HYDROCHEMICAL STUDIES OF THE PARTIZANSKAYA RIVER ESTUARY (NAKHODKA BAY, JAPAN SEA) IN SUMMER SEASON OF LOW WATER DISCHARGE

Abstract

Chemical water parameters in the Partizanskaya River estuary were measured on July 18–19, 2012 in conditions of low water discharge (20.1 m3 /s). In these conditions, the cline of salt water at the bottom penetrated up to 11 km upstream from the river mouth and the fresh river water passed the estuarine zone of mixing in approximately 2 days. Salt composition of the mixed water in the estuary had conservative dependence on salinity. By dynamical signs, the estuary could be divided into two zones: i) zone of active exchange between the surface freshwater layer and the bottom salted layer on the distance 5.5 km from the river mouth to the first sandy riverbank that the fresh river water passed in 12 hours, and ii) the upper part of the estuary with limited water exchange. The complex of water environments in the estuary, as good water transparency, strong stratification, and high concentrations of terrestrial nutrients, was favorable for phytoplankton blooming, so the chlorophyll concentration in the estuarine waters exceeded 40 μg/L. Destruction of autochthonous organic matter caused anomalies in distribution of carbonate and nutrient parameters and was accompanied by hypoxia in the bottom layer with the dissolved oxygen content lowering to 61 μM/kg.

Keywords

• partizanskaya river
• nakhodka bay
• estuary
• hypoxia
• nutrient
• primary production
• destruction of organic matter
• water dynamics
• water mixing
• riverbed profile