Characterizing freshwater and nutrient fluxes to West Falmouth Harbor, Massachusetts

These data present oceanographic and water-quality observations made at 4 locations in West Falmouth Harbor and 3 in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. While both Buzzards Bay and West Falmouth Harbor are estuarine embayments, the input of freshwater on the eastern margin of Buzzards Bay is largely due to groundwater. In West Falmouth Harbor, the groundwater that seeps into the harbor is characterized by relatively high levels of nitrate, originating from the Falmouth Wastewater Treatment Plant. This high nitrate load has modified the ecology of the harbor, and may be a significant source of nitrate to Buzzards Bay during seasons with low biological nitrate uptake. The USGS undertook these measurements to improve understanding of circulation, residence time, and water quality in the harbor and bay. For more information on the field operations associated with data collection: http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2009-060-FA http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2009-063-FA http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2009-065-FA http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2009-076-FA http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2009-077-FA http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2009-080-FA http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2010-030-FA http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2010-031-FA http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2010-032-FA http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2010-037-FA http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2010-058-FA http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2010-085-FA本数据集收录了美国马萨诸塞州西法尔茅斯港（West Falmouth Harbor）4个采样站位以及巴泽兹湾（Buzzards Bay）3个采样站位的海洋学与水质观测数据。巴泽兹湾与西法尔茅斯港均属于河口海湾，其中巴泽兹湾东缘的淡水输入主要源于地下水。在西法尔茅斯港，渗入港内的地下水以较高浓度的硝酸盐为特征，该硝酸盐源自法尔茅斯污水处理厂（Falmouth Wastewater Treatment Plant）。这种高硝酸盐负荷已改变了该港的生态系统，且在生物硝酸盐摄取量较低的季节，可能成为巴泽兹湾硝酸盐的重要补给来源。美国地质调查局（United States Geological Survey，简称USGS）开展本次观测工作，旨在加深对该港湾及海湾的环流、滞留时间与水质的认知。如需了解与数据采集相关的野外作业详情，请访问以下链接： http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2009-060-FA http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2009-063-FA http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2009-065-FA http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2009-076-FA http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2009-077-FA http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2009-080-FA http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2010-030-FA http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2010-031-FA http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2010-032-FA http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2010-037-FA http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2010-058-FA http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2010-085-FA