Abstract Geochemical patterns in upper Chesapeake Bay sediments can reflect a variety of important processes. Spatial and down-core geochemical patterns are useful for understanding the underlying conservative (sediment provenance) and non-conservative (salinity, redox, anthropogenic influences) processes driving these patterns. Distinguishing conservative and non-conservative processes to quantify sediment sources will help develop management strategies to limit excess sedimentation in estuaries. In this study, elemental concentrations were measured via inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) and analyzed using principal component analysis. The sediment geochemistry data were then analyzed to evaluate contributions of Susquehanna River and shoreline erosion to bottom sediments in the upper Bay using a sediment-provenance analysis. Elements associated with aluminosilicate minerals, which were sensitive to grain-size changes, and rare earth elements, which were sensitive to salinity changes, explained the most variability in the dataset. Variability in heavy metal concentrations demonstrated decadal changes in anthropogenic inputs. The results from the sediment-provenance analysis indicated that the Susquehanna River is the dominant source of fine sediment in the upper Bay.

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从上切萨皮克湾地球化学模式评估河口沉积物来源

摘要 上切萨皮克湾沉积物的地球化学模式可以反映多种重要过程。空间和地下地球化学模式有助于理解驱动这些模式的潜在保守（沉积物来源）和非保守（盐度、氧化还原、人为影响）过程。区分保守和非保守过程以量化沉积物来源将有助于制定管理策略以限制河口的过度沉积。在本研究中，元素浓度通过电感耦合等离子体质谱 (ICP-MS) 进行测量，并使用主成分分析进行分析。然后分析沉积物地球化学数据，以使用沉积物来源分析评估萨斯奎哈纳河和海岸线侵蚀对上湾底部沉积物的贡献。与对粒度变化敏感的铝硅酸盐矿物相关的元素和对盐度变化敏感的稀土元素解释了数据集中的最大可变性。重金属浓度的变化表明人为输入的十年变化。沉积物来源分析结果表明，萨斯奎哈纳河是上湾细粒沉积物的主要来源。