Modeling Nitrogen Cycling in Delaware Estuary

Estuaries play a critical role in transforming the biogeochemical properties of water that originates from fluvial sources before it is ultimately discharged to the coastal ocean. Nutrient cycling and export within the Delaware Estuary affect the ecosystem functions both within Delaware Bay and on the adjacent continental shelf. A realistic coupled hydrodynamical-biogeochemical modeling framework was developed for the Delaware Bay using ROMS (Regional Ocean Modeling System; myroms.org) to quantify nitrogen fluxes and budgets. The modeling system includes inert and age tracers to identify water transport pathways. Model skill assessment used a host of in-situ physical and biogeochemical data, and satellite products. The nitrogen budget was estimated for a five-year period of 2007-2011. A large portion of the incoming nitrogen from terrestrial sources is denitrified or buried in the Bay. Positive net ecosystem production contributes to organic nitrogen export to the shelf. There is strong interannual variability in riverine nitrogen inflows, but in years with greater riverine nitrogen input most of the excess nitrogen is buried, denitrified or exported to the shelf; the net ecosystem production shows less variability. By taking advantage of a process-based biogeochemical model and an ensemble of available observed and empirical evidence, this study provides more detailed information about nitrogen fluxes in Delaware Estuary than previously established.