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https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-1075
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-1075
20 Oct 2022
 | 20 Oct 2022

The effects of Hurricane Harvey on Texas coastal zone chemistry

Piers Chapman, Steven F. DiMarco, Anthony H. Knap, Antonietta Quigg, and Nan D. Walker

Abstract. Hurricane Harvey deposited over 90 billion cubic meters of rainwater over central Texas, USA, during late August/early September 2017. During four cruises (June, August, September and November 2017) we observed changes in hydrography, nutrient and oxygen concentrations in Texas coastal waters. Despite intense terrestrial runoff, nutrient supply to the coastal ocean was transient, with little phytoplankton growth observed and no hypoxia. Observations suggest this was probably related to the retention of nutrients in the coastal bays, rapid uptake by phytoplankton of nutrients washed out of the bays, as well as dilution by the sheer volume of rainwater, and the lack of significant carbon reserves in the sediments, despite the imposition of a strong pycnocline. By the November cruise conditions had apparently returned to normal and no long-term effects were observed.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

01 Mar 2023
The effects of Hurricane Harvey on Texas coastal-zone chemistry
Piers Chapman, Steven F. DiMarco, Anthony H. Knap, Antonietta Quigg, and Nan D. Walker
Ocean Sci., 19, 209–227, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-209-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/os-19-209-2023, 2023
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The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
Hurricane Harvey led to unprecedented rainfall over south central Texas in August/September...
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