Nutrient distribution in the Zaire estuary and river plume
Van Bennekom, A.J.; Berger, G.W.; Helder, W.; De Vries, R.T.P. (1978). Nutrient distribution in the Zaire estuary and river plume. Neth. J. Sea Res. 12(3-4): 296-323
In: Netherlands Journal of Sea Research. Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ): Groningen; Den Burg. ISSN 0077-7579; e-ISSN 1873-1406, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Van Bennekom, A.J., more
- Berger, G.W.
- Helder, W.
- De Vries, R.T.P.
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| Abstract |
The distribution of nutrients in the Zaire (Congo) river, estuary and adjacent ocean were studied during cruises in November 1976 and May 1978. The Zaire river water contains 160 to 180 µm H4SiO4, 0.4 to 0.9 µm PO43-, 0.7 to 1.0 ugat.l-1 suspended P, 5 to 8 µm NO3-, 0.5 µm NH4+ and 0.1 to 0.2 µm NO2-. Compared to other tropical rivers PO 43- is high. Due to physical supersaturation dissolved oxygen is high, up to 140%. Subsurface sea water is the principal component in estuarine mixing over the first part of the river plume, this increases the NO3- concentrations relative to river water. For PO 43- the maxima found at about 10‰ S were partly caused by desorption from suspended P. In May coastal upwelling contributed to the high concentrations of NO3- and PO43- in surface waters a1ong the coast. H4SiO4 was linearly diluted up to 25‰ S in May and up to 31‰ S in November. |
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