THE TURNOVER OF RIVER-TRANSPORTED IRON, PHOSPHORUS AND ORGANIC-CARBON IN THE ORE ESTUARY, NORTHERN SWEDEN

The turnover of iron, phosphorus and organic carbon was followed in the Ore Estuary, northern Sweden, during the spring flood periods of 1989 and 1990. River-supplied material rapidly sediments out of the water column and is primary deposited within the estuary. The removal of iron and phosphorus is complete, with the calculated sedimentation exceeding the total amounts of particulate and dissolved iron and phosphorus supplied by the river. Aggregation of dissolved or colloidal iron-phosphate complexes due to increasing salinity and pH in combination with adsorption on rapidly sedimentating inorganic particles is suggested to explain this estuarine filter effect. Organic carbon is only affected by aggregation and sedimentation to a minor extent.