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Characterization of Particle Sedimentation in a Subarctic Estuary: a Sediment Trap Study over Two Productivity Seasons

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Abstract

Sinking particulate matter of organic and inorganic origin affects elemental cycles in the water and has the potential to carry marine pollutants (e.g., spilled oil) from the ocean surface to the benthos. The aim of this study was to characterize vertical particle fluxes out of surface waters in a subarctic estuary (Cook Inlet, south-central Alaska), with a history of petroleum-related activities, providing a climatic benchmark of flux conditions that can be referenced in an event of an oil spill. A free-drifting sediment trap was used to measure sedimentation rates of total particulate matter (TPM) at sites in the lower inlet during spring/summer 2018 and 2019. TPM fluxes (TPM_flux) ranged from 9 to 412 g m−2 d−1 with 13 to 77% of particulate organic matter in the TPM (POM_flux). Correlation analysis between TPM_flux and POM_flux demonstrated that the inorganic fraction of sinking TPM was the main driver of vertical fluxes at our sites. Flux magnitude did not follow phytoplankton biomass in surface waters as measured by in situ chlorophyll fluorescence at either the coastal or adjacent continental shelf sites. Our results demonstrate that terrestrial runoff in the Cook Inlet region, which can be highly variable at times, drives vertical particle fluxes through the water column with consequences for food supply for benthic communities as well as oil sedimentation in the event of a spill.

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Acknowledgements

This research was made possible by the support and funding of the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Coastal Response Research Center (CRRC), Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council (CIRCAC), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This research was also supported by NOAA’s Kasitsna Bay Laboratory (Seldovia, AK) and multiple NOAA and University of Alaska Fairbanks employees, including Hans Pedersen, Mike Geagel, Kris Holderied, Dominic Hondolero, and Connie Geagel. The following folks kindly served on this project’s advisory committee: Kris Holderied (NOAA), Dr. Sarah Allan (NOAA), Cathy Coon (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management), Catherine Berg (NOAA), and Dr. Rick Bernhardt (Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation). The crew of the M/V Miss Diane and support of Dr. Alexandra Ravelo made the 2019 Gulf of Alaska campaign successful. We also thank Arne Diercks (University of Southern Mississippi) who provided the sediment traps and Kathy Mandsager (CRRC) for her support of this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 03824, USA

    Jesse Ross & Nancy Kinner

  2. Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council, Kenai, AK, 99611, USA

    Susan Saupe

  3. Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Homer, AK, 99603, USA

    James Schloemer

  4. Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 03824, USA

    Kai Ziervogel

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  1. Jesse Ross
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Correspondence to Jesse Ross.

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Communicated by Mead Allison

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Ross, J., Kinner, N., Saupe, S. et al. Characterization of Particle Sedimentation in a Subarctic Estuary: a Sediment Trap Study over Two Productivity Seasons. Estuaries and Coasts 45, 2362–2372 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-022-01069-7

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