Evaluation of bottom sediment data from the Winyah Bay estuarine system

Abstract

In order to investigate the carbon cycle of a partially mixed Coastal Plain estuary (Winyah Bay, South Carolina), several characteristics have to be observed and checked for temporal and spatial stability and sediment grain size distribution. In this study bulk organic carbon content and carbon isotope ratios in bottom sediment samples in Winyah Bay and two of its principal tributaries, the Pee Dee and Sampit Rivers, were analyzed for modeling purposes. Testing these two variables as functions of fraction size, sampling site and sampling season showed a good separation between fine and coarse sediment fractions. Additionally, the Winyah Bay sampling stations had more positive carbon isotope ratios compared to Pee Dee and Sampit River stations and were lower in bulk organic carbon content. No seasonal effects on the isotopic ratios and organic carbon content were observed.

Keywords:

• Organic carbon content
• carbon isotope ratio
• sediment samples
• 2D plot distribution

Notes

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