Detail view for dataset: NYC 208 Task Report

Region: 65 stations in and around New York Harbor (fig. 46 : deller et al. 1991 - Final Report to NY-NJ Harbor Est. Program : Module 4)
Author: Hydro Science Inc.
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Collection method: fixed
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Analysis method: Beckman Electromate pH meter (verified w/ daily buffer solution), YSI model 57 DO meter & Windler titration (triplicate verification), YSI model 33 SCT meter - (verified w/ KCl solutions), temperature equilibration, dechlorination, pH adjustment, aeration, dilution, initial DO meas. Gooch crucible technique, digestion by Technicon Block Digester, Technicon Method 155-71W, Digestion by Technicon Block Digester, Technicon method 154-71W, Automated diazotization procedure Technicon method 34-69W & 44-69W, Automated brucine method, innoculated fermentation presumptive (LAC) tubes confirmed (BGB), innoculated fermentation presumptive (LAC) tubes confirmed (BGB) surface, bottom
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Processing method: Attachment III pg. 181 in Reprot : EPA Laboratory Evalutation. Procedures described in Reprot - Hydorscience Inc. also generally ì described in standard methods, 14 ed. EPA "Manual of Methods for Chemical Analysis of Water and Wastes ì (1974) or acceptable by EPA Qual. Assurance Coordinator
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Detail view for dataset: Water Quality Modeling Analysis of Hypoxia in Long Island Sound Using LIS 3.0

Region: Long Island Sound Western Narrows
Author: HydroQual, Inc.
Sponsor: Long Island Sound Study, New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission
Organization: HydroQual, Inc.
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Organization: HydroQual, Inc.

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Objective: This work was directed primarily towards the development of a mathmatical model of the eutrophication and hypoxia processes of Long Island Sound. It is the third of three models of the Sound and represents a fine-grid analysis of the effects of nutrients on Sound water quality. The purpose of this final model is to provide a fine-grid realization of the bathymetry and circulation features of Long Island Sound. The fine-grid model also provide managers with a tool with which to make a detailed analysis of the impact of various nutrient sources and control strategies on Long Island Sound water quality.
Abstract: A mathematical model of the water quality of the Sound is a representation of the principle components of the environment that influence a given water quality variable. A model does not purport to represent all aspects of the actual environment; a model attempts to incorporate only those features of the problem that are most relevant. In this study, a fine grid hydrodynamic model was used to generate an 18 month circulation for the water quality model.
Collection method: Over 25 water quality constituents were monitored as part of the LISS, some measured directly in the field and others analyzed in the laboratory. Field measurements include water transparency, salinity, temperatire, and probe measurements. Vertical casts of salinity and temperatire, and probe measurements of dissloved oxygen and pH, provide nearly continuous coverage of these parameters. Other water constituents, such as the various nutrient forms, chlorophyll-a, and titrations of dissolved oxygen, pH and alkalinity were analyzed from samples bottled and packed on ice in the field. These samples were gennerally taken at two depths, within a couple of meters from the surface or the bottom, at each water quality station, although some master stations were sampled at 4 or 5 depths twice per month in 1988. The sampling depths of these latter master stations were gennerally comprised of a near-surface sample, just-above and just-below pycnocline samples and near-bottom sample.
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Analysis method: The 25 state-variables water column evaluated in approximately 2,300 water segments together with the 16 state-variables in the sediment submodel evaluated in 329 sediment segments result in approximately 62,750 simultaneous differential equations which are solved at every time step. The model uses a step-size of 0/01 days for most of the computation and is run for a period of 18 months of prototype time during the model calibration phase. Results were filed every 10 days for spatial analysis and every 3 dats for temporal analysis and then were utilized to make comparision plots of model results versus observed data. Approximately 20 hours of equivalent central processor time (CPU) on a Silicon Graphics L-Series computer were required for each run.
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Detail view for dataset: Analysis of Factors Affecting Historical Dissolved Oxygen Trends in Western Long Island

Region: Western Long Island Sound
Author: HydroQual, Inc.
Sponsor: Management Committee Long Island Sound Estuary Study and New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission
Organization: HydroQual, Inc.
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Organization: HydroQual, Inc.

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Objective: The purpose of this report is to assess the historical decline in dissolved oxygen concentrations in the bottom region of the Western Long Island Sound. The primary factors considered in this assassment are the meterological and hydrological conditions and the nutrient inputs from the point and non-point sources. The former affects the degree, duration, and depth of density stratification, as well as, the gravitational circulation and net transport of the nutrients, phytoplankton and the resulting dissolved oxygen. The secondary factors considered are the changes in turbidity and light penetration, the decrease of toxicity, the ratio of dissolved and particulate forms of nitrogen and changes in denitrification in the water sediment. An understanding of the relationships among these factors provides a basis for projections of water quality improvements associated with various management alternates of the Long Island Sound Study (LISS).
Abstract: The historical pattern of dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in Western Long Island Sound (WLIS) is shown.
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Detail view for dataset: Interstate Sanitation Commission Data (1971-1986)

