TREFRY, John H.

John H. TREFRY}

Contact Information

Professor
Department of Marine and Environmental Systems
College of Engineering
F.W. Olin Life Sciences, 252
Phone: 7305
Email: jtrefry@fit.edu

Web & Social Networking

College of Engineering

Department of Marine and Environmental Systems

Research & Project Interests

Research activities focus on the concentrations and cycling of trace metals in the oceans, estuaries and rivers. These studies are carried out in a wide variety of geographical settings including the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, the Alaskan Arctic, the Mississippi River and Indian River Lagoon, Florida.

Trace metals are studied at Florida Tech for their natural economic value in marine deposits and for their potential as pollutants.

Keywords

Marine Geochemistry
Trace Metals
Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents
Marine Pollution
Arctic Geochemistry

Professor
Department of Marine and Environmental Systems, College of Engineering

Personal Overview

• Associate Editor of the Elsevier journal Marine Chemistry (2004-).

• Member of U.S. Department of Interior Outer Continental Shelf Scientific Committee (2003- ).

• President of the Florida Academy of Sciences (2005-2007).

Educational Background

Ph.D. Texas A&M University
A.B. Syracuse University

Professional Experience

Member of the first scientific team to photograph and sample active hydrothermal vents on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in 1985. Research has identified the importance of high-temperature venting (200-350 degrees C) on the cycling of trace metals through the oceans and in creating metal-rich deposits on the seafloor.

Involved in various national and international panel and workshop activities in areas such as the development of U.S. Marine pollution programs and offshore oil activities from U.S. to Sakhalin Island, Russia.

Participated in >40 Oceanographic cruises including trips aboard R/Vs OCEANOGRAPHER, DISCOVERER, GYRE, KNORR, RESEARCHER, ATLANTIS (and AII)/ALVIN, SURVEYOR with more that 600 days at sea. Chief Scientist on 12 occasions.

Teaches courses in marine and environmental chemistry, geochemistry and instrumental analysis.

Current Research

Current research projects include:

• cANIMIDA Program: Study of potential impacts of offshore oil operations in the Alaskan Arctic (1999-2008). Research includes detailed study of the inputs of suspended sediment and trace metals from arctic rivers to the Beaufort Sea and their transport and fate in the marine environment.
(U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service)

• (a) Studying relationships between particle type and particle source on the attenutation of light in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida, especially in Mosquito Lagoon, (b) TOX 2 Program to determine and explain concentrations of selected metals in sediment, clams and water from the Indian River Lagoon (St. Johns River Water Management District, 2003-2007)

• Study of heavy metals, including merucry, in water, biota and sediments from the Gulf of Mexico, near oil production platforms where drilling muds are being discharged (Offshore Operators Committee, U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Managment Service, Oil Industry, 2002-2007)

• Sediment accumulation rates and the deposition of petroleum hydrocarbons in Port Valdez, Alaska (Prince William Sound RCAC, 2005-2006)

Selected Publications

Trefry, J.H., Trocine, R.P., McElvaine, M.L., Rember, R.D. and Hawkins, L.T. (2007) Total mercury and methylmercury in sediments near offshore drilling sites in the Gulf of Mexico. Environmental Geology 53:375-385.

Trefry, J.H., Trocine, R.P. and Woodall, D.W. (2007) Composition and sources of suspended matter in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida. Florida Scientist 70:363-382.

Alkire, M.B. and Trefry, J.H. (2006) Transport of spring floodwater from rivers under ice to the Alaskan Beaufort Sea. Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 111, C12008.

Diaz, R.J. and Trefry, J.H. (2006) Comparison of sediment profile image data with profiles of oxygen and Eh from sediment cores. Journal of Marine Systems, 62:164-172.

Rember, R. and Trefry, J. (2005) Sediment and organic carbon focusing in the Shelikof Strait, Alaska. Marine Geology 224:83-101.

Rember, R.D. and Trefry, J.H. (2004) Increased concentrations of dissolved trace metals and organic carbon during snowmelt in rivers of the Alaskan Arctic. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 68:477-489.
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Kang, W.-J., Trefry, J.H., Nelsen, T.A. and Wanless, H.R. (2000) Direct Atmospheric Inputs versus Runoff Fluxes of Mercury to the Lower Everglades and Florida Bay. Enviromental Science and Technology 34: 4058-4063.

Feely, R.A., Trefry, J.H., Lebon, G.T. and German, C.R. (1998) The relationship between P/Fe and V/Fe ratios in hydrothermal precipitates and dissolved phosphate in seawater. Geophysical Research Letters, 25(13): 2253-2256.

Trefry, J.H. and Metz, S. (1989) Role of Hydrothermal Precipitates in the Geochemical Cycling of Vanadium. Nature 342: 531-533.

Trefry, J.H., Metz, S., Trocine, R.P. and Nelsen, T.A.(1985) A Decline in Lead Transport by the Mississippi River. Science 230: 439-441.