title: Environmental quality of Jordanian coastal surface sediment, Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea.
abstract: Surface sediment samples were collected from five stations along the Jordanian coast of the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, during October and November over 2 years, 2000 and 2001. The monthly sedimentation rate also was estimated for the same stations. Collected sediments were analyzed for color, odor, redox potential, grain size, organic carbon, organic nitrogen, calcium carbonate, and total phosphorus. The Hotels area at the northernmost tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, characterized by sandy beaches and sea grass bottom habitat, exhibited the lowest values for redox potential and was associated with a black color. The Phosphate Port area exhibited the highest sedimentation rate, finest grain size, highest organic carbon content, and highest total phosphorus concentration. This is a deposition habitat that receives phosphate particles lost during shipment. The Marine Science Station and the Tourist Camp, typical coral reef habitats, had the highest calcium carbonate and organic nitrogen concentrations. This is directly attributed to the nature of the bottom habitat. Calcium carbonate deposits result from the erosion of hard corals, and organic nitrogen accumulates due to the rapid consumption and recycling of plankton in the coral reef framework. Comparison of the current records with old records from the 1970s and early 1980s indicates significant improvement in the environmental quality at the Phosphate Port. Tracking the coastal management practices over time shows that these improvements in the environmental quality can be attributed both to the zero discharge policy Jordan has followed since 1986 and to improvements in the phosphate handling system by the Ports Corporation.
authors.affiliation: Marine Science Station, University of Jordan/Yarmouk University, Aqaba. abuadam@ju.edu.jo
authors.forename: Mohammad I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Badran
authors.forename: Mohammad K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Al Zibdah
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D007597:Jordan; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D010710:Phosphates / Q000032:analysis; D010933:Plankton / Q000254:growth & development; D011786:Quality Control; D012722:Sewage
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D010710:Phosphates; D012722:Sewage; D009584:Nitrogen