Signatures contained in suspended particulate matter with application to coastal-ocean environmental studies

摘要

Suspended particulate matter (SPM) samples from the New York Bight Apex collected during a sewage-dump experiment were analyzed for chemical as well as physical parameters such as particle-size distributions. The latter provided a signature of the SPM's sewage component that allowed differentiation from other components. These results were applied to a series of eight Water Column Characterization (WCC) cruises in this area. Co-analysis of WCC and sewage dump particle-size distributions by factor analysis and Distribution Component Analysis revealed patterns that allowed differentiation of sewage-derived components for all WCC samples. From this, a long-termed budget of SPM components, including sewage-derived materials, was constructed.rnGiven this, we conclude that useful tools are available for developing signatures of anthropogenic components of SPM plumes which are independent of study sites or subject materials. These signatures can be applied to understand the sources, pathways and sinks of such materials in the coastal ocean as well as constructing long-termed budgets thereof. Ultimately such estimates can be critical to waste management strategies and decisions in an ever more anthropogenically-impacted coastal ocean.