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Marine and atmospheric sciences.

Article Excerpt
Chair: Zikri Arslan, Jackson State University

Vice-chair: Hyun J. Cho, Jackson State University

FRIDAY MORNING

Elm

9:00 Divisional Meeting

O8.01

9:30 COMPARISON OF ENVIROMENTAL PARAMETERS OF THE BAY OF ST. LOUIS, MISSISSIPPI, BEFORE AND AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA

Matthew Stone, Donald Redalje, Allison Mojzis

University of Southern Mississippi

The Bay of St. Louis is a shallow estuary in the northern Gulf of Mexico, roughly 85 km2 in area, with freshwater inputs from the Jordan and Wolfe Rivers, and several bayous. Environmental quality studies were conducted in 2003-2004 and are continuing through 2008 in the Bay of St. Louis. We sampled temperature, salinity, depth, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity at each of nine standard stations, eight located in the bay and one in the adjacent Mississippi Sound. In this study, we have compared environmental characteristics both before and after the Hurricane Katrina with the goal of determining if the storm had an effect on by conditions. We found that the bay characteristics did not vary after the storm from values obtained prior to the storm through use of statistical analyses for spatial and temporal variation.

O8.02

9:50 INFLUENCE OF MONSOON WINDS ON THE MAKASSAR STRAIT THROUGHFLOW

David Rosenfield, Dmitri Nechaev, Vladimir Kamenkovich

University of Southern Mississippi

The flow through the Indonesian Seas, or Indonesian Throughflow (ITF), from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean, is an important part of the Earth's climate system. Numerical simulation of this flow is a challenging task because this region restricts water flow between narrow constrictions, above shallow sills (50-1,500 m), and through a maze of over 18,000 islands. Since a major portion of the ITF flows through the Makassar Strait, a simulation using a higher resolution model of this region is being developed currently. To improve the simulation, a procedure was created which assimilates in-situ data using an established variational data assimilation technique. An optimal set of boundary conditions minimizes the model-data misfit--the difference between model and in-situ data. To date, a comprehensive dataset from moored buoys (1996-1998) has been acquired, while a newer dataset (2003-2006) will be available soon. To improve the simulation further, the NOGAPS wind stress climatology has been acquired and will be used as a surface boundary condition. Preliminary data will be presented, while ideas for further avenues of study will be discussed.

O8.03

10:10 ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS FOR FOG AND DEW EVENTS IN MISSISSIPPI

Loren White, Imani Morris

Jackson State University

Using data from surface synoptic observing stations, cases of widespread fog in the vicinity of Mississippi Mesonet observing stations have been identified, as well as nights favorable for dew formation. The vertical variation between 2 m and 10 m of temperature, humidity, and wind are then examined during these events in order to understand how these parameters evolve differently under fog versus dewfall conditions. The fog conditions are further differented according to whether associated with precipitation. A preliminary seasonal climatology of fog and dew events can also be assembled from the data.

10:45-11:45 Poster Session Location: Grand Ballroom

P8.01

COPRECIPITATION OF TRACE ELEMENTS BY YTTERBIUM HYDROXIDE FROM FISH OTOLITHS

Domingos D. Afonso (1), Zikri Arslan (1), Anthony J. Bednar (2)

(1) Jackson State University, (2) US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)

Fish otoliths grow throughout the life offish and record the trace element chemistry of the fish's aqueous environment. This feature has been very useful to draw inferences about the life histories of fish populations and their migration routes. However, the determination of small concentrations trace elements from otoliths is a challenging task since accuracy is usually hindered by the interferences of high calcium matrix. The analytical techniques affording the sensitivity for analysis of otoliths for trace elements requires the elimination of calcium matrix or selective separation of the elements by means of coprecipitation. In this study, the merits of ytterbium hydroxide coprecipitation was investigated for the determination of several trace elements, including cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn). Precipitation was carried out by adding sodium hydroxide solution to otolith solution spiked ytterbium chloride solution (25 [micro]L). At and above pH 9, Yb(OH)3 precipitates resulting in the coprecipitation of the elements from calcium matrix. The precipitates was isolated...

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