Cretan Sea (NE Mediterranean), bounded by 35.3 N to 35.75 N and 24.7 E to 25.3 E

Ammonium and ammonia concentration parameters in water bodies; Particulate total and organic carbon concentrations in the water column; Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies; Particulate total and organic nitrogen concentrations in the water column; Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column; Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column; Silicate concentration parameters in the water column; Phaeopigment concentrations in the water column; Nitrite concentration parameters in the water column

Discrete water samplers; spectrophotometers; active fluorometers

The chemical and biological characteristics of the water column in the Cretan Sea (a grid of 30 stations) were studied between May 1994 and Sept. 1995 (on a bimonthly basis) in order to understand the underlying structural and functional mechanisms of this pelagic ecosystem. Samples from standard depths (1, 20, 50, 75, 120, 150, 200, 300, 400, 500, 700, 1000, 1200 and 1500m) were collected (using Niskin bottles) and the concentrations of POC, PON, chla, phaeopigments, NO3, NO2, PO4, SiO2 were determined. The characteristic Deep Chlorophyll Maximum (DCM), the vertical distribution of nutrients and the low levels of chloroplastic pigments, POC and PON in the euphotic zone (0-100 m) all testified to the oligotrophic character of the ecosystem. This study was part of the multidisciplinary EU MAST II MTP III project CINCS (contract MAS2-CT94-0092).

Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology & Aquaculture
Gournes Pediados P.O. Box 2214
Heraklion
Crete
71003
Greece