THE BEHAVIOR OF DISSOLVED BARIUM IN ESTUARIES

Estuarine profiles of dissolved barium are reported from six estuarine systems in the U.S.A. and Europe. All show clear evidence of mid-estu arine barium concentration maxima, although the location and scale of these maxima vary. These differences are rationalized in terms of low- salinity desorption of particulate barium, estuarine particle dynamics , riverine sediment supply and barium storage and subsequent slow rele ase in salt marshes. Low-salinity removal of barium also occurs in som e estuaries, apparently related to dissolved iron and manganese remova l. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.