The removal of dissolved humic acid during estuarine mixing

A simple method for the determination of dissolved humic acid based on carbon analysis is presented. This method was used to measure the distribution of dissolved humic acids in seven coastal plain estuaries located in the middle-Atlantic United States. Results indicate that 100% of the dissolved humic acid was removed during estuarine mixing, although concurrent measurements of dissolved organic carbon showed either production or conservative behavior in regions of the estuary where humic acid removal was observed. It is apparent from these observations that removal of dissolved humic acid is a minor part of the estuarine transport of dissolved organic carbon.Laboratory experiments carried out by mixing river water with sea water demonstrated that salt-induced removal of dissolved humic acid was insignificant in two of three estuaries studied. These results suggest in situ removal of dissolved humic acid may not be universally caused by increasing estuarine salinity.