Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Water Quality In Chesapeake Bay : Virginia Portion, Water Year 1991 : A Report To The Virginia Water Control Board, Kevin Curling, Bruce Neilson

Reports

The purpose of this report is to characterize water quality conditions during the 1991 water year, October 1990 through September 1991. Most information is provided in graphical format and only data for the Virginia portion of Chesapeake Bay is included. No interpretation is included, since data analysis is the stated purpose of several other reports. This report and companion data reports provide to both scientists and managers ready access to a portion of the data. It is possible, for example, to quickly examine seasonal patterns, compare conditions at two stations, or see if surface and bottom conditions differ significantly. Trends, …

Data Base Development For Characterizing Contaminated Sediments In The Chesapeake Bay Region, Gary F. Anderson, Caroline Brouwer-Riel, Maynard M. Nichols

Reports

This project is one component of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Coastal Geology Program directed to polluted sediments. Its long-term aim is to develop a comprehensive database on estuarine contaminated sediments that provides a summary of information and a digital reference source of detailed and readily accessible data. It focuses on Chesapeake Bay because there is a wealth of data on bottom sediments and sedimentary contaminants. However, this data is fragmented, uncollated and dispersed in many papers, books, reports, files and documents, often local sources, outside the mainstream of national consideration and scientific knowledge. Without an organized body of data, …

Chesapeake Bay Wave Climate : Thimble Shoal Light Wave Station, Report And Summary Of Wave Observations, October 8, 1990 Through August 22, 1991 And Chesapeake Light Tower - Vims Star Gage Test Measurements And Evaluation, July, August, October 1991, John D. Boon, D. A. Hepworth, K. D. Suh, F. H. Farmer

Reports

This report also presents a description of a directional wave gaging system, known as a "Star" gage, that is designed for long-term, low-maintenance operation both within and immediately outside the Chesapeake Bay entrance area. This development was prompted by our dependence to date on the single-point, PUV-type directional wave gage described below. While ideally suited for short-term investigative studies at different sites, the PUV directional wave gage requires field service visits at monthly intervals to maintain adequate performance and uninterrupted operation. A prototype Star gage system was constructed and field tested to evaluate its potential use as a long-term and …

Sediment Processes Monitoring Data Report For Calendar Year 1989, Cheol Mo, Bruce Neilson, Richard L. Wetzel

Reports

Pairs of particle interceptor traps were deployed at three depths - 3, 6, and 9 meters with deployment intervals typically lasting about two weeks. At times of deployment and retrieval, profiles of water temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen content were made and water samples were collected at trap depths. Bottom sediments also were collected and a sub-sample of the surficial sediments taken. Water samples, bottom sediments, and the materials collected in the traps were returned to the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences for analysis. The data collected during both 1988 and 1989 are presented in the appendices. Both 1988 and …

A Feasibility Study Of Detached Breakwater Designs Using A Combined Refraction/Diffraction Wave Model, Virginia Beach, Virginia, John D. Boon

Reports

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science, together with management agencies in the commonwealth, has a continuing interest in the matter of beach preserva~ion along Virginia's Atlantic coastline. This interest is particularly acute along the coastline fronting the resort city of Virginia Beach, Virginia, where some 225,000 cubic meters of artificial sand nourishment are required each year to maintain recreational beaches. Wright et al.(1987), in their detailed report on beach dynamics from Cape Henry to False Cape, have stated that offshore loss of sand is a major cause of shoreline erosion in the Virginia Beach sector. Because of the narrowness and …

Chesapeake Bay Wave Climate : Wolf Trap Wave Station, Report And Summary Of Wave Observations November 6, 1989 Through August 2, 1990, John D. Boon, D. A. Hepworth, F. H. Farmer

Reports

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science, in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Soil and Water Conservation, has identified as one of its major goals the systematic study of hydrodynamic processes that affect recreational, shoreline and benthic resources in the coastal zone of the Commonwealth. In pursuit of that goal, a long-term study of the wave climate in the Virginia portion of Chesapeake Bay was initiated in 1988 with support from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration through the Coastal Zone Management Program administered by the Virginia Council on the Environment (Grant No. NA89AA-D-CZ134).

