Dissolved-solids discharge to the oceans from the conterminous United States

Abstract

Dissolved-solids data from 54 river basins for 1966-69 were used to compute the amount of dissolved material contributed to the oceans from the conterminous United States. The computations show that about 264,000,000 tons are discharged annually. The Gulf of Mexico receives the largest load, about 183,000,000 tons, of which about 157,000,000 tons are contributed by the Mississippi River. The Atlantic Ocean receives about 37,500,000 tons, and the Pacific Ocean about 43,400,000 tons. Average yearly yields range from 26 to 231 tons per square mile and average about 100 tons per square mile.