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Retrospective analysis of the impacts of major hurricanes on sediments in the lower Everglades and Florida Bay

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

A record of the impacts of major hurricanes on sediment stratigraphy and composition in subtropical ecosystems has been preserved in the lower Everglades and Florida Bay. These impacts were observed in discontinuous layers of sediment that were identified from high-resolution, vertical profiles of excess 210Pb and 137Cs. Discontinuities were found at different geographic locations and at two to three different depths in the sediment column; however, the layers were each deposited within time periods that corresponded with the passing of category 3–5 hurricanes during 1960, 1948 and 1935. A simple mass balance model for excess 210Pb was used to show net changes of ±20–100% in excess 210Pb inventory that resulted from sediment disturbances of <1 to >22 cm. Abrupt shifts in sediment composition were often observed in hurricane-impacted layers. Ratios of organic (C/P) were four- to fivefold higher than normal in post-hurricane layers of sediment at open bay sites. These layers are phosphorus poor and seem to reflect preferential decomposition of organic P relative to organic C in association with hurricanes. The net effect is for major hurricanes to redistribute sediment, organic matter and nutrients.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Terry Nelsen and Hal Wanless for their interest, valuable comments and help obtaining sediment cores. Simone Metz and Robert Trocine helped with sample analysis. Special thanks to Mark Rials for his continuous support and helpful comments on this manuscript. This manuscript was improved by the insightful suggestions of an anonymous reviewer. This research was supported by the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Prediction and Modeling Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Southwest Florida Water Management District, 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville, FL , 34604-6899, USA

    W.-J. Kang

  2. Department of Marine & Environmental Systems, Florida Institute of Technology, 150 W. University Blvd., Melbourne, FL , 32901-6975, USA

    J. H. Trefry

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  1. W.-J. Kang
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  2. J. H. Trefry
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Correspondence to J. H. Trefry.

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Kang, WJ., Trefry, J.H. Retrospective analysis of the impacts of major hurricanes on sediments in the lower Everglades and Florida Bay. Env Geol 44, 771–780 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-003-0827-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-003-0827-9

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