Estimates of sediment fluxes in Long Island Sound

Monthly measurements of suspended sediment concentration and salinity were made at 29 stations along the axis of Long Island Sound from August 1987 through February 1988. The measurements were combined in a 29-segment, two-layer box model to calculate the total sediment fluxes and accumulation rates. Estimates of the total suspended load range from 300,000 metric tons, corresponding to an average residence time of about 2.3 months. Average accumulation rates calculated with the model ranged from about 0.024 mm month^-1 to 0.150 mm month^-1 for a net annual rate of 0.92 mm yr^-1. This is in good agreement with geochemically determined sedimentation rates of 0.75±0.13 mm yr^-1 and suggests an oceanic source of sediment equivalent to about 45% of the mud accumulated in the sound.