Presentation Type
Poster
Full Name of Faculty Mentor
Louis Keiner, Physics and Engineering Science/Honors
Major
Marine Science
Second Major
Biology
Presentation Abstract
Loch Etive is a fjord-like sea loch on the west coast of Scotland divided into two basins by the Bonawe Sill. The upper basin of the loch is highly stratified because of freshwater runoff and experiences frequent periods of hypoxia in the deep water. Hypoxia often occurs as a result of respiration, microbial activity, and other processes that deplete oxygen in this isolated deep water. During periods of low rainfall, the stratification is reduced and oceanic water overflows the sill, renewing the deep water. This renewal of the dense, deep water of the upper basin, as seen in the data collected for this study, typically results in major changes in the salinity profile and nutrient distribution of the loch. Aquaculture companies choose placements of trout and mussel farms based on salinity considerations. Understanding of the renewal events is crucial to the economic success of the local community.
Location
Virtual Poster Session 1
Start Date
21-4-2021 12:00 PM
End Date
21-4-2021 2:00 PM
Recommended Citation
Madden, Sydney and Dunnery, Brooke, "Deep Water Renewal of Loch Etive" (2021). Undergraduate Research Competition. 73.
https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/ugrc/2021/fullconference/73
Deep Water Renewal of Loch Etive
Virtual Poster Session 1
Loch Etive is a fjord-like sea loch on the west coast of Scotland divided into two basins by the Bonawe Sill. The upper basin of the loch is highly stratified because of freshwater runoff and experiences frequent periods of hypoxia in the deep water. Hypoxia often occurs as a result of respiration, microbial activity, and other processes that deplete oxygen in this isolated deep water. During periods of low rainfall, the stratification is reduced and oceanic water overflows the sill, renewing the deep water. This renewal of the dense, deep water of the upper basin, as seen in the data collected for this study, typically results in major changes in the salinity profile and nutrient distribution of the loch. Aquaculture companies choose placements of trout and mussel farms based on salinity considerations. Understanding of the renewal events is crucial to the economic success of the local community.