Contaminant transport measurements in San Diego Bay

A method is described by which the tidal transport of petroleum hydrocarbons is measured directly at several sections within San Diego Bay. The resulting data set is unique in that it provides a quantitative means for estimating contaminant transport and tidal flushing. The measurements were obtained with a combination of shipboard instrumentation including an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP), a profiling conductivity, temperature, and depth system (CTD), and a flow-through ultraviolet fluorometer (WF) installed aboard the Navy's environmental survey craft RV EGOS. Cross sectional transects at five stations in San Diego Bay were performed to determine the net tidal transport of petroleum hydrocarbons. From the results, estimates of contaminant fluxes through the bay were made. The transport fluxes were compared to estimated inputs to the bay. Tidal exchange between the bay and ocean was evaluated and residence times for various portions of the bay were estimated.