Heidelberg University (Ohio)

About: Heidelberg University (Ohio) is a education organization based out in Tiffin, Ohio, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Eutrophication & Tributary. The organization has 101 authors who have published 184 publications receiving 8272 citations. The organization is also known as: Heidelberg College & Heidelburg College.

Context for re-evaluating agricultural source phosphorus loadings to the Great Lakes

Abstract: Joosse, P. J. and Baker, D. B. 2011. Context for re-evaluating agricultural source phosphorus loadings to the Great Lakes. Can. J. Soil Sci. 91: 317–327. Over the past decade, scientists have been discussing the re-emergence of harmful algal blooms and excessive growth of Cladophora in some areas of the Great Lakes. An observation that has emerged from these discussions is that management of non-point or diffuse sources of phosphorus will be more important in the future in order to address symptoms of eutrophication in the nearshore. This paper provides context for this renewed focus on managing non-point source tributary loads and is based primarily on materials and discussions from the Great Lakes P Forum. There are changes that have occurred in the lakes and tributaries in the past 15 yr that indicate a greater need to focus on non-point sources, whether urban or rural. Changes have also occurred in land management to reduce non-point P losses from agriculture. While these changes have reduced sediment...

Record-breaking Lake Erie hypoxia during 2012 drought.

Abstract: Hypoxia has been observed in the central basin of Lake Erie for decades. To understand the impact of various controlling factors, we analyze a record of hypoxic extents for Lake Erie for 1985–2012 and develop a parsimonious model of their interannual variability. We find that the 2012 North American drought and accompanying low tributary discharge was associated with a record-breaking hypoxic event in Lake Erie, whereas a record-setting harmful algal bloom in 2011 was likely associated with only mild hypoxia. River discharge and the timing of nutrient input therefore impact western basin bloom growth and central basin oxygen demand in distinct ways that merit further investigation. Overall, April to June tributary discharge, May to July soluble reactive phosphorus loading, July wind stress, and June northwesterly wind duration explain 82% of the interannual variability of hypoxia, and discharge alone explains 39%, indicating that meteorological factors need to be considered in the development of nutrient management strategies, especially as both extreme precipitation events and droughts become more frequent under a changing climate.