Natural variations in 15N content of riverine and estuarine sediments

N. J.P. Owens; C. S. Law

doi:10.1016/0272-7714(89)90088-7

Natural variations in ¹⁵N content of riverine and estuarine sediments

N. J.P. Owens
, C. S. Law

SAMS UHI

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

33 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A study of the natural variations of ¹⁵N in the sediments of the river Tamar estuary and its catchment, south-west England, is described. The mean δ¹⁵N for freshwater sediments was +2·3‰ (SD ± 0·9) and distinct from the majority of estuarine sediments. Three catchment areas that together comprise the riverine system could be distinguished by a combination of the δ¹⁵N of the sediments and the riverine NO₃^- concentrations. Estuarine surface sediments fell into three groups: upper-estuary (mean δ¹⁵N = 5·6‰); mid-estuary (mean δ¹⁵N = 2·7‰) and lower-estuary (mean δ¹⁵N = 5·3‰). These distributions confirm earlier, non-isotopic, observations of the complex patterns of transportation of surface sediments in this estuary.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	407-416
Number of pages	10
Journal	Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science
Volume	28
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0272-7714(89)90088-7
Publication status	Published - 1 Apr 1989

Keywords

estuaries
isotopic composition
nitrogen
sediments
south-west England

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10.1016/0272-7714(89)90088-7

Cite this

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title = "Natural variations in 15N content of riverine and estuarine sediments",

abstract = "A study of the natural variations of 15N in the sediments of the river Tamar estuary and its catchment, south-west England, is described. The mean δ15N for freshwater sediments was +2·3‰ (SD ± 0·9) and distinct from the majority of estuarine sediments. Three catchment areas that together comprise the riverine system could be distinguished by a combination of the δ15N of the sediments and the riverine NO3- concentrations. Estuarine surface sediments fell into three groups: upper-estuary (mean δ15N = 5·6‰); mid-estuary (mean δ15N = 2·7‰) and lower-estuary (mean δ15N = 5·3‰). These distributions confirm earlier, non-isotopic, observations of the complex patterns of transportation of surface sediments in this estuary.",

keywords = "estuaries, isotopic composition, nitrogen, sediments, south-west England",

author = "Owens, \{N. J.P.\} and Law, \{C. S.\}",

note = "Copyright {\textcopyright} 1989 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Author not affiliated to SAMS at the time of publication",

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T1 - Natural variations in 15N content of riverine and estuarine sediments

AU - Owens, N. J.P.

AU - Law, C. S.

PY - 1989/4/1

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N2 - A study of the natural variations of 15N in the sediments of the river Tamar estuary and its catchment, south-west England, is described. The mean δ15N for freshwater sediments was +2·3‰ (SD ± 0·9) and distinct from the majority of estuarine sediments. Three catchment areas that together comprise the riverine system could be distinguished by a combination of the δ15N of the sediments and the riverine NO3- concentrations. Estuarine surface sediments fell into three groups: upper-estuary (mean δ15N = 5·6‰); mid-estuary (mean δ15N = 2·7‰) and lower-estuary (mean δ15N = 5·3‰). These distributions confirm earlier, non-isotopic, observations of the complex patterns of transportation of surface sediments in this estuary.

AB - A study of the natural variations of 15N in the sediments of the river Tamar estuary and its catchment, south-west England, is described. The mean δ15N for freshwater sediments was +2·3‰ (SD ± 0·9) and distinct from the majority of estuarine sediments. Three catchment areas that together comprise the riverine system could be distinguished by a combination of the δ15N of the sediments and the riverine NO3- concentrations. Estuarine surface sediments fell into three groups: upper-estuary (mean δ15N = 5·6‰); mid-estuary (mean δ15N = 2·7‰) and lower-estuary (mean δ15N = 5·3‰). These distributions confirm earlier, non-isotopic, observations of the complex patterns of transportation of surface sediments in this estuary.

KW - estuaries

KW - isotopic composition

KW - nitrogen

KW - sediments

KW - south-west England

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U2 - 10.1016/0272-7714(89)90088-7

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VL - 28

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JO - Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science

JF - Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science

IS - 4

ER -

Natural variations in ¹⁵N content of riverine and estuarine sediments

Abstract

Keywords

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