Chlorophyll a and Total Suspended Solids 
Water samples for chlorophyll # and total suspended solids (TSS) analyses were collected 
in duplicate and filtered on board (if possible) or upon return to the laboratory. Typically, the 
samples were filtered within 1-2 hours of sample collection. For TSS analysis, 1-liter of 
unfiltered seawater was collected at relative depths as described above, filtered on board the boat 
and further processed according to SOP WRS 14B.2. The complete procedure for sample 
processing and analysis of chlorophyll-# samples is detailed in WED SOP06.rev 0. Standard 
Operating Procedure for Preparation and Analysis of Estuarine Water Samples for Determination 
of Chlorophyll-# content. The samples were stored in the freezer until analyses. Chlorophyll # 
was extracted by sonicating the filters in 90% acetone and quantified using a fluorometer (10 AU 
Fluorometer, Turner Designs, Inc, Sunnyvale, CA). The fluorometer was calibrated with a 10- 
AU solid secondary standard and “blanked” with freshly prepared 90% acetone solution prior to 
each sample set analyzed. The high setting of the solid secondary standard was used in 
calibration and the low setting was used as a quality control check after calibration. During 
analyses, the solid secondary standard and 90% acetone blank were checked midway through 
and at the end of a sample set to verify that the fluorometer performance had not changed. If the 
solid secondary standard high setting differed from true values by ±1%, the instrument was re¬ 
calibrated and the previous half-set of samples were reanalyzed. 
The solid secondary standard was calibrated to chlorophyll # concentrations using fresh 
chlorophyll # standards provided by the manufacturer (Turner Designs). The fluorometric 
chlorophyll # standards supplied by the manufacturer (Turner Designs) consisted of a high 
concentration (181 jug l' 1 ) and a low concentration (18.2 pg F 1 ). The solid secondary standard 
was calibrated with newly purchased standards in 2002. During 2006, the solid secondary 
standard was checked using additional set of chlorophyll # standards. This quality control check 
revealed that the accuracy was 99.2%. 
To assess the accuracy of the chlorophyll # measurements, we compared the known value 
of the solid chlorophyll # standard (low setting) to the actual measured values of the solid 
standard. Accuracy analysis was performed for all chlorophyll # presented in this report. The 
accuracy and precision for the chlorophyll # data reported in this study are estimated to be 
98.7%. 
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