CICEET Progress Report for the period 8/1/00 through 1/31/01

Project Title:

In-Situ Nutrient Monitoring in Estuaries

Principal Investigator(s):

Jane M. Caffrey,
Hans Jannasch,
Mark Silberstein

I. Work Accomplishments

A. Tasks for the period

The tasks scheduled for completion in year 2 include: Continuously monitor nitrate, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, etc. at two locations in Elkhorn Slough. Process and analyze data in a timely fashion. Adapt phosphate chemistry to analyzer. Make necessary changes to manifold (e.g., add heater) and electronics/software. Purchase parts and assemble four more analyzers. Test phosphate analyzers in Elkhorn slough. Begin deployments at other NERR sites. Present preliminary results at National meeting.

B. Work Plan to Accomplish Tasks.

Nitrate, temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen have been continuously monitored at the Azevedo Pond YSI deployment site in Elkhorn Slough. Dr Thomas Chapin has increased the efficiency of power usage by the Digi-Scanners and deployments are now lasting 3 weeks or more.

Three additional Nitrate Digi-Scanners have been constructed and tested and the phosphate Digi-Scanner is assembled and testing has begun.

Some results from this project were presented at the NERRA conference in October 2000 in Virginia by Jane Caffrey during a poster session. Thomas Chapin presented results at the Fall AGU meeting in San Francisco in December 2000.

Dr. Jane Caffrey traveled to MBARI in December 2000 for training and use of Digi-Scanners. Deployments in Weeks Bay were begun on December 18, 2000.

Drs. Johnson, Jannasch and Chapin have had some very preliminary discussions with representatives from YSI about the possibility of commercializing this instrument.

C. Concerns or Difficulties.

We have no concerns or difficulties at this time

D. Anticipated Success in Meeting Project Objectives in Scheduled Project Period.

With our one-year no cost extension and the third year of funding, we anticipate meeting the project objectives.

E. Preliminary data

Although the first deployment (Dec 18-Jan 4) in Weeks Bay was unsuccessful due to a pinched reagent line, the second deployment (Jan 4 — Jan 25) was successful. Preliminary data from this deployment showed enhanced nutrient concentrations up to 60 µM following rainfall events (Figure 1.gif, Figure 1 — Preliminary NO3- concentration (µM) and rainfall in Weeks Bay between Jan. 4-25, 2001.).

As of Feb 5th, 2001, winter rains in Azevedo Pond have been relatively light and have not resulted in extreme spikes of nitrate runoff from agricultural fields. Short duration rain events did lead to increased nitrate levels of 60 mM Figure 2.gif (Figure 2 Preliminary NO3- results from Azevedo Pond January 25 to February 5, 2001), but we have yet to see nitrate levels >100 mM which were observed in winter 2000.

 

II. Tasks and Activities for the Next Report Period.

A. Tasks for the Next Report Period.

A second Digi-Scanner will be deployed in Elkhorn Slough. The tasks for the next report period include continued testing of the phosphate Digi-Scanners in Elkhorn Slough. We are continuing to work on extending the duration of deployments. Deployments in Weeks Bay will continue and will begin in Apalachicola Bay during the spring. We will continue processing and analyzing data in a timely fashion. Further results will be presented at the Estuarine Research Federation meeting in November 2001. We will begin preparing of manuscripts for publication describing both the technology of the NO3- Digi-Scanners and the monitoring results from Azevedo Pond.

B. Work Plan to Accomplish Tasks.

We are working to extend the duration of the DigiScanner deployments to 2-3 months with a new type of battery pack

For the next 6-month period, we will continue working on the adaptation of phosphate chemistry for the Digi-Scanners. Testing of phosphate Digi-Scanners in Elkhorn Slough will begin. Testing at other NERRs sites will continue with deployments at Weeks Bay and Apalachicola Bay.

C. Concerns or Difficulties

We have no concerns or difficulties at this time.

III. Expenditures

Expenditures were within the expected range.