Assessing the Influence of the Benthic/Pelagic Exchange on the Nitrogen and Phosphorus Status of the Water Column, under Physical Forcings: A Modeling Study

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to set up a biogeochemistry model for the Ria de Aveiro ecosystem and evaluate the relative importance of the main parameters and the processes occurring at the interface between the water column and the upper layer of the bottom sediment. It addresses a gap in modeling the interactions between the biogeochemical status of the water column and the upper sediment layer in the Ria de Aveiro lagoon ecosystem. Traditional modeling studies treated the bottom sediment as a rigid boundary, ignoring significant biogeochemical interactions at the interface between the water column and the upper layer of the bottom sediment. Therefore, the model integrates, besides the main biogeochemical processes within the water column, those occurring at the upper benthic layer, focusing on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) cycles. This approach aims to enhance the accuracy of model predictions and understanding of the Ria de Aveiro lagoon’s biogeochemical dynamics. The study will be focused on the following coupled state variables: TN/IN and TP/IP, for total and inorganic nitrogen (N) and total and inorganic phosphorus (P), respectively, where total stands for the sum of organic and inorganic components of those elements. The model was set up and validated for some water quality stations of the Ria de Aveiro. Analysis has identified key parameters influencing TN and TP, such as nitrification, denitrification rates, and oxygen penetration. TN was found sensitive to nitrate and ammonium diffusion coefficients, while TP was influenced by iron–phosphate interactions and phosphorus mineralization. Concerning the model validation, the results demonstrated that the RMSE and MAPE values for the main variables fall within an acceptable range, given the uncertainty related to data. The model was applied to assess the impact of the following physical forcing: river flow, water temperature, and salinity on N and P status of the water column. The results clearly demonstrate that bottom layer and water column interactions play an important role in the N and P status of the water column and contribute to the N and P concentration changes of the water. The influence of river flows alone led to contrasting behaviors among the lagoon stations, with significant increases in TP levels, which may be attributed to sediment release from the sediment layer. Nevertheless, the combination of high river flows and elevated nutrient levels at the river boundaries has led to significantly increased nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) levels, underscoring the influence of river flow on the interaction between bottom layer sediment and the water column. High water temperatures typically lead to an increase in total phosphorus (TP) levels, indicating a possible release from the sediment layer. Meanwhile, TN levels remained stable. Salinity changes had a minor impact compared to river flow and temperature. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding interactions between the water column and sediment, particularly in shallow intertidal areas. Overall, the inclusion of biogeochemical interactions between the benthic and pelagic layers represents progress in ecosystem modeling of the Ria de Aveiro.