundaravadivelu
- 1. Pegasus Technical Services Inc., 46 E Hollister Street, Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA
| | - Pablo Campo
- 2. Cranfield Water Science Institute, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UK
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12
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Conmy RN, Schaeffer BA, Schubauer-Berigan J, Aukamp J, Duffy A, Lehrter JC, Greene RM. Characterizing light attenuation within Northwest Florida Estuaries: Implications for RESTORE Act water quality monitoring. Mar Pollut Bull 2017; 114:995-1006. [PMID: 27876374 PMCID: PMC7315315 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.11.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2016] [Revised: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 11/14/2016] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Water Quality (WQ) condition is based on ecosystem stressor indicators (e.g. water clarity) which are biogeochemically important and critical when considering the Deepwater Horizon oil spill restoration efforts under the 2012 RESTORE Act. Nearly all of the proposed RESTORE projects list restoring WC as a goal, but 90% neglect water clarity. Here, dynamics of optical constituents impacting clarity are presented from a 2009-2011 study within Pensacola, Choctawhatchee, St. Andrew and St. Joseph estuaries (targeted RESTORE sites) in Northwest Florida. Phytoplankton were the smallest contribution to total absorption (at-wPAR) at 412nm (5-11%), whereas colored dissolved organic matter was the largest (61-79%). Estuarine at-wPAR was significantly related to light attenuation (KdPAR), where individual contributors to clarity and the influence of climatic events were discerned. Provided are conversion equations demonstrating interoperability of clarity indicators between traditional State-measured WQ measures (e.g. secchi disc), optical constituents, and even satellite remote sensing for obtaining baseline assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn N Conmy
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development NRMRL Land Remediation & Pollution Control Division, 26 W. MLK Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, United States.
| | - Blake A Schaeffer
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development NERL Exposure Methods and Measurement Division, 109 T.W. Alexander Dr., RTP, NC 27711, United States
| | - Joseph Schubauer-Berigan
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development NRMRL Land Remediation & Pollution Control Division, 26 W. MLK Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, United States
| | - Jessica Aukamp
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development NHEERL Gulf Ecology Division, 1 Sabine, Island, Drive, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561, United States
| | - Allyn Duffy
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development NHEERL Gulf Ecology Division, 1 Sabine, Island, Drive, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561, United States
| | - John C Lehrter
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development NHEERL Gulf Ecology Division, 1 Sabine, Island, Drive, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561, United States
| | - Richard M Greene
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development NHEERL Gulf Ecology Division, 1 Sabine, Island, Drive, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561, United States
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13
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Zhuang M, Abulikemu G, Campo P, Platten WE, Suidan MT, Venosa AD, Conmy RN. Effect of dispersants on the biodegradation of South Louisiana crude oil at 5 and 25 °C. Chemosphere 2016; 144:767-774. [PMID: 26414737 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.08.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2015] [Revised: 08/06/2015] [Accepted: 08/11/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
This article reports biodegradation rates for a commercial dispersant, JD-2000, South Louisiana crude oil (SLC) alone, and SLC dispersed with JD-2000 at 5 and 25 °C. Results from the biodegradation experiments revealed that Component X, a chemical marker for JD-2000, rapidly degraded at both temperatures. The application of JD-2000 decreased by half the overall biodegradation rate of aliphatic compounds at 25 °C. At 5 °C, a residual fraction consisting of iso- and n-alkanes (C29-C35) persisted after 56 d. The combination of dispersant and higher temperature resulted in faster removal rates for 2- and 3-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. When compared with Corexit 9500, our results suggest that the chemistry of the surfactant (or surfactants) in JD-2000 might have favored oil dissolution (substrate transport to the aqueous phase) as an uptake mechanism over adhesion, which requires direct contact of the biomass with the oil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mobing Zhuang
- Department of Biomedical, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Cincinnati, 2901 Woodside Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Gulizhaer Abulikemu
- Pegasus Technical Services Inc., 46 E Hollister St, Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA
| | - Pablo Campo
- Department of Biomedical, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Cincinnati, 2901 Woodside Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - William E Platten
- Pegasus Technical Services Inc., 46 E Hollister St, Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA
| | - Makram T Suidan
- Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, American University of Beirut, Bechtel Engineering Bldg, 3rd Flr., Room 308M, P.O. Box: 11-0236, Riad El Solh 1107 2020, Beirut, Lebanon.
