Sediment Trap Study in the Green Bay Mass Balance Program: Mass and OrganicCarbon Fluxes, Resuspension, and Particle Settling Velocities

摘要

The research is a part of a large, multidisciplinary program designed to measureand model the mass balance of congener-specific polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and dieldrin in Green Bay, western Lake Michigan. In the report, the authors document the results of their sediment trap study designed to collect representative samples of settling particulate material from five sites within the southern portion of the bay. Measuring the mass collected allowed them to calculate the gross downward flux of particulate matter and particle settling velocities. Therefore the objectives of the overall GBMBS are (1) to carry out a detailed mass balance of Great Lakes toxic substances, notably individual PCB congeners in Green Bay, and (2) based on the results, apply predictive tools that will aid resource managers in evaluating the impact of management decisions (EPA, 1989). The objectives of the portion of the mass balance study reported here are (1) to quantify the seasonal flux of resuspended sediments within the bay, and (2) to estimate net ensemble particle settling velocities.