PRELIMINARY STUDY ON SUSPENDED SOLIDS LOADING RELATED WITH SOME ELEMENTS (P, N AND C) DELIVERIES OF THE RED RIVER SYSTEM

Abstract

Sediments transported by rivers to coastal waters play an important role in the global biogeochemical cycles of many elements. The Red River where suspended solids are in high level, transports a significant amount of nutrients (P and N) and carbon to the Chinese Sea. Using measurements of the particulate phosphorus, organiccarbon and organic nitrogen contents of the suspended materials in the different Red River tributaries, we estimated the present these element deliveries by the Red River. The results also showed that phosphorus,nitrogen and carbon associated with the suspended solids flux were about of 76.3%; 58.2 % and 30.8% of total phosphorus, nitrogen and organic carbon deliveries transported to the Chinese Sea.