Major Ion Chemistry of Shark River Slough, Everglades National Park
Abstract
Shark River Slough (SRS) is the dominant surface water flow way in Everglades National Park and its water chemistry is currently being monitored at 6 sites as part of the Florida Coastal Everglades-Long Term Ecological Research program. In order to determine the sources of water, the interactions between the sources of water as well as to calculate residence times of different water source reservoirs and evaporative enrichment, surface water samples were analyzed for major anion and cation concentrations (i.e., Cl, SO2, Ca, K, Mg, and Na). Surface water samples were collected at each site using an ISCO 6172 autosampler, that was programmed to collect a 250-ml sample every 18 h and to composite four such samples into the same 1-liter bottle. Thus, each 1 liter sample represented a 3-day composite. Autosamplers were serviced monthly, and the collected 1 liter of water was split in the laboratory, with one half analyzed for major cations and anions at FIUs hydrogeology laboratory and the other analyzed for total nutrient concentrations at SERCs Nutrient Laboratory. Prior to being analyzed for major cations and anions, the sample was filtered and split again with one half acidified with 10% HCl for the cations analysis. This poster presents the results of the major cations and anions data collected in 2008 and 2009. Chloride and sulfate concentrations in the surface water of SRS tended to be lower and more variable at the most upstream freshwater site as compared to the downstream freshwater sites. The higher variability of the anion concentrations at the most upstream SRS site may be due to its proximity to the water discharge gates along Tamiami Trail that deliver water from the upstream water conservation areas into SRS. The higher concentration and less variability in chloride and sulfate concentrations at the more downstream freshwater sites may be related to greater exposure of the surface water to evaporation.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010AGUFM.H53F1097N
- Keywords:
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- 1871 HYDROLOGY / Surface water quality