Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Gulf of Mexico and Chesapeake Bay Dead Zones 2009
Revised estimates of Gulf and Chesapeake Bay Dead Zones
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/28/science/earth/28zone.html?_r=1
Dead Zone in Gulf Is Smaller Than Forecast but More Concentrated in Parts
By HENRY FOUNTAIN
Published: July 27, 2009
Scientists said Monday that the region of oxygen-starved water in the northern Gulf of Mexico this summer was smaller than forecast, which means less disruption of shrimp, crabs and other marine species, and of the fisheries that depend on them.
But researchers found that although the so-called dead zone along the Texas and Louisiana coasts was smaller — about 3,000 square miles compared with a prediction of about 8,000 square miles — the actual volume of low-oxygen, or hypoxic, water may be higher, as the layer is deeper and thicker in some parts of the gulf than normal. And the five-year average size of the dead zone is still considered far too big, about three times a target of 2,000 square miles set for 2015 by an intergovernmental task force.
...........
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/features/green/2009/07/bay_dead_zone_bigger_than_pred.html
Bay 'dead zone' bigger than predicted
The fish-stressing "dead zone" in the Chesapeake Bay is bigger than predicted this summer, scientists say.
Just about a month ago, University of Michigan scientists had forecast that the amount of oxygen-starved water in the Chesapeake should be much lower than average for the troubled estuary. University of Maryland scientists had followed with similar predictions that the bay's ''dead zone'' -- where dissolved oxygen levels in the water are too low for fish to breathe comfortably, if at all -- was likely to be one of the smallest ever measured.
The scientists had based their predictions on below-normal flows in late spring of the Susquehanna River, which supplies half of the fresh water entering the bay. Though it rained a lot in Maryland and Virginia in May and June, it had been relatively dry in the Susquehanna's drainage basin in New York and Pennsylvania.
But based on water sampling conducted every two weeks since May, University of Maryland scientists hve found that the volume of water with little or no oxygen in it has exceeded the forecast -- increasing from below-average in late May to above normal for June and remaining about average for this month, even as rains locally subsided.
.........
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/28/science/earth/28zone.html?_r=1
Dead Zone in Gulf Is Smaller Than Forecast but More Concentrated in Parts
By HENRY FOUNTAIN
Published: July 27, 2009
Scientists said Monday that the region of oxygen-starved water in the northern Gulf of Mexico this summer was smaller than forecast, which means less disruption of shrimp, crabs and other marine species, and of the fisheries that depend on them.
But researchers found that although the so-called dead zone along the Texas and Louisiana coasts was smaller — about 3,000 square miles compared with a prediction of about 8,000 square miles — the actual volume of low-oxygen, or hypoxic, water may be higher, as the layer is deeper and thicker in some parts of the gulf than normal. And the five-year average size of the dead zone is still considered far too big, about three times a target of 2,000 square miles set for 2015 by an intergovernmental task force.
...........
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/features/green/2009/07/bay_dead_zone_bigger_than_pred.html
Bay 'dead zone' bigger than predicted
The fish-stressing "dead zone" in the Chesapeake Bay is bigger than predicted this summer, scientists say.
Just about a month ago, University of Michigan scientists had forecast that the amount of oxygen-starved water in the Chesapeake should be much lower than average for the troubled estuary. University of Maryland scientists had followed with similar predictions that the bay's ''dead zone'' -- where dissolved oxygen levels in the water are too low for fish to breathe comfortably, if at all -- was likely to be one of the smallest ever measured.
The scientists had based their predictions on below-normal flows in late spring of the Susquehanna River, which supplies half of the fresh water entering the bay. Though it rained a lot in Maryland and Virginia in May and June, it had been relatively dry in the Susquehanna's drainage basin in New York and Pennsylvania.
But based on water sampling conducted every two weeks since May, University of Maryland scientists hve found that the volume of water with little or no oxygen in it has exceeded the forecast -- increasing from below-average in late May to above normal for June and remaining about average for this month, even as rains locally subsided.
.........
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Dissolved Oxygen in Chesapeake Bay
A very detailed paper on Dissolved Oxygen level in Chesapeake Bay.
http://www.eco-check.org/pdfs/do_letter.pdf
http://www.eco-check.org/pdfs/do_letter.pdf
The effect of global warming on eutrophication in lakes
http://www.environmental-expert.com/resultEachPressRelease.aspx?cid=8819&codi=59041&lr=1
The effect of global warming on eutrophication in lakes
Source: European Commission, Environment DG
Jul. 24, 2009
Shallow lakes are an important type of ecosystem that may be vulnerable to current warming trends. A recent study examines just how vulnerable they are. It indicates that climate change combined with nutrient pollution could exacerbate eutrophication and suggests nitrogen levels should be monitored.
