Release of phosphorus from sediments under wave-induced liquefaction.

The endogenous release of nutrients from marine or lacustrine sediment is an important factor in water eutrophication. Overlying water dynamic actions (waves) may lead to sediment resuspension and even sediment liquefaction, especially under strong wind-induced waves, which may subsequently lead to the release of nutrients from sediments and contribution to water eutrophication. A wave flume simulator was used to study changes in the phosphorus concentrations in the overlying water at different consolidation stages, the key factors of which were the changes caused by endogenous release from a liquefied seabed. The results showed that the total phosphorus (TP), total dissolved phosphorus (TDP), and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) found in the liquefaction stage were 59, 25 and 31 times greater, respectively, than those in the consolidation stage, and 5, 19, and 21 times greater, respectively, than those in the non-liquefaction stage. These results indicated that seabed liquefaction may lead to greater phosphorus releases from liquefied sediments into overlying water, which may subsequently contribute to water eutrophication.