Abstract
Estuarine waters are generally more turbid than lakes or marine waters due to greater algal mass and continual re-suspension of sediments. The varying effects of diurnal and seasonal prevailing winds on the turbidity condition of a wind-dominated estuary were investigated by spatial and statistical analyses of wind direction, water level, turbidity, chlorophyll a, and PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) collected in Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, USA. The prolonged prevailing winds were responsible for the long-term, large-scale turbidity pattern of the estuary, whereas the short-term changes in wind direction had differential effects on turbidity and water level in varying locations. There were temporal and spatial changes in the relationship between vertical light attenuation coefficient (Kd) and turbidity, which indicate difference in phytoplankton and color also affect Kd. This study demonstrates that the effect of wind on turbidity and water level on different shores can be identified through system-specific analyses of turbidity patterns.
Highlights
Estuaries are coastal indentations that receive freshwater flows and have restricted connections with the open sea [8, 20]
Turbidity is defined as a decrease in the transparency of a solution due to light attenuation from scattering and reflection of incident light primarily caused by suspended particulate matter [13]
Light attenuation in the water column is, influenced by the amount of total suspended sediment, and by the types of turbidity causing matters that differ in composition and particle size
Summary
Estuaries are coastal indentations that receive freshwater flows and have restricted connections with the open sea [8, 20]. Due to continual re-suspension of sediments and higher algal mass, light availability is generally lower in estuaries than at comparable depths in lakes or marine waters [24]. Incident light attenuates as it travels through water because it is absorbed by pure water, dissolved organic material, chlorophyll a, and scattered by suspended particulate matter [7]. Turbidity is defined as a decrease in the transparency of a solution due to light attenuation from scattering and reflection of incident light primarily caused by suspended particulate matter [13]. Light attenuation in the water column is, influenced by the amount of total suspended sediment, and by the types of turbidity causing matters that differ in composition and particle size
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