24

of that of surface water under normal conditions.

The tradewind and doldrum

seasons bring winds primarily out of the NE and ES&, respectively.
Exchange budgets for the volume of water in the lagoon have been calcuvated by Yon Arx (1254) and Noshxin et al. (1974a); these rates differ considerably.

Unusual hydrological conditions have been documented by Ford (op.

cit.) which could cause large variations in the water exchange budget.
Yon Arx (1954) also measured coefficients of horizontal diffusion in

Bikini surface waters, using dye marker experiments.

Munk, Ewing and Revelle

(op. cit.) estimated coefficients of vertical diffusion by using measurements
of the mixing rate of oxygen-rich reef water with lagoon deep water.
3.5-2

Lagoon Sediments
An extensive description of the physical, biological, and

chemical aspects of the sediments of Bikini and nearby atolls has been made by

r. 1. Erary, J. I. Tracey, Jr. and H. S. Ladd (1954).

While some of the field

stucies performed in association with these investigations occurred after
initiation of nuclear testina at Bikini, there were, to this writer's knowle“-e, only minor published notes dealing with the post-Raker test sedimentary
environment of Bikini.

Because of this, the description of the undisturbed

sec Tersary environment (as found in the 260-series USGS professional papers)

corr ain most of the available background information.
The reef environment at Bikini is an extremely productive and complex

Sormsctty. About seven tons of organic matter/year/acre are
produced as a
result of photosynthetic activity by the windward reef community; of this, an

eis irates 12" may be available to nourish the animal
assemblage of the lagoon
Terre? al., op cit. p. VI).

Lagoon bottom waters are estimated to average

- oat
¢
.
6
w-haer
thioth
the photosynthetic
activi
ty of the reef area (Sargent and

Am

Aertte 16253,

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