Temporal And Spatial Variations In Chesapeake Bay Water Quality: A Video Data Report, Sarah E. Rennie, Bruce Neilson

Reports

Over the past two years we have been developing computer programs to investigate various scientific visualization techniques as applied to estuarine data. The original impetus was to be able to visualize the results of the three-dimensional hydrodynamic model under development at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary (VIMS). We quickly recognized the superior ability of certain graphic approaches, especially pseudocolor animation, to efficiently transmit a tremendous amount of information to the viewer, allowing the scientist to gain an insight into the dynamics of the data not otherwise available. We decided to apply this technique to …

Water Quality In Chesapeake Bay : Virginia Portion, Water Year 1988 : A Report To The Virginia Water Control Board, Kevin Curling, Bruce Neilson

Reports

The purpose of this report is to characterize water quality conditions during the 1988 water year, October 1987 through September 1988. For the most part, the information is provided in graphical format. Only data for the Virginia portion of Chesapeake Bay is included. No data analysis or interpretation is included, since this is the stated purpose of several other reports. This report will be useful to both scientists and managers who need ready access to some portion of the data on a regular basis. With this report it is possible to quickly examine seasonal patterns, compare conditions at two stations, …

Sediment Characterization Of Coastal Lagoons And Bays, Mid-Atlantic Region, Maynard N. Nichols, C. M. Brouwer-Riel

Reports

Sediment characterizations for the following lagoons and bays:

• Great South Bay
• Barnegat Bay
• New Jersey Inland Bays, Great Sound
• Delaware Inland Bays
• Chincoteague Bay

Water Quality In Chesapeake Bay : Virginia Portion, Water Year 1990 : A Report To The Virginia Water Control Board, Kevin Curling, Bruce Neilson

Reports

The purpose of this report is to characterize water quality conditions during the 1990 water year, October 1989 through September 1990. For the most part, the information is provided in graphical format. Only data for the Virginia portion of Chesapeake Bay is included. No data analysis or interpretation is included, since this is the stated purpose of a number of other reports. This report will be useful to both scientists and managers who need ready access to some portion of the data on a regular basis. With this report it is possible to quickly examine seasonal patterns, compare conditions at …

Sediment Characterization Of Chesaapeake Bay And Its Tributaries, Maynard M. Nichols, S. C. Kim, C. M. Brouwer

Reports

Sediment characterizations for the following estuaries and rivers:

• Chesapeake Bay
• Potomac River
• Rappahannock River
• York River
• James River
• Chester River
• Choptank River

Water Quality In Chesapeake Bay : Virginia Portion, Water Year 1989 : A Report To The Virginia Water Control Board, Kevin Curling, Bruce Neilson

Reports

The purpose of this report is to characterize water quality conditions during the 1909 water year, October 1988 through September 1989. For the most part, the information is provided in graphical format. Only data for the Virginia portion of Chesapeake Bay is included. No data analysis or interpretation i:s included, since this is the stated purpose of a number of other reports a. We believe that the report will be useful to both scientists and managers who need ready access to some portion of the data on a regular basis. With this report one could, for example, quickly examine seasonal …

Water Quality In Chesapeake Bay : Virginia Portion, Water Year 1985 : A Report To The Virginia Water Control Board, Kevin Curling, Bruce Neilson

Reports

The purpose of this report is to characterize water quality conditions during the 1985 water year, October 1984 through September 1985. For the most part, the information is provided in graphical format. Only data for the Virginia portion of Chesapeake Bay is included. No data analysis or interpretation is included, since this is the stated purpose of a number of other reports. We believe that the report will be useful to both scientists and managers who need ready access to some portion of the data on a regular basis. With this report one could, for example, quickly examine seasonal patterns, …

Chesapeake Bay Wave Climate : Thimble Shoals Wave Station, Report And Summary Of Wave Observations, September 27, 1988 Through October 17, 1989, John D. Boon, S. M. Kimball, K. D. Suh, D. A. Hepworth

Reports

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science, in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Soil and Water Conservation, has identified as one of its major goals the systematic study of hydrodynamic processes that affect recreational, shoreline and benthic resources in the coastal zone of the Commonwealth. In pursuit of that goal, a long-term study of the wave climate in the Virginia portion of Chesapeake Bay was initiated in 1988 with support from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration through the Coastal Zone Management Program administered by the Virginia Council on the Environment (Grant Ho. HA88AA-D-CZ092). Past …

Benthic Habitat Mapping For Living Resources, Robert J. Diaz, Paul Gapcynski, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Reports

Much of the development activity in Chesapeake Bay involves modification to subtidal bottoms. . . .

