Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Hypoxia and salinity in Virginia estuaries

  • Published:
Estuaries Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Hypoxia, periods of reduced dissolved oxygen concentrations, has been observed not only in the Chesapeake Bay but also in the deeper waters of the Virginia estuaries that are tributaries to the Chesapeake Bay. When water temperature exceeded 20°C, minimum oxygen concentrations were observed to be <50% of saturation concentrations in 75%, 50% and 2% of the surveys in the estuaries of the Rappahannock, York and James rivers, respectively. The observation that hypoxia rarely occurred in the James River is surprising, given the fact that it receives the greatest amount of wastewater. Analysis of the oxygen budgets in these estuaries indicates that the variations in the frequency, duration, and severity of hypoxia are related to the net movement of bottom waters. This relationship has significant implications for the management of water quality and marine fisheries.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Boynton, W. R., W. M. Kemp, andC. G. Osborne. 1980. Nutrient fluxes across the sediment-water interface in the turbid zone of a coastal plain estuary, p. 93–109.In V. S. Kennedy (ed.), Estuarine Perspectives. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooks, T. J. 1983a. Slack water data report temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen—James River. Va. Inst. of Mar. Sci. Data Rep. 12. VIMS, Gloucester Point, Virginia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooks, T. J. 1983b. Slack water data report, temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen—Rappahannock River. Va. Inst. of Mar. Sci. Data Rep. 18. VIMS, Gloucester Point, Virginia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooks, T. J. 1983c. Slack water data report, temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen—York River. Va. Inst. of Mar. Sci. Data Rep. 19. VIMS, Gloucester Point, Virginia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cerco, C. F. 1985. Sediment-water column exchanges of nutrients and oxygen in the tidal James and Appomattox rivers. National Tech. Information Service, PB85-242915 XAB. 110 p.

  • D’Elia, C. F., K. L. Webb, andR. L. Wetzel. 1981. Time varying hydrodynamics and water quality in an estuary, p. 597–606.In B. J. Neilson and L. E. Cronin (eds.), Estuaries and Nutrients. The Humana Press, Clifton, New Jersey.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flemer, D. A., G. B. Mackierman, W. Nehlsen, andV. K. Tippie. 1983. Chesapeake Bay: A Profile of Environmental Change. U.S. Environ. Protection Agency, Washington, D.C. 199 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haas, L. W. 1977. The effect of the spring-neap tidal cycle on the vertical salinity structure of the James, York and Rappahannock rivers, Virginia, USA.Estuarine Coastal Mar. Sci. 5:485–496.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hansen, D. V., andM. Rattray, Jr. 1966. New dimensions in estuary classification.Limnol. Oceanogr. 11:319–326.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • HydroQual, Inc. 1986. Water quality analysis of the James and Appomattox rivers. Rep. to the Richmond Regional Planning District Commission, Richmond, Virginia. 150 p.

  • Newcombe, C. L., andW. A. Horne. 1938. Oxygen poor waters of the Chesapeake Bay.Science 88:80–81.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Officer, C. B., R. B. Biggs, J. L. Taft, L. E. Cronin, M. A. Tyler, andW. R. Boyton. 1984. Chesapeake Bay anoxia: Origin, development and significance.Science 223:22–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phoel, W., K. L. Webb, andC. F. D’Elia. 1981. Inorganic nitrogen regeneration and total oxygen consumption by the sediment at the mouth of the York River, Virginia, p. 607–619.In B. J. Neilson and L. E. Cronin (eds.), Estuaries and Nutrients. The Humana Press, Clifton, New Jersey.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pritchard, D. W. 1952. Salinity distribution and circulation in the Chesapeake Bay estuarine system.J. Mar. Res. 11:106–123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pritchard, D. W. 1967. Observations of circulation in coastal plain estuaries, p. 37–44.In G. H. Lauff (ed.), Estuaries. Publication No 83. American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schroeder, W. W. (convener) 1985. The occurrence of hypoxic and anoxic conditions in estuaries and coastal environments. Abstract for the 8th Biennial Estuarine Research Conference.Estuaries 8(2B):43A-47A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seliger, H. H., J. A. Boggs, andJ. A. Biggley. 1985. Catastrophic anoxia in the Chesapeake Bay in 1984.Science 228:70–73.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thomann, R. V. 1971. System Analysis and Water Quality Management. Environ. Res. and Application, Inc. New York. 286 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Webb, K. L., andC. F. D’Elia. 1980. Nutrient and oxygen redistribution during a spring-neap tidal cycle in a temperate estuary.Science 207:983–985.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Virginia Institute of Marine Science School of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, 23062, Gloucester Point, Virginia

    Albert Y. Kuo & Bruce J. Neilson

Authors
  1. Albert Y. Kuo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bruce J. Neilson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Contribution number 1424 of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kuo, A.Y., Neilson, B.J. Hypoxia and salinity in Virginia estuaries. Estuaries 10, 277–283 (1987). https://doi.org/10.2307/1351884

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1351884

Keywords

Search

Navigation