Tamar Estuary, Plymouth, south west England

Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies; Dissolved oxygen parameters in the water column; Optical backscatter; Salinity of the water column; Temperature of the water column; Concentration of suspended particulate material in the water column; Alkalinity, acidity and pH of the water column

Fluorometers; optical backscatter sensors; discrete water samplers; particulates samplers; salinity sensor; electron microprobes; dissolved gas sensors

Investigations were carried out at approximately monthly intervals, but were occasionally repeated on consecutive days. Twenty-four days of field investigations were completed between July 1976 and March 1978, during which more than 70 profiles of chemical characteristics were recorded. A traverse of the entire estuarine mixing region took approximately 3 hours although at times shorter segments were investigated. All investigations in the field were carried out using a 12m length flat bottomed Rotork Seatruck. Water was pumped from a depth of 0.5m using a submersible (Flygt B2040) centrifugal pump through a constant levelled reservoir which held the detecting sensors. The following environmental data were recorded continuously during the traverses: temperature, salinity, chloride ion, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and chlorophyll fluorescence.

Morris, A.W., Bale, A.J. and Howland, R.J.M. (1982) Chemical variability in the Tamar estuary, south-west England., Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Vol 14(6): 649-661.

Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Prospect Place The Hoe
Plymouth
England
PL1 3DH
United Kingdom