Hypoxia of bottom waters of the Razdolnaya River estuary

Abstract

The hypoxia of the bottom waters in the Razdolnaya River estuary was observed for the first time in September 2014 during the survey. It is formed as in the seaward part: oxygen is absorbed as a result of destruction of excessive phytoplankton biomass that settles to the bottom and is synthesized on the upper horizon. The high value of primary production in the riverine part of the estuary was caused by the pycnocline formed. Thus, phytoplankton “blooms” above and undergoes destruction beneath the pycnocline. Oxygen is distributed symmetrically in both parts of the estuary with respect to a bar: similar oxygen concentrations, which are maximum on the surface and minimum at the bottom, 300 and <60 μm/L, respectively, are recorded. The anomalies of hydrochemical parameters that have been formed during this process are sharply different in the two parts of the estuary, which most vividly manifests itself in the N/P value and the partial pressure of carbon dioxide pCO₂. The causes of this unique situation are discussed.