Tamar Estuary, Plymouth, south west England

Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column; Dissolved metal concentrations in the water column; Salinity of the water column; Temperature of the water column; Concentration of suspended particulate material in the water column

Fluorometers; discrete water samplers; particulates samplers; salinity sensor; elemental analysers; autoanalysers; electron microprobes; dissolved gas sensors

Distributions of aluminium in the Tamar estuary were recorded through spring-neap tidal cycles in winter and summer. Dissolved aluminium is a highly reactive constituent in the Tamar estuary, undergoing net removal in the very low salinity region and net input to mid-estuary. Serial field sampling was carried out at 2 (occasionally 3) day intervals during a summer (27 July to 9 August 1982) and a winter (23 January to 7 February 1983) period. The summer investigation commenced 3 days prior to peak neap tide conditions and continued to 3 days after the following peak spring tide. The winter investigation started and ended with neap tides, embracing spring tide conditions which peaked on 30 January. Approximately 30 samples of surface water were collected each day by polythene bucket at regular intervals during an up-estuarine traverse timed to coincide with local high water. Each sample was filtered immediately on collection through an acid washed membrane filter (0.45 micron pore size) and the filtrate was analysed on board for dissolved aluminium using a fluorometric method. Filterable iron (passing a 0.45 micron filter) was determined during the earlier part of the winter series of observations. All investigations in the field were carried out using a 12m length flat bottomed Rotork Seatruck. Water was pumped from a depth of 0.5m using a submersible (Flygt B2040) centrifugal pump through a constant levelled reservoir which held the detecting sensors. The following environmental data were recorded continuously during the traverses: temperature, salinity, chloride ion, dissolved oxygen and turbidity.

Morris, A.W., Howland and Bale, A.J. (1986) Dissolved aluminium in the Tamar estuary, southwest England., Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. Vol. 50(2): 189-197.

Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Prospect Place The Hoe
Plymouth
England
PL1 3DH
United Kingdom