Date of Award

Spring 2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (BS)

Department

Marine Science

College

College of Science

First Advisor

Angelos Hannides

Abstract/Description

A key component affecting the biogeochemistry of the sedimentary environment is pore water between grains of sediments. Sedimentary microorganisms are constantly modifying chemical compounds as part of their life functions which are then exchanged between the sediment column and the overlying water column. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen, a major element for life, takes on several forms including nitrate, nitrite, and ammonium which vary in concentration throughout the sediment and with respect to each other. The relative concentrations of these nitrogen species have been previously briefly explored in sandy columns, where redox gradients that control their relative concentrations can be fairly deep because of high permeability, the ability for fluid to flow through the sediment column. In this study, the dissolved inorganic nitrogen geochemistry is determined in swash zone sandy columns at four sites along the South Carolina Grand Strand, and variations are interpreted based on sediment permeability, phosphate concentrations as they relate to nitrogen through Redfield Richards Ratio stoichiometry, and Chlorophyll a concentrations.

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