title: Characterizing light attenuation within Northwest Florida Estuaries: Implications for RESTORE Act water quality monitoring.
abstract: Water Quality (WQ) condition is based on ecosystem stressor indicators (e.g. water clarity) which are biogeochemically important and critical when considering the Deepwater Horizon oil spill restoration efforts under the 2012 RESTORE Act. Nearly all of the proposed RESTORE projects list restoring WC as a goal, but 90% neglect water clarity. Here, dynamics of optical constituents impacting clarity are presented from a 2009-2011 study within Pensacola, Choctawhatchee, St. Andrew and St. Joseph estuaries (targeted RESTORE sites) in Northwest Florida. Phytoplankton were the smallest contribution to total absorption (at-wPAR) at 412nm (5-11%), whereas colored dissolved organic matter was the largest (61-79%). Estuarine at-wPAR was significantly related to light attenuation (KdPAR), where individual contributors to clarity and the influence of climatic events were discerned. Provided are conversion equations demonstrating interoperability of clarity indicators between traditional State-measured WQ measures (e.g. secchi disc), optical constituents, and even satellite remote sensing for obtaining baseline assessments.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development NRMRL Land Remediation & Pollution Control Division, 26 W. MLK Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, United States. Electronic address: conmy.robyn@epa.gov.
authors.forename: Robyn N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Conmy
authors.affiliation: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development NERL Exposure Methods and Measurement Division, 109 T.W. Alexander Dr., RTP, NC 27711, United States.
authors.forename: Blake A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Schaeffer
authors.affiliation: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development NRMRL Land Remediation & Pollution Control Division, 26 W. MLK Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, United States.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schubauer-Berigan
authors.affiliation: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development NHEERL Gulf Ecology Division, 1 Sabine, Island, Drive, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561, United States.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aukamp
authors.affiliation: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development NHEERL Gulf Ecology Division, 1 Sabine, Island, Drive, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561, United States.
authors.forename: Allyn
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duffy
authors.affiliation: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development NHEERL Gulf Ecology Division, 1 Sabine, Island, Drive, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561, United States.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lehrter
authors.affiliation: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development NHEERL Gulf Ecology Division, 1 Sabine, Island, Drive, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561, United States.
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Greene
mesh_terms: D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000379:methods; D063366:Estuaries; D005431:Florida; D008027:Light; D059392:Petroleum Pollution; D010839:Phytoplankton; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control; D060753:Water Quality
keywords: Deepwater Horizon oil spill; Light attenuation; Northwest Florida Estuaries; RESTORE Act; Water quality & clarity