James River Seed Oyster Bed Project : Physical Data Report, I, 1984-1987, D. Hepworth

Reports

No abstract provided.

Plume Monitoring Of Rappahannock And York Spit Channels, Baltimore Harbor And Channels: Phase Ii, York Spit Channel, M. Nichols, R. J. Diaz, Et Al

Reports

This report provides new data acquired by monitoring of hopper dredging operations at the York Spit Channel in southern Chesapeake Bay. Turbidity was measured and acoustical sensing was performed from a vessel tracking through the plumes while water samples were obtained at fixed stations for analyses of salinity and total suspended sediment concentrations. Other parameters include temperature and thickness of deposited layers. The plumes were monitored June 14, 1988 for 8.5 hours and six dredging cycles along the channel length. Most of the dredged material is silty sand. Normal background concentrations before dredging are in the range 2.6 to 17 …

Sediment Nutrient Flux Data From A Seasonal Simulation Of Water Chemistry In Gunston Cove, Va, B. E. Baker, C. F. Cerco

Reports

No abstract provided.

Response Characteristics Of A Short Range, High Resolution, Digital Sonar Altimeter, Malcolm O. Green, John D. Boon

Reports

The Datasonics Model ASA-920 digital sonar altimeter (DSA) is a compact, high frequency (1 MHz), short range (0.5 to 5 m) underwater sonar device originally designed as an altimeter for submersib1es. Wright et al. (1986) have used the DSA successfully to measure changes in relative bed elevation at a point on the shoreface prior to and during a storm. Fixed to a rigid mounting on the seabed, the DSA produces a digital output that is proportional to the transducer elevation above the bed. The purpose of this report is to describe the response characteristics of the DSA.

Field Measurements Of Tidal Currents, I664 Tunnel Axis, Hampton Roads, Virginia : A Report To Morrison-Knudsen/Interbeton, Physical Oceanography Division, Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Reports

Currents in the region of Newport News Point of the James River were measured at the request of Morrison-Knudsen/Interbeton to examine maximum flood and ebb values during spring tides and determine first order relationships of current strengths and phase lags between this region and Chesapeake Bay Entrance predictions.

Plume Monitoring Of Rappahannock And York Spit Channels, Baltimore Harbor And Channels: Phase 1, M. Nichols, R. J. Diaz, Et Al

Reports

A major element and concern necessary for evaluating the environmental impact of dredging operations is the dispersion of finegrained dredged material. The turbid plume generated by draghead agitation and by overflow processes from a hopper dredge can dictate the degree of potential adverse effects. Under certain environmental and aesthetic circumstances control of the plume may be advisable. Although turbid plumes produced by open water disposal operations have been evaluated in many investigations (e.g. Barnard. 1978). detailed field assessments of plumes produced by hopper dredging operations are scarce.

Shoreface And Beach Dynamics Of The Coastal Region From Cape Henry To False Cape, Virginia, L. D. Wright, C. S. Kim, C. S. Hardaway Jr., S. M. Kimball, M. O. Green

Reports

The processes which drive the beach and nearshore changes vary considerably in space and time. The spatial variability is the result of modulations of waves and wave induced processes by the complex topography of the shoreface and inner shelf fronting the beaches. In this study we employed a state-of-the-art computer model to evaluate the nature of these modifications and their impact on coastal processes. The model estimates wave modifications by shoaling, refraction, diffraction. and loss of wave energy by frictional interaction with the bottom.

Hydrographic Data From The Wolftrap Section, 1982-1983, L. M. Huzzey, J. M. Brubaker

Reports

No abstract provided.

