Marine vs fluvial suspended matter in the Scheldt Estuary
Verlaan, P.A.J.; Donze, M.; Kuik, P. (1998). Marine vs fluvial suspended matter in the Scheldt Estuary. Est., Coast. and Shelf Sci. 46(6): 873-883. dx.doi.org/10.1006/ecss.1997.0323
Analysis > Chemical analysis Analysis > Mathematical analysis > Statistical analysis Aquatic communities > Plankton > Phytoplankton Chemical elements > Metals Chemical elements > Metals > Alkaline earth metals > Barium Chemical elements > Metals > Alkaline earth metals > Calcium Chemical elements > Metals > Heavy metals > Cadmium Chemical elements > Metals > Heavy metals > Lead Chemical elements > Metals > Heavy metals > Zinc Chemical elements > Metals > Transition elements > Heavy metals > Chromium Chemical elements > Metals > Transition elements > Heavy metals > Cobalt Chemical elements > Metals > Transition elements > Heavy metals > Copper Chemical elements > Metals > Transition elements > Heavy metals > Iron Chemical elements > Metals > Transition elements > Heavy metals > Manganese Chemical elements > Metals > Transition elements > Heavy metals > Nickel Chemical reactions > Oxidation Estuarine environment Particulates > Suspended particulate matter Suspended matter Brackish water; Fresh water
The ratio of marine to fluvial suspended matter in the Scheldt Estuary was calculated by applying factor analysis to a data set of elemental concentrations. The data set consisted of 98 samples collected under various river discharge conditions. Each sample was analysed for the concentration of Cr, Pb, Fe, Mn, Ni, Co, Ba, Zn, Cu, Cd, S, Ca, St, Ag, Sn and Na. Five linearly independent processes were found to describe the variability of the elemental concentrations: (1) the supply of fluvial material to the mixing zone; (2) manganese oxidation in the transition area between the anoxic upper estuary and the oxic lower estuary; (3) the supply of marine material to the mixing zone; (4) a phytoplankton bloom in the lower estuary; and (5) the formation of insoluble metal sulphides in the anoxic high-turbidity zone. Scores of the first and third factor were used to calculate the ratio of marine to fluvial suspended matter in the mixing zone. Information on the origin of both the inorganic and organic fraction of suspended matter was obtained in this way.
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