Date of Award

Summer 8-1-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Coastal Marine and Wetland Studies

Department

Coastal and Marine Systems Science

College

College of Science

First Advisor

Diane Fribance

Second Advisor

Angelos Hannides

Third Advisor

Lindsey Bell

Additional Advisors

Alexander Yankovsky

Abstract

River plumes are one of the few large-scale features responsible for transporting particulates and terrigenous materials to coastal oceans. Macro-nutrients, such as dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and phosphorus (PO43-), are basic requirements for marine food webs. Due to the plumes’ ability to transport large quantities of these constituents, these systems contribute heavily to coastal productivity. This study focuses on the dynamics of the Winyah Bay river plume located in Georgetown, South Carolina. River plumes, including the Winyah Bay plume, are dynamic systems whose structures are comprised of a multitude of regions and features including the source, lift off, near-field, mid-field, and far-field regions, and plume fronts. Prior studies have focused on the physical dynamics of the Winyah Bay plume regions and features but have not yet examined the nutrient dynamics of this system. The objective of this study was to evaluate the distribution of DIN and phosphate through the different regions of the Winyah Bay plume. Four characteristics (salinity, temperature, plume depth, and Froude number) were used to characterize plume regions using multiple linear regression, and no correlations between the nutrient concentrations and the plume region characteristics were identified. The limited size of the data set may have contributed to the lack of statistical significance. At the plume fronts, however, there was significant accumulation of nutrients on the estuarine side indicating these are important structures contributing to coastal productivity. Despite the limitations of a small sample size and intensive sampling techniques, this study provides a starting point for future research into the nutrient dynamics of the Winyah Bay river plume and its impact on coastal productivity.

Download

Included in

Oceanography Commons

Share

COinS