Streaming Media
Presentation Abstract
In any marine ecosystem, water currents are an important factor in both the biological and physical movements of a body of water. The focus of this study is the Possession Sound estuary in the Salish Sea which lies in an interesting area that is affected both by discharge from the Snohomish River and surrounding streams, as well as incoming ocean currents from the Pacific Ocean. In Possession Sound the currents can affect everything from the regular boat traffic through the area to the transportation of debris and other natural or harmful substances in the water. An Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP), moored in the Everett marina, was used to collect data on current velocity at varying dates for 10–30-minute intervals over the period of seven months in 2020, and almost two months in 2021. The collated data was used to analyze the current directions and speeds of the water to determine potential local trends in the currents. Because of the estuary’s diverse current sources, the analysis of this data allows for a greater understanding of the movements of the water column, and insight into the transportation of important substances within it such as nutrients and heavy metals.
Session Title
Poster Session 3: Land - Water Connections
Conference Track
SSE14: Posters
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2022 : Online)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE-posters-191
Start Date
27-4-2022 4:00 PM
End Date
27-4-2022 4:30 PM
Type of Presentation
Poster
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Water currents--Washington (State)--Possession Sound; Marine ecosystem health--Washington (State)--Possession Sound; Estuarine ecology--Washington (State)--Possession Sound
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Possession Sound (Wash.)
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
WATER CURRENTS AND THEIR EFFECT ON POSSESSION SOUND
In any marine ecosystem, water currents are an important factor in both the biological and physical movements of a body of water. The focus of this study is the Possession Sound estuary in the Salish Sea which lies in an interesting area that is affected both by discharge from the Snohomish River and surrounding streams, as well as incoming ocean currents from the Pacific Ocean. In Possession Sound the currents can affect everything from the regular boat traffic through the area to the transportation of debris and other natural or harmful substances in the water. An Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP), moored in the Everett marina, was used to collect data on current velocity at varying dates for 10–30-minute intervals over the period of seven months in 2020, and almost two months in 2021. The collated data was used to analyze the current directions and speeds of the water to determine potential local trends in the currents. Because of the estuary’s diverse current sources, the analysis of this data allows for a greater understanding of the movements of the water column, and insight into the transportation of important substances within it such as nutrients and heavy metals.
