Nitrogen Dynamics in the Tidal Freshwater Potomac River, Maryland and Virginia, Water Years 1979-81: A Water-Quality Study of the Tidal Potomac River and Estuary

摘要

The report quantifies the major sources of and sinks for nitrogen in the Potomac River and describes key nitrogen transformation processes. It focuses on the tidal freshwater part of the Potomac, because previous studies have shown that the perturbation caused by large inflows of sewage effluent is largely localized in this segment of the river. Data for the study were collected from August 1, 1977, through September 30, 1981. The report includes synoptic and periodic data collected as part of the Potomac River Quality Assessment program. Information on the loading of nitrogen species into the tidal river from point, nonpoint, and upstream sources was obtained from Coupe and Webb (1984), Hickman (1987), and Blanchard and Hahl (1987). The studies of nitrification rates and ammonia and nitrate uptake were conducted during the summer of 1981.