South Aegean Sea, Straits of the Cretan Arc

Particulate total and organic carbon concentrations in the water column; Particulate metal concentrations in the water column; Particulate total and organic nitrogen concentrations in the water column; Radioactivity in water bodies

A water volume of 4-7 lt was filtered through 37 mm, 0.40 nm pre-weighted, polycarbonate membranes, using filtered compressed air to displace water through the filters for major elements investigation. Using water from special water casts, Particulate Organic Carbon (POC) and Nitrogen (PON) was filtered onto 2.4 mm Whatman GFF grade glass fibre filters. Large volume (20 lt) water collections were made using two to three Niskin bottles of 4-5 depths covering the upper 200m of the water column. At three stations surface water (0 m, 20 m) was collected by in situ pumping of large volumes of water (150-250 lt). From these waters particulate and dissolved 210Pb and 210Po were extracted. The objectives are to detect the biogeochemical constituents of Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) and to observe seasonal trends in the concentration of these in different water masses in the Cretan Sea, in order to estimate their transport rates through the Straits of the Cretan Arc. 210Pb-210Po disequilibria between that in SPM will be studied to estimate seasonal trends of new production fallout in the upper water column. A total of 10 stations were held during PELAGOS fieldwork cruises.

Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Hellenic National Oceanographic Data Centre
46.7 km Athinon-Souniou Av. P.O.Box 712
Anavissos

19013
Greece