Unique Limnological Phenomena Affecting Water Quality of Hamilton Harbour, Lake Ontario

Some unique limnological features and phenomena of Hamilton Harbour, namely (1) substantial exchange of water with Lake Ontario through a ship canal reducing the harbor's residence time by sixty percent, diluting concentrations of pollutants and oxygenating its hypolimnetic water; (2) a high degree of physical variability, resulting in oscillations, mixing, and unstable thermal structure; (3) high concentrations of suspended matter and reduced light regime controlling the development and composition of algal blooms; (4) discrepancy in the total phosphorus versus chlorophyll relationship; and (5) extremely high nitrogen to phosphorus ratios (over 100:1), favoring chlorophytes rather then more objectionable cyanophytes), are analyzed and their ameliorating effects on water quality assessed. These phenomena prevent the water quality of the harbor from reaching critical conditions, considering the high loading rates of nutrients and contaminants. Without their beneficial effects, the concentrations of pollutants per unit volume and algal biomass would be about fifty percent higher.

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