TitleRecords of trace metals in sediments from the Oregon shelf and slope: Investigating the occurrence of hypoxia over the past several thousand years
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsErhardt, Andrea M., Clare E. Reimers, David Kadko, and Adina Paytan
Secondary TitleChemical Geology
Volume382
Paginationp.32–43
Date Published2014, Aug.29
Call NumberOSU Libraries: Electronic Subscription
KeywordsAlsea Bay, chemistry, climate change, dissolved oxygen, hypoxia, paleosciences, sediments, Siuslaw Bay, Trace metals, winds, Yaquina Bay
NotesIn recent years, strong coastal winds have caused strong upwelling events, so strong that a layer of low-oxygen seawater has been brought closer to the surface, leading to mass die-offs of marine life, and affecting estuarine waters as well. A current question about these hypoxic events has to do with whether or not they are related to climate change. A look at the history of the region is therefore called for. “A record of past hypoxia occurrence frequency would help distinguish human-induced causes from those related to natural climate changes. . . . Determining trends in trace metal abundances can serve as an indicator for changes in oxygenation conditions over time.” (p.33) The authors look at trace metals in sediments from the Yaquina, Alsea and Siuslaw Rivers and consider other factors possibly influencing their data. “Supplementary data to this article can be found online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2014.05.029 .” (p.42)
DOI10.1016/j.chemgeo.2014.05.029
Series TitleChemical Geology