| | - Albert D Venosa
- US. Environmental Protection Agency, NRMRL, 26 W MLK Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Robyn N Conmy
- US. Environmental Protection Agency, NRMRL, 26 W MLK Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
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14
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Conmy RN, Coble PG, Farr J, Wood AM, Lee K, Pegau WS, Walsh ID, Koch CR, Abercrombie MI, Miles MS, Lewis MR, Ryan SA, Robinson BJ, King TL, Kelble CR, Lacoste J. Submersible optical sensors exposed to chemically dispersed crude oil: wave tank simulations for improved oil spill monitoring. Environ Sci Technol 2014; 48:1803-1810. [PMID: 24377909 DOI: 10.1021/es404206y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
In situ fluorometers were deployed during the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) Gulf of Mexico oil spill to track the subsea oil plume. Uncertainties regarding instrument specifications and capabilities necessitated performance testing of sensors exposed to simulated, dispersed oil plumes. Dynamic ranges of the Chelsea Technologies Group AQUAtracka, Turner Designs Cyclops, Satlantic SUNA and WET Labs, Inc. ECO, exposed to fresh and artificially weathered crude oil, were determined. Sensors were standardized against known oil volumes and total petroleum hydrocarbons and benzene-toluene-ethylbenzene-xylene measurements-both collected during spills, providing oil estimates during wave tank dilution experiments. All sensors estimated oil concentrations down to 300 ppb oil, refuting previous reports. Sensor performance results assist interpretation of DWH oil spill data and formulating future protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn N Conmy
- National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 26 West Martin Luther King BoulevardCincinnati, Ohio 45268, United States
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15
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Schaeffer BA, Hagy JD, Conmy RN, Lehrter JC, Stumpf RP. An approach to developing numeric water quality criteria for coastal waters using the SeaWiFS Satellite Data Record. Environ Sci Technol 2012; 46:916-22. [PMID: 22192062 PMCID: PMC3287117 DOI: 10.1021/es2014105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2011] [Revised: 12/07/2011] [Accepted: 12/19/2011] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Human activities on land increase nutrient loads to coastal waters, which can increase phytoplankton production and biomass and associated ecological impacts. Numeric nutrient water quality standards are needed to protect coastal waters from eutrophication impacts. The Environmental Protection Agency determined that numeric nutrient criteria were necessary to protect designated uses of Florida's waters. The objective of this study was to evaluate a reference condition approach for developing numeric water quality criteria for coastal waters, using data from Florida. Florida's coastal waters have not been monitored comprehensively via field sampling to support numeric criteria development. However, satellite remote sensing had the potential to provide adequate data. Spatial and temporal measures of SeaWiFS OC4 chlorophyll-a (Chl(RS)-a, mg m(-3)) were resolved across Florida's coastal waters between 1997 and 2010 and compared with in situ measurements. Statistical distributions of Chl(RS)-a were evaluated to determine a quantitative reference baseline. A binomial approach was implemented to consider how new data could be assessed against the criteria. The proposed satellite remote sensing approach to derive numeric criteria may be generally applicable to other coastal waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blake A Schaeffer
- U.S. EPA National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Gulf Ecology Division, 1 Sabine Island Drive, Gulf Breeze, Florida 32561, United States.
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Schaeffer BA, Conmy RN, Aukamp J, Craven G, Ferer EJ. Organic and inorganic matter in Louisiana coastal waters: Vermilion, Atchafalaya, Terrebonne, Barataria, and Mississippi regions. Mar Pollut Bull 2011; 62:415-422. [PMID: 21237471 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2010.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2010] [Revised: 12/01/2010] [Accepted: 12/03/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) spectral absorption, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration, and the particulate fraction of inorganic (PIM) and organic matter (POM) were measured in Louisiana coastal waters at Vermilion, Atchafalaya, Terrebonne, Barataria, and Mississippi River locations, in 2007-2008. The range of CDOM was 0.092 m⁻¹ at Barataria in June 2008 to 11.225 m⁻¹ at Mississippi in February 2008. An indicator of organic matter quality was predicted by the spectral slope of absorption coefficients from 350 to 412nm which was between 0.0087 m⁻¹ at Mississippi in May 2008 and 0.0261 m⁻¹ at Barataria in June 2008. CDOM was the dominant component of light attenuation at Terrebonne and Barataria. Detritus and CDOM were the primary components of light attenuation at Vermilion, Atchafalaya, and Mississippi. DOC ranged between 65 and 1235 μM. PIM ranged between 1.1 and 426.3 mg L⁻¹ and POM was between 0.3 and 49.6 mg L⁻¹.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blake A Schaeffer
- US EPA National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Gulf Ecology Division, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563, USA.
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17
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Conmy RN, Coble PG, Cannizzaro JP, Heil CA. Influence of extreme storm events on West Florida Shelf CDOM distributions. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009. [DOI: 10.1029/2009jg000981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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