Region: Long Island Sound Western Narrows
Author: Interstate Sanitation Commission
Sponsor: ISC
Organization: Interstate Sanitation Commission
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Organization: Interstate Sanitation Commission

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Objective: Monitor water quality on a monthly basis over the full annual cycle.
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Collection method: Consists mainly of surface data measurements with bottom measurements collected only in 1983, 1985, and 1986.
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Detail view for dataset: Assessment of Historical Phytoplankton Characteristics and Bloom Phenomena in the New York Harbor Estuarine and New York Bight Ecosystems

Region: Western Long Island Sound, Upper East River, Lower East River, Upper North River, Lower North River, Upper Harbor, Upper Jamaica Bay, Lower Jamaica Bay, Lower Bay, Kill Van Kull, Raritan Bay, Sandy Hook Bay, North Jersey Coast, Mid Jersey Coast and South Jersey Coast
Author: Dr. Elizabeth M. Cosper
Sponsor: The Hudson River Foundation
Organization: Coastal & Environmental Studies, Inc.
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Organization: Coastal & Environmental Studies, Inc.

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Objective: The purpose of this study is to compile existing data sets so as to characterize normal and excessive (blooms) phytoplankton conditions and to determine the location, extent, impacts and factors contributing to the blooms in water bodies of interest to the NY/NJ Harbor Estuary Program.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to compile existing data sets so as to characterize normal and excessive (blooms) phytoplankton conditions and to determine the location, extent, impacts and factors contributing to the blooms in water bodies of interest to the NY/NJ Harbor Estuary Program. There are four major monitoring programs from which data were obtained: the New York City, Harbor Survey, New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP); the Interstate Sanitation Commission (ISSC); the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) in conjunction with the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA); and the Gateway National Park, National Park Service (NPS). The compiled data addresses the following topics:Chlorophyll a- Index of Phytoplankton Abundance, Phytoplankton Species and Biomass, Bloom Conditions Versus Environmental & Water Quality Variables, Algal Bloom Index: Nature of Bloom Impacts and Historical Analysis of Bloom Impacts.
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Processing method: Chloyophyll a is frequently used as an index of phyto plankton biomass and therefore we calculated the long term chlorophyll means for each site for each month of survey in each of the four prgrams. So as to integrate the data sets, sites from the different programs were combined into regional entities and plotted over two decades from 1975-1995, month by month with the long term means for each area indicated by a solid line. Excessive phytoplankton conditions were defined on three bases, first as values which exceed by two fold the long term mean for an area (Chl>2xMean) and secondly as chlorophyll values, which would tend to color the water, levels greater than 20ug/liter (Chl>20) or thirdly greater than 40ug/liter (Chl>40). These conditions were then termed blooms. Phytoplankton enumeration was available for 1991, 1992 and 1993 from the Harbor Survey and 1991 and 1992 from the NJDEP. One of the biggest problems in phytoplankton ecology is how to convert numbers (cells/ml) to biomass since many of a small species are not necessarily equivalent to numbers of a large species. An accepted practice that has been utilized since Strathmann (1967) is to convert to cellular carbon from the average volume using an equation developed from culture ralationships between cell volume and carbon content. We converted all the phtyoplankton cell counts to phytoplankton carbon similarly for the Harbor survey data. Since we have both phytoplankton species enumeration and chlorophyll a measurements for 1991, 1992 and 1993 surveys, correlations between biomass estmates both as phytoplankton carbon using the above method with the chlorophyll measurements as an index of biomass were conducted. If a good correlation could be established, then phytoplankton species counts could be converted into chlorophyll estimates to compare in a historical context to the long term chlorophyll data sets. We correlated water quality and environmental variables with bloom conditions as indicated by chlorophyll levels. Multiple correlation analyses for chlorophyll a (CHL A, ug/l), salinity (SAL, ppt), Temperature (TEMP, C) (top & bottom), dissolved oxygen (DO, mg/l) (top & bottom), biological oxygen demand (BOD, mg/l) (top & bottom), turbidity (TURB, Jackson Trubidity Units & FHU), ammonia (NH3, mg/l), nitrate (NO3, mg/l), total phosphorus (PHOS, mg/l), dissolved phosphorus (ORTHO, mg/l) and total organic carbon (ORG-C, mg/l) were performed for all regional sites and for each region separately. We have developed an "Algal Bloom Index" which quantifies the severity and extent of a bloom so as to characterize the nature of the impact. There are five levels of severity: 1. the water is discolored and clarity is reduced, 2. oxygen is reduced to hypoxic levels, <5ppm but <3ppm, 3. toxicity to fauna occurs and/or dissolved oxygen is reduced <3ppm, 4. mild toxicity to humans occurs and 5. severe toxicity to humans. The extent of the bloom is coded as low (less than a week in a small restricted area), medium (over several weeks in several areas) and high (over several months in extensive areas). Combining severity level with extent can generate an "Algal Bloom Index" (ABI) from 1 to a maximum of 15. The characterization of the bloom impacts were gleaned from annual reports and published literature as much as possible so as to evaluate both the historical trends as well as area the most severely impacted environmentally. Blooms were evaluated from 1957 to 1995; pre-1957 blooms are largely undocumented.
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