Streaming Media
Presentation Abstract
The Salih Sea is a complex estuarine system crossing over the U.S and Canadian waters. It has high cultural, environmental, and economic importance, but the increasing levels of nutrient pollution have threatened its values and caused hypoxia, algal blooms, and fish kills. To understand the impact of nutrient loading on the Salish Sea, we used a diagnostic hydrodynamic and biogeochemical model of the Salish Sea (Salish Sea Model) which has been developed to simulate circulation and biogeochemical cycling. For a deeper understanding of the interaction between land-based nutrient loading and circulation characteristic of the Salish Sea, we conducted initial components of a sensitivity analysis of different nutrient loading scenarios, with the nutrient reduction from non-point source loads to those from marine wastewater outfalls. We focused the analysis on the sub-basins in the Salish Sea such as Hood Canal Basin, Admiralty Inlet, Bellingham Bay, Whidbey Basin, Central Basin, and South Sound. We found that sub-basins respond differently to scenarios, likely driven by underlying differences in their physical and biogeochemical characteristics. To consider both temporal and spatial Dissolved Oxygen variation, we applied a novel analysis of calculated Dissolved Oxygen, including calculations of cumulative noncompliance-volume-days and hypoxic-volume-days. The cumulative volume days calculation is an extension of the method of marine water quality criteria of State of Washington, to provide further detail within the water column. The hypoxic volume days calculation is based on classic representations of hypoxia volume (dissolved oxygen < 2 mg/L).
Session Title
Innovations and Emerging Science 1
Conference Track
SSE1: Science for the Future
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2022 : Online)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE-traditionals-468
Start Date
27-4-2022 9:45 AM
End Date
27-4-2022 11:15 AM
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Hypoxia (Water)--Washington (State)--Puget Sound Watershed; Hypoxia (Water)--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Water--Dissolved oxygen--Washington (State)--Puget Sound Watershed; Water--Dissolved oxygen--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Geographic Coverage
Puget Sound Watershed (Wash.); Salish Sea (B.C. and 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
Initial sensitivity analysis of nutrient loading to understand hypoxia in the Salish Sea sub-basins
The Salih Sea is a complex estuarine system crossing over the U.S and Canadian waters. It has high cultural, environmental, and economic importance, but the increasing levels of nutrient pollution have threatened its values and caused hypoxia, algal blooms, and fish kills. To understand the impact of nutrient loading on the Salish Sea, we used a diagnostic hydrodynamic and biogeochemical model of the Salish Sea (Salish Sea Model) which has been developed to simulate circulation and biogeochemical cycling. For a deeper understanding of the interaction between land-based nutrient loading and circulation characteristic of the Salish Sea, we conducted initial components of a sensitivity analysis of different nutrient loading scenarios, with the nutrient reduction from non-point source loads to those from marine wastewater outfalls. We focused the analysis on the sub-basins in the Salish Sea such as Hood Canal Basin, Admiralty Inlet, Bellingham Bay, Whidbey Basin, Central Basin, and South Sound. We found that sub-basins respond differently to scenarios, likely driven by underlying differences in their physical and biogeochemical characteristics. To consider both temporal and spatial Dissolved Oxygen variation, we applied a novel analysis of calculated Dissolved Oxygen, including calculations of cumulative noncompliance-volume-days and hypoxic-volume-days. The cumulative volume days calculation is an extension of the method of marine water quality criteria of State of Washington, to provide further detail within the water column. The hypoxic volume days calculation is based on classic representations of hypoxia volume (dissolved oxygen < 2 mg/L).
