Abstract:

For the purpose of monitoring water quality, discrete hydrographic measurements and grab samples were collected monthly from 2015-01-29 to 2015-12-10, via small boat-based trips at nine stations established throughout Baffin Bay, Texas. Grab samples were analyzed for organic and inorganic nutrients, and chlorophyll a.

Suggested Citation:

Wetz, Michael. 2021. Monthly discrete hydrographic measurements of Baffin Bay, TX, USA from 2015-01-29 to 2015-12-10. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/H3H4EHCJ

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to continue monitoring the water quality of the Baffin Bay system.

Data Parameters and Units:

Date (mm/dd/yyyy) - sampling date Time (hh:mm) - collection time (Central Standard Time) Latitude (DD) - Latitude, south is negative (decimal degrees) Longitude (DD) - Longitude, west is negative (decimal degrees) Site (unitless) - sampling site (BB 1, BB 2, BB 3, BB 4, BB 5, BB 6, BB 7, BB 8, BB 9) Rep (unitless) - replicate A or B Level (m) - depth at which measurements/samples were collected (meters) Chlorophyll_a (µg/L) - chlorophyll a content (micrograms per liter) Conductivity (µS/cm) - conductivity (microsiemens per centimeter) Salinity (unitless) - salinity DO (mg/L) - Dissolved oxygen concentration (milligrams per liter) DO_Pct (%) - Dissolved oxygen saturation pH (pH units) - pH Temperature (°C) - temperature (degrees Celsius) Depth (m) - total water depth at site (meters) Secchi (m) - secchi depth (meters) TSS (mg/L) - total suspended solids (milligrams per liter) VSS (mg/L) - volatile suspended solids (milligrams per liter) Turbidity (NTU) - turbidity (nephelometric turbidity unit) DOC (µM) - dissolved organic carbon (micromoles per liter) TDN (µM) - total dissolved nitrogen (micromoles per liter) TOC (µM) - total organic carbon (micromoles per liter) TN (µM) - total nitrogen (micromoles per Liter) Ammonium (µM) - ammonium (micromoles per liter) N_N (µM) - nitrate + nitrite (micromoles per liter) Nitrite (µM) - nitrite (micromoles per liter) ortho_P (µM) - orthophosphate (micromoles per liter) Silicate (µM) - silicate (micromoles per liter) Comments (unitless) - comments concerning sampling or data Abbreviations within dataset: “NR” (Not Recorded) – measurements/data were not recorded or are not included in dataset “BDL” (Below Detection Limit) – For organic and inorganic nutrients, the value derived from analysis fell below the detection limit of the instrument

Methods:

At each site, hydrographic measurements were collected with a YSI ProPlus multi-parameter instrument from the surface to the bottom at intervals of 0.5 m. A vertical profile was obtained in this manner for temperature, salinity, conductivity, dissolved oxygen concentration and saturation, and pH. A secchi measurement was obtained by submerging a secchi disc in a spot out of direct sunlight to a depth at which it could no longer be seen. Discrete grab samples were collected at 10 cm below the surface and 10 cm above the bottom (using a Van Dorn bottle) in acid-washed, polycarbonate amber bottles, and were stored on ice until processing. Refer to Wetz et al. 2017 for further methodological details.

Instruments:

YSI Professional Plus Multi-Parameter Probe Seal QuAAtro autoanalyzer Shimadzu TOC-Vs analyzer with nitrogen module Turner Trilogy fluorometer

Provenance and Historical References:

Wetz, Michael S., Emily K. Cira, Blair Sterba‐Boatwright, Paul A. Montagna, Terence A. Palmer, and Kenneth C. Hayes. 2017. Exceptionally high organic nitrogen concentrations in a semi‐arid South Texas estuary susceptible to brown tide blooms. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science. 188:27–37. DOI:10.1016/j.ecss.2017.02.001

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