The researchers used 48 tanks in north-western England which simulated shallow lake communities. They studied the effects of warming by 4°C (which is the high emission scenario for the temperature increase during a hundred years period) and the effects of two levels of nutrient loading relevant to current degrees of eutrophication.
Levels of nutrients, oxygen and pH, as well as phytoplankton, fish and plants, were also studied. During the experiment the highest temperatures at noon reached 21°C in unheated shallow lakes and 25°C in heated lakes. They did not drop below about 3°C in either.
The study demonstrated that warming increased the concentration of soluble phosphate in the water. It also increased total plant biomass, but surprisingly reduced the amount of phytoplankton. The fall in phytoplankton is thought to be caused by shading from increased floating plants, which may be linked to a warming-induced release of soluble phosphate from the sediment. Warming also reduced fish biomass, probably the result of oxygen stress. Perhaps more importantly, high nitrogen loading as well as warming reduced the number of plant species.
Although temperature rises alone are unlikely to cause a switch in water conditions, they could intensify signs of eutrophication in shallow lakes. For example, increased temperature together with increased nutrient loading may cause nuisance growths of floating plants which may affect biodiversity.
The effect of global warming on eutrophication in lakes
Source: European Commission, Environment DG
Jul. 24, 2009
Shallow lakes are an important type of ecosystem that may be vulnerable to current warming trends. A recent study examines just how vulnerable they are. It indicates that climate change combined with nutrient pollution could exacerbate eutrophication and suggests nitrogen levels should be monitored.
The researchers used 48 tanks in north-western England which simulated shallow lake communities. They studied the effects of warming by 4°C (which is the high emission scenario for the temperature increase during a hundred years period) and the effects of two levels of nutrient loading relevant to current degrees of eutrophication.
Levels of nutrients, oxygen and pH, as well as phytoplankton, fish and plants, were also studied. During the experiment the highest temperatures at noon reached 21°C in unheated shallow lakes and 25°C in heated lakes. They did not drop below about 3°C in either.
The study demonstrated that warming increased the concentration of soluble phosphate in the water. It also increased total plant biomass, but surprisingly reduced the amount of phytoplankton. The fall in phytoplankton is thought to be caused by shading from increased floating plants, which may be linked to a warming-induced release of soluble phosphate from the sediment. Warming also reduced fish biomass, probably the result of oxygen stress. Perhaps more importantly, high nitrogen loading as well as warming reduced the number of plant species.
Although temperature rises alone are unlikely to cause a switch in water conditions, they could intensify signs of eutrophication in shallow lakes. For example, increased temperature together with increased nutrient loading may cause nuisance growths of floating plants which may affect biodiversity.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Clean-up from fish kill costs thousands
News about cost of fish kill due to fertilizer run off.
http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20090724/NEWS01/907240315
Clean-up from fish kill costs thousands
ADVOCATE STAFF REPORT • JULY 24, 2009
COLUMBUS -- A fish kill caused by runoff of corn syrup and manure cost one Licking County farmer's insurance company more than $20,000 in restitution.
Ron Rodgers, a law-enforcement supervisor with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife, said Larry Cooperrider applied a mixture of manure and about 530,000 gallons of corn-syrup material, a byproduct of ethanol production, to his field as fertilizer.
Before the mixture was incorporated into the soil, a large rainfall washed it into three nearby waterways: Otter Fork Creek, East Fork Rattlesnake Creek and the North Fork of the Licking River.
The runoff temporarily depleted oxygen levels in the water and killed about 49,000 aquatic inhabitants, including fish, in August 2008.
The farmer's insurance company agreed to pay $20,213.24 in restitution to the Division of Wildlife.
"These byproducts from ethanol production are a relatively recent product," Rodgers said. "I don't think he will do it again."
http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20090724/NEWS01/907240315
Clean-up from fish kill costs thousands
ADVOCATE STAFF REPORT • JULY 24, 2009
COLUMBUS -- A fish kill caused by runoff of corn syrup and manure cost one Licking County farmer's insurance company more than $20,000 in restitution.
Ron Rodgers, a law-enforcement supervisor with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife, said Larry Cooperrider applied a mixture of manure and about 530,000 gallons of corn-syrup material, a byproduct of ethanol production, to his field as fertilizer.
Before the mixture was incorporated into the soil, a large rainfall washed it into three nearby waterways: Otter Fork Creek, East Fork Rattlesnake Creek and the North Fork of the Licking River.
The runoff temporarily depleted oxygen levels in the water and killed about 49,000 aquatic inhabitants, including fish, in August 2008.
The farmer's insurance company agreed to pay $20,213.24 in restitution to the Division of Wildlife.
"These byproducts from ethanol production are a relatively recent product," Rodgers said. "I don't think he will do it again."
Can We Save the Ponds by Eating Oysters?
Can Mussels and Oysters be used to consume Nitrogen in ponds.
Swedish experience and proposals from USA.
Diatoms and Fish are a better and simpler option.
News report from Martha's Vineyard
http://www.mvgazette.com/article.php?22098
Can We Save the Ponds by Eating Oysters?
By MIKE SECCOMBE
... a solution to the most pressing environmental problem on Martha’s Vineyard: pollution of our ponds by nitrogen which leaches out of septic systems.
And it’s a solution which is cost effective, creates jobs and is delicious.
We’re talking shellfish, folks.
See, about a decade ago, the Gullmar Fiord on the Swedish west coast had the same problem the ponds on this Island have today. That is, excessive nitrogen fueled excessive growth of algae which in turn led to what they call eutrophication of the water, essentially the removal of oxygen, which makes life untenable for other plants and animals.
Then a team lead by a marine ecologist with the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences named Odd Lindahl, began cultivating mussels. They found they could cut the nitrogen load (i.e. the total nitrogen in the water) by 20 per cent, at a lower cost than a standard water treatment plant.
“In one year they removed 39 tons of nitrogen from the fiord,” said Rick Karney, director of the Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group.
......
“There are 933 existing residences in the Edgartown Great Pond watershed,” said Mr. Wilcox. “There’s roughly 300 more than the pond can tolerate.
“And we’re looking at a potential 749 extra residences, which could be built under existing zoning,” he said.
Edgartown is currently working to extend sewerage to enough of those currently-existing houses to reduce the nitrogen load by the 30 per cent.
“That can and will address the existing situation,” said Mr. Wilcox, adding:
“But what about future development? Every additional house is in excess of what that threshold number for nitrogen is.”
Of course, the town could just keep extending the sewer system; the town’s wastewater treatment plant has extra capacity. But that is very expensive.
“The areas they are doing now, it comes out to $10,000 to $15,000 for each house, which is actually relatively cheap,” said Mr. Wilcox, pointing out also that those properties now being done were close to the facility.
“But if you have to build a new plant, the cost could be three, four, five times that.
“Who pays that? People have batted around the idea of a nitrogen tax paid by all residents in the watershed. Maybe there could be impact fees for any new development.”
....
“If we don’t do something about growth, the ponds are going to suffer.”
Swedish experience and proposals from USA.
Diatoms and Fish are a better and simpler option.
News report from Martha's Vineyard
http://www.mvgazette.com/article.php?22098
Can We Save the Ponds by Eating Oysters?
By MIKE SECCOMBE
... a solution to the most pressing environmental problem on Martha’s Vineyard: pollution of our ponds by nitrogen which leaches out of septic systems.
And it’s a solution which is cost effective, creates jobs and is delicious.
We’re talking shellfish, folks.
See, about a decade ago, the Gullmar Fiord on the Swedish west coast had the same problem the ponds on this Island have today. That is, excessive nitrogen fueled excessive growth of algae which in turn led to what they call eutrophication of the water, essentially the removal of oxygen, which makes life untenable for other plants and animals.
Then a team lead by a marine ecologist with the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences named Odd Lindahl, began cultivating mussels. They found they could cut the nitrogen load (i.e. the total nitrogen in the water) by 20 per cent, at a lower cost than a standard water treatment plant.
“In one year they removed 39 tons of nitrogen from the fiord,” said Rick Karney, director of the Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group.
......
“There are 933 existing residences in the Edgartown Great Pond watershed,” said Mr. Wilcox. “There’s roughly 300 more than the pond can tolerate.
“And we’re looking at a potential 749 extra residences, which could be built under existing zoning,” he said.
Edgartown is currently working to extend sewerage to enough of those currently-existing houses to reduce the nitrogen load by the 30 per cent.
“That can and will address the existing situation,” said Mr. Wilcox, adding:
“But what about future development? Every additional house is in excess of what that threshold number for nitrogen is.”
Of course, the town could just keep extending the sewer system; the town’s wastewater treatment plant has extra capacity. But that is very expensive.
“The areas they are doing now, it comes out to $10,000 to $15,000 for each house, which is actually relatively cheap,” said Mr. Wilcox, pointing out also that those properties now being done were close to the facility.
“But if you have to build a new plant, the cost could be three, four, five times that.
“Who pays that? People have batted around the idea of a nitrogen tax paid by all residents in the watershed. Maybe there could be impact fees for any new development.”
....
“If we don’t do something about growth, the ponds are going to suffer.”
Thursday, July 23, 2009
One month climate simulation
Great Video on youtube.
A GCM simulation of one calendar month of global climate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbXwRP0CQNA
You can compare this simulation with our video on oxygen bubbling up in a lake.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va5rP1lLoiE
A GCM simulation of one calendar month of global climate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbXwRP0CQNA
You can compare this simulation with our video on oxygen bubbling up in a lake.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va5rP1lLoiE
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