phosphate production decrease with decreasing temperature and increasing depth in the 
sediment column. The diffusion experiments confirmed that the ammonium diffusion 
coefficient in the fine-grained sediments is approximately twice as great as the sulfate 
diffusion coefficient. Stoichiometry and kinetic diagenetic models have been used to 
predict the C/N ratio of the decomposing organic matter, the rates of ammonium 
production and the loss of organic nitrogen in the sediment column. These models only 
utilize changes in the interstitial water chemistry and it has been shown that the values 
predicted by the models agree well with the values actually measured in sediment cores 
and laboratory experiments. 
1977 
Roberts, H. H., L. J. Rouse, N. D. Walker, and J. H. Hudson (1982) Cold-water stress in 
Florida Bay and northern Bahamas: a product of winter cold-air outbreaks. J. Sed. Petrol. . 
52( 1): 145-55. 
During January 1977, three consecutive cold fronts crossed south Florida and the 
northern Bahamas which depressed shallow-water temperatures below the lethal limit 
for most reef corals. Digital thermal infrared data acquired by the NOAA-5 
meteorological satellite, in situ water temperatures, and meteorological data were 
used to study the thermal evolution of Florida Bay and Bahama Bank waters. The third 
and most important frontal system depressed Florida Bay water below 16°C, a thermal 
stress threshold for most reef corals, for 8 days. The minimum water temperature 
recorded in situ was 12.6°C. Satellite data suggest that some Florida Bay coastal 
waters were at least 1°C cooler than water at this site. Cold-water plumes detected on 
satellite imagery suggests that offshelf or offbank movement of cold, dense water 
follows bathymetry-controlled routes. Absence of viable shelf reefs opposite tidal 
passes supports this contention. Coral mortality at Dry Tortugas was up to 91% during 
the 1977 event. Coral and fish kills were also reported from other parts of the Florida 
Reef Tract and northern Bahamas. Study results show that cold-water stress 
conditions can exist over vast shallow-water areas and have residence times of 
several days These observations suggest that aperiodic chilling processes have a 
limiting influence on reef community development throughout the Florida Reef Tract and 
northern Bahamas. 
1977 
Roberts, H. H., L. J. Rouse, and N. D. Walker (1983) Evolution of cold water-stress 
conditions in high-altitude reef systems: Florida Reef Tract and the Bahama Banks. Carib. J. 
Sci. . 19(1 -2):55-60. 
Thermal depression of shallow bank and bay waters accompanying the passage of 
severe cold fronts can stress high latitude coral reef systems, such as those of the 
Florida Reef Tract and northern Bahama Banks. Laboratory and field experiments 
suggest that sustained temperatures below 16°C are detrimental to most reef-building 
corals. Time-series satellite imagery provides a data base for assessing the thermal 
variability of waters interfacing with reef systems. Digital thermal infrared data 
acquired by the NOAA-5 meteorological satellite were used to study thermal evolution 
of Florida Bay and Bahama Bank waters during a succession of three cold-air outbreaks 
(January 1977). Effects from the third and most important of these frontal systems 
persisted from 19 to 26 January. Northerly winds (to 15 m s* 1 ) accompanied by cold, 
dry air caused extreme losses of sensible and latent heat from these shallow waters of 
limited heat capacity. As a result of this process, Florida Bay, Little Bahama Bank, and 
Great Bahama Bank experienced water temperatures blow 16°C for 5 days. Florida Bay 
waters reached a temperature minimum of 12.9°C, as determined from satellite data 
and confirmed by in situ field measurements. Water temperatures in the Bay remained 
under the 16°C lethal limit for corals for 8 days. At Dry Tortugas 91% of the shallow 
230 
