Seasonal hypoxia has been observed in Green Bay, Lake Michigan for many years, and these hypereutrophic waters are listed as having impaired water quality for failure to meet the dissolved oxygen (DO) standard of 5 mg/L. The lower bay acts as an efficient sediment trap for organic rich materials and algal debris settling out from the water column. Rapid organic matter decomposition within the sediments results in low oxygen levels in late summer and early fall. Rates of sediment oxygen demand were estimated by measuring the decrease in DO concentrations over time in cores collected from multiple stations in lower Green Bay and incubated on board the Research Vessel Neeskay. Profiles of DO, pH, temperature, turbidity, chlorophyll, and depth were measured at ~27 stations in July, August, and September 2010.  Dissolved oxygen levels were plotted as a function of time to determine depletion rates.  A primary goal is to examine the spatial variation in these rates throughout lower Green Bay.

Benthic biogeochemistry in Green Bay, Lake Michigan

241st National Meeting (2011)

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