Spatial and temporal trends and controlling factors of carbonate chemistry in the estuaries of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico

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dc.contributor.advisorHu, Xinping
dc.contributor.authorMcCutcheon, Melissa Rae
dc.contributor.committeeMemberPollack, Jennifer Beseres
dc.contributor.committeeMemberWalther, Benjamin
dc.contributor.committeeMemberFelix, J. David
dc.creator.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1289-9191en_US
dc.date.accessioned2021-10-08T21:29:56Z
dc.date.available2021-10-08T21:29:56Z
dc.date.issued2021-05
dc.description.abstractEstuarine carbonate chemistry is an important field of study because of its ties to coastal acidification (and associated ecological and economic impacts) as well as regional carbon budgets. This dissertation investigated the temporal and spatial variability in carbonate chemistry in estuaries of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico (nwGOM) as well as the relationships between the carbonate system and other environmental parameters. First, a four-decade dataset that spans seven estuaries along a latitudinal gradient was used investigate long-term trends in calculated carbonate system parameters. Partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) was generally increasing, and rates indicated that the estuaries have become an increasing source of CO2 to the atmosphere. Saturation state of aragonite (ΩAr) was generally decreasing across the region, suggesting that carbonate chemistry has become less suitable to calcifying organisms. Next diel and seasonal variability in pH and pCO2 at a tidal inlet was assessed; variability was substantial over both timescales, though fluctuations were smaller than many other regions. Data from co-located environmental sensors suggested that temperature, net community metabolism, tidal fluctuations, and freshwater inflow all exerted important controls on the carbonate system, and pCO2 was among the most important of many environmental parameters to distinguish between seasons and between day/night conditions. Finally, the last chapter investigated carbonate system dynamics in an estuary that experiences periodic summertime hypoxia. There was a positive relationship between pH and dissolved oxygen concentration; however, hypoxic conditions did not result in critically low pH as it has in other coastal systems. The high buffer capacity was attributed to strong evaporation and high productivity in adjacent seagrass meadows, highlighting the importance of intrinsic buffer capacity on the extent of hypoxia-induced acidification.en_US
dc.description.collegeCollege of Science and Engineeringen_US
dc.description.departmentPhysical and Environmental Sciencesen_US
dc.format.extent203 pagesen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1969.6/89800
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.rightsThis material is made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used should be fully credited with its source. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards. Permission for publication of this material, in part or in full, must be secured with the author and/or publisher.en_US
dc.subjectAcidificationen_US
dc.subjectcarbonate chemistryen_US
dc.subjectestuaryen_US
dc.subjecthypoxiaen_US
dc.subjectLong-term trendsen_US
dc.titleSpatial and temporal trends and controlling factors of carbonate chemistry in the estuaries of the northwestern Gulf of Mexicoen_US
dc.typeTexten_US
dc.type.genreDissertationen_US
dcterms.typeText
thesis.degree.disciplineCoastal and Marine System Scienceen_US
thesis.degree.grantorTexas A & M University--Corpus Christien_US
thesis.degree.levelDoctoralen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen_US

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