Abstract
The main goal of this study is to understand the hydrological and biochemical set up and processes of a marine coastal area located in the western side of the south Adriatic sea (the gulf of Manfredonia) by the use of both satellite images and in situ investigations A water sampling in the gulf of Manfredonia was performed at 18 fixed stations in June 2003; physico-chemical and biological parameters (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and fluorescence) were measured along the water column and water samples were collected to analyse dissolved nutrients (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate and silicate), total nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), chlorophyll a and total suspended solids. Surface spatial distributions of field collected data were examined to characterize biochemical and hydrographic conditions of the Gulf of Manfredonia and these results were related with the remote sensing analysis data. Remote sensed data (obtained by Landsat 7 TM and Modis Terra) were processed to obtain maps of chlorophyll a, temperature and optical characteristics of the gulf; these maps were compared to in situ data. From physico-chemical measurements no stratification was observed in the water column except for the south-eastern area. High concentrations of silicate and ammonia were observed in the northern zone of the gulf, while nitrate, phosphate, chlorophyll a and