Seasonal changes of rock magnetic parameters and dissolved iron in the Hiroshima Bay

Frequent outbreaks of red tide caused by dinoflagellate blooms have been reported since 1970 in the Hiroshima bay. Iron is an essential element for dinoflagellates, and is supplied as bivalent or trivalent ions and iron compounds from lands to sea. For damage predictions of red tide, it is important to research the distribution of iron in the bay. In order to investigate the distribution and mode of iron in sediments, suspended solids (SS), and bottom water in the Hiroshima Bay, rock magnetic and geochemical analyses are performed. Sediments of 5 cm in depth and overlying bottom water were taken at three sites in the bay every month. The sediment samples were composed of clayey silt. We measured dissolved iron concentration in bottom waters filtered above 0.45 um grains. The contents of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur in the sediments are measured. The rock magnetic measurements (magnetic susceptibility, NRM, ARM, IRM, HIRM, S-0.3T, magnetic hysteresis, and high temperature magnetometry) of the sediments and SS are conducted. Concentration dependent rock magnetic parameters of the sediments and SS show relatively high values during spring at the near estuary site. It indicates that relatively larger amount of terrigenous materials are supplied in this season. Magnetic grain size decreases during summer, while iron concentration increases in the bottom waters. Data of oceanographic observations at these sites showed that the temperature of the bottom water increased, whereas DO and pH values decreased during summer. The presence of magnetite (Fe3O4) and hematite (Fe2O3) were recognized in all analyzed samples, whereas greigite (Fe3S4) appeared during summer. The contents of sulfur in the sediments also increase in this period. It is implied that magnetite and hematite were dissolved, and greigite was formed associated with the proceeding of the anoxic condition during summer. It is suggested that irons moves between sediments and bottom water corresponding to seasonal redox conditions in the Hiroshima Bay.