A geographic information system (GIS) analysis for trace metal assessment of sediments in the Gulf of Paria, Trinidad
Rev. biol. trop
;
53(supl.1): 195-206, maio 2005. mapas
Artículo
en Inglés
| LILACS
| ID: lil-456510
ABSTRACT
The Gulf of Paria is a semi-enclosed shallow basin with increasing coastal development activities along Trinidad's west coast. Sediments present a host for trace metal pollutants from overlying waters, therefore determination of their content is critical in evaluating and detecting sources of marine pollution. This paper presents a Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis of geochemical assessment for trace metals in coastal sediments of the Gulf of Paria. This GIS approach facilitates interpretation of the spatial relationships among key environmental processes. The GIS development involves the integration of spatial and attribute data pertaining to bathymetry, current systems, topography, rivers, land use/land cover and coastal sediments. It employs spatial interpolation and retrieval operations to analyze the total trace metal concentrations of aluminum, copper and lead in the sediments and the clay-enriched sediments, to determine whether they are related to sediment type or are affected by the discharge from anthropogenic sources. Spatial distribution modeling of element concentrations are produced to indicate contamination plumes from possible anthropogenic sources such as rivers entering the Gulf of Paria, and to reveal potential hot spots and dispersion patterns. A direct spatial correlation between clay-enriched sediments and high concentrations of aluminum and lead is detected, however regions of high concentrations of copper and lead indicate a relationship to anthropogenic sources. The effectiveness of GIS for visualization, spatial query and overlay of geochemical analysis is demonstrated.
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Índice:
LILACS (Américas)
Asunto principal:
Oligoelementos
/
Contaminación Química del Agua
/
Arcilla
/
Monitoreo del Ambiente
/
Sedimentos Geológicos
/
Sistemas de Información Geográfica
Tipo de estudio:
Estudios de evaluación
/
Estudio pronóstico
País/Región como asunto:
Caribe Inglés
/
Trinidad y Tobago
Idioma:
Inglés
Revista:
Rev. biol. trop
Asunto de la revista:
Biologia
/
Medicina Tropical
Año:
2005
Tipo del documento:
Artículo
País de afiliación:
Trinidad y Tobago
Institución/País de afiliación:
Institute of Marine Affairs/TT
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