Abstract:

For the purpose of monitoring water quality, discrete hydrographic measurements and grab samples were collected at eleven stations established throughout Baffin Bay from 2020-01-18 to 2021-10-29. Grab samples were analyzed for organic and inorganic nutrients, and chlorophyll a.

Suggested Citation:

Wetz, Michael. 2022. Discrete hydrographic measurements of Corpus Christi Bay, TX, USA from 2020-01-18 to 2021-10-29. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/X693D50B

Purpose:

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

Data Parameters and Units:

Date (mm/dd/yyyy), Time (hh:mm), Site, REP (A/B), Latitude (DD), Longitude (DD), Site, Replicate, Level (m), Chlorophyll (µg/L), Conductivity (µS/cm), Salinity, Dissolved Oxygen Concentration (mg/L), Dissolved Oxygen Saturation (%), pH, Temperature (°C), Depth (m), Secchi (m), Dissolved Organic Carbon (µM/L), Total Dissolved Nitrogen (µM/L), Total Organic Carbon (µM/L), Total Nitrogen (µM/L), Ammonium (µM/L), Nitrate + Nitrite (µM/L), Nitrite (µM/L), Orthophosphate (µM/L), Silicate (µM/L), Comments.

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, and total depth was obtained by lowering the secchi disc to the bottom. 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Provenance and Historical References: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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