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The nitrogen cycle in the Seine and Scheldt estuaries
Brion, N.; De Galan, S.; Billen, G.; Garnier, J.; Middelburg, J. (2002). The nitrogen cycle in the Seine and Scheldt estuaries, in: ECSA Local Meeting: ecological structures and functions in the Scheldt Estuary: from past to future, Antwerp, Belgium October 7-10, 2002: abstract book. pp. 24
In: (2002). ECSA Local Meeting: Ecological structures and functions in the Scheldt Estuary: from past to future, Antwerp, Belgium October 7-10, 2002: abstract book. University of Antwerp: Antwerp. 73 + 1 cd-rom pp.
Available in  Authors 
    Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee: Open access 126901 [ download pdf ]
Document type: Conference paper
Keywords
    Aquaculture techniques > Wastewater aquaculture
    Chemical reactions > Denitrification
    Chemical reactions > Nitrification
    Cycles > Chemical cycles > Geochemical cycle > Biogeochemical cycle > Nutrient cycles > Nitrogen cycle
    Mineralization
    Population characteristics > Population density
    ANE, North Sea [Marine Regions]; Belgium, Schelde R. [Marine Regions]; France, Seine R. [Marine Regions]
Authors  Top 
  • Brion, N.
  • De Galan, S.
  • Billen, G.
  • Garnier, J.
  • Middelburg, J.
Abstract
    The Seine and Scheldt estuaries are both located in the same geographical area and they represent important tributaries of the North Sea. Due to their high population density and large agricultural areas, the Seine and Scheldt estuaries receive extremely high nitrogen loads, mainly originating from wastewater and land fertilisers. The way this nitrogen is transformed in the system and exported to the North Sea depends on the characteristics of each system. The Seine and Scheldt estuaries are the outlet of river systems with respectively 78600 km² and 21500 km² watershed area, 420 and 108 m³/s average discharge, 46 and 40 % of agriculture area, and 195 and 425 inh./km² population density. Major difference between the estuaries lays in their hydrological characteristics. While the Seine estuary is typically channelled over most of its length with very reduced intertidal areas and short residence times (in the order of 1 week on the average), the Scheldt estuary has a typical funnel shape with large intertidal areas and long residence times (in the order of 1 month). The influence of these characteristics on major N-transformation processes (inorganic N assimilation by plankton, organic N mineralisation, nitrification, and denitrification) is presented and discussed, and the importance of both estuaries as sources of N for the North Sea is be evaluated.
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