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Data buoy measurements of phytoplankton dynamics in southampton water, UK, a temperate latitude estuary with high nutrient inputs

Bojenmessung der phytoplanktondynamik im southampton water, einem Ästuar gemÄ\igter breite mit hohem nÄhrstoffeintrag

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Summary

Phytoplankton blooms are considered to be an indicator of eutrophication. The area of Southampton Water, UK, has been documented as experiencing yearly algal blooms in both spring and summer. In order to better understand the dynamics of bloom formation an instrumented buoy has been built. The instruments monitor chlorophyll fluorescence, light attenuation, photosynthetically active radiation levels, conductivity, and water temperature. The buoy was deployed between the 4th of April 1996 and the 8th of July 1996, sampling at an interval of 15 minutes.

The data returned from this buoy show that chlorophyll concentrations are, primarily, controlled by water column stability. Chlorophyll concentrations vary on a number of time scales. The major feature was a summer bloom coinciding with a spring tide with a relatively low tidal range. The indication is that blooms can occur only when tidal energy is below a certain level. A pattern is also recognisable on a spring neap tidal cycle, such that chlorophyll levels are at their highest on spring tides and lowest on neap tides. There is also a diurnal variation in chlorophyll concentrations, which is characteristically different from spring to neap tide days.

Zusammenfassung

Phytoplanktonblüten gelten als Indikator für die GewÄssereutrophierung. Im Southampton Water, Gro\britannien, treten Algenblüten im Frühjahr und Sommer jeden Jahres auf. Um die Dynamik der Blütenbildung genauer zu untersuchen, wurde eine Me\boje installiert, mit der Chlorophyllfluoreszenz, LichtdÄmpfung photosynthetisch wirksame Strahlung, LeitfÄhigkeit und Wassertemperatur gemessen wurden. Die Boje war vom 4. April 1996 bis zum 8. Juli 1996 im Einsatz und entnahm Proben in 15-minütigen AbstÄnden.

Die Bojenmessungen ergaben, da\ die Chlorophyllkonzentration primÄr von der StabilitÄt der WassersÄule abhÄngt. Änderungen der Chlorophyllkonzentration treten auf mehreren Zeitskalen auf. Charakteristisch war eine Sommerblüte, die mit einer Springtide mit relativ niedrigem Tidenhub zusammenfiel, was ein Hinweis darauf ist, da\ Algenblüten nur dann auftreten können, wenn die Tideenergie ein bestimmtes Niveau nicht übersteigt. Der Spring-Nipp-Tidezyklus zeigt ebenfalls ein Muster, und zwar sind die Chlorophyllwerte bei Springtide am höchsten und bei Nipptide am niedrigsten. Die Chlorophyllwerte schwanken auch im Tagesverlauf, wobei ein charakteristischer Unterschied zwischen Tagen mit Spring- und Nipptide besteht.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Southampton Institute, East Park Terrace, SO14 0YN, Southampton, UK

    Paul N. Wright (Maritime Faculty)

  2. George Deacon Division for Ocean Processes, Southampton Oceanography Centre, European Way, SO14 3ZH, Southampton, England

    David J. Hydes

  3. Department of Oceanography, Southampton Oceanography Centre, European Way, SO14 3ZH, Southampton, England

    Mary Lou Lauria

  4. Department of Oceanography, Southampton Oceanography Centre, European Way, SO14 3ZH, Southampton, England

    Jonathan Sharples

  5. Department of Oceanography, Southampton Oceanography Centre, European Way, SO14 3ZH, Southampton, England

    Duncan A. Purdie

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  1. Paul N. Wright
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  2. David J. Hydes
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  3. Mary Lou Lauria
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  4. Jonathan Sharples
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  5. Duncan A. Purdie
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Wright, P.N., Hydes, D.J., Lauria, M.L. et al. Data buoy measurements of phytoplankton dynamics in southampton water, UK, a temperate latitude estuary with high nutrient inputs. Deutsche Hydrographische Zeitschrift 49, 203–211 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02764033

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