A revised semi-empirical mass balance model for phosphorus in Baltic coastal areas

Abstract

A decade of research on the phosphorus dynamics in Baltic Sea coastal areas using a combination of mathematical modelling, sediment surveys and time series of water quality data from monitoring programs has led to an improved understanding of processes controlling phosphorus turnover and coastal primary production. This paper presents a revised model for phosphorus turnover in non-tidal enclosed Baltic coastal areas. Using a new dataset from 500 sediment sampling stations it was possible to quantify and develop new simplified algorithms for sedimentary processes i.e. burial and erosion that did not decrease the model's predictive power. Our results indicate that erosion of old clays can be an important primary source to phosphorus water concentrations in enclosed coastal areas. A simple laboratory experiment using Common Duckweed (Lemna minor) supports to some extent that phosphorus originating from old clays is partly bioavailable and hence may influence the trophic state in the studied areas.