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A Model-Based Analysis of Metal Fate in the Thames Estuary

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Abstract

The Thames Estuary (UK) is an industrialized, macrotidal ecosystem characterized by a long history of metal pollution. Nevertheless, a holistic understanding of the metal fate is still missing. This study aims at identifying the main environmental mechanisms affecting metal behaviour in the Thames Estuary using copper and zinc as representative examples. A suite of multivariate statistical analyses performed on data from long-term monitoring of metal distribution in the estuary indicated that total metal concentrations are primarily correlated with suspended solids, being thus indirectly influenced by the interaction between freshwater discharge and the tide. These data were used to set up a three-dimensional hydrodynamic and water quality model to simulate the transport of sediments and metals within the estuary. Model results ratify that high metal concentrations might occur in the central part of the estuary as consequence of fine sediment resuspension. Such an effect of the hydrodynamics is highlighted by the differences between months characterized by low or high river discharge as well as neap or spring tide. We discuss the physical mechanisms of such transport processes and their direct implication for the management of sediment and metal contamination in estuarine areas especially in terms of long-term analysis. Developing a model able to assess future trends helps in planning the correct strategies for recovery and maintenance. Further research is needed to improve the accuracy of models of this kind as well as to investigate the potential effects of climate change for this and other similar systems.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the Port of London Authority and the Environment Agency of England and Wales for providing the data analyzed in this study. This research was partially supported by the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB, Germany). Abel Machado collaborated with this project thanks to the Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorate Program SMART (Science for MAnagement of Rivers and their Tidal systems) funded with the support of the EACEA of the European Union. We thank Katherine Cronin (Deltares), who provided precious insights and expertise in setting the model.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of Trento, Trento, Italy

    Valentina Premier & Marco Toffolon

  2. Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin, Germany

    Valentina Premier & Anderson Abel de Souza Machado

  3. Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Anderson Abel de Souza Machado

  4. School of Geography, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK

    Anderson Abel de Souza Machado & Kate Spencer

  5. School of Civil Engineering and Surveying, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK

    Steve Mitchell

  6. Center for Applied Geosciences, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

    Christiane Zarfl

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  1. Valentina Premier
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  2. Anderson Abel de Souza Machado
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  3. Steve Mitchell
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  4. Christiane Zarfl
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  5. Kate Spencer
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  6. Marco Toffolon
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Correspondence to Valentina Premier.

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Communicated by Wen-Xiong Wang

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Premier, V., de Souza Machado, A.A., Mitchell, S. et al. A Model-Based Analysis of Metal Fate in the Thames Estuary. Estuaries and Coasts 42, 1185–1201 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-019-00544-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-019-00544-y

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