Nearshore And Surf-Zone Morphodynamics: A Global Environmental Model For Predicting Hazards And Changes. Appendix 6. Standing Waves On A Pronounced Bar Trough Beach, Nungjane C. Shi, L. D. Wright

Reports

The hypothesis that a pronounced bar-trough surf zone topography favors resonance of standing waves with antinodes located over the bar is examined. Numerical and field investigations of standing waves in a bar-trough surf zone suggest a selective trapping of wave energy at specific resonant frequencies in the subharmonic and the high frequency infragravity bands and a possible suppression of lower frequencies. The resonant frequencies predicted by the numerical model remain fairly constant throughtout the tidal cycle due to the small tidal range typically associated with a bar-trough beach. Cross-shore bar migration changes the resonant frequencies. Numerical simulations show that an …

Nearshore And Surf-Zone Morphodynamics : A Global Environmental Model For Predicting Hazards And Changes, L. D. Wright, N. C. Shi, John D. Boon

Reports

The long-term goal of the project has been to develop improved, accurate predictability of nearshore, surf zone, and beach hydrodynamic and morphologic assemblages, based on lucidation of the universal principles governing nearshore and surf zone morphodynamic behavior.

Effect Of Temperature And Dissolved Oxygen On Sediment-Water Nutrient Flux, C. F. Cerco

Reports

A series of experiments was conducted in order to determine the influence of water-column temperature and dissolved oxygen on sediment-water nutrient flux. Three nutrients were considered: ammoniurn nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and ortho phosphorus. Results of the experiments indicated that nutrient concentration in the overlying water had to be considered, as well as temperature and dissolved oxygen, as an independent variable which affected sediment-water nutrient flux.

Operation Manual For The Vims Combined Hydrodynamic-Ecosystem Model (Hem), Virginia Institute Of Marine Science

Reports

Since about 1970, VIMS has been developing water quality simulation models for the Virginia State Water Control Board under the Cooperative State Agencies (CSA) agreement. Under this agreement, VIMS has conducted field programs and developed and validated a number of water quality models. In order to make this accumulated experience available to the State Water Control Board and others, VIMS has prepared a users' manual and sample cases for the combined hydrodynamic-ecosystem model (HEM).

Sediment-Water Column Exchanges Of Nutrients And Oxygen In The Tidal James And Appomattox Rivers, Carl F. Cerco

Reports

Fluxes between the sediments and overlying water of ammonium, nitrate, total phosphorus, ortho phosphorus, and dissolved oxygen have been measured in the tidal James and Appomattox Rivers, Va. A total of 68 nutrient flux measures, 203 oxygen flux measures, and 18 control measures were collected in the summer months, 1983 and 1984.

Ammonium is predominantly released from the sediments at a mean rate of 9.82 mg/m /hr. Nitrate is predominantly taken up by the sediments at a mean rate of 1.53 mg/m /hr. Total phosphorus is taken up by the sediments at a mean rate of 1.67 mg/m /hr. Ortho …

Summary Report On The Calibration Of The Water Quality Models Of The Chesapeake Bay System, H. S. Chen, Paul V. Hyer, Y. Unkulvasapaul, Bruce Neilson

Reports

The intended use of the water quality model was to predict the levels of important water quality parameters. in particular the dissolved oxygen levels and the algal populations. for alternative sets of nutrient loadings. The goals of the present modelling study were to apply appropriate models to the Chesapeake Bay system. to adjust the models so that they accurately simulated conditions in the prototype and to use those models to predict conditions under a number of nutrient loading scenarios. This report provides a summary of the work done to satisfy the first two of those three objectives.

James River Slack Water Data Report : Temperature, Salinity, Dissolved Oxygen, 1971 - 1980, T. J. Brooks, C. S. Fang

Reports

The slack water survey program, which has been supp orted by the State Water Control Board and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science under the Cooperative State Agencies program, provides an extended series of tem perature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and nutrient measurements along the James River. These have been used to: 1) establish, verify, and update mathe matical and physical hydraulic models; 2) provide a baseline against which effects of unusual events have been measured; and could be used to: 3) es tablish annu al and longer period 11 climatological" trends in response to changing natural phenomena and man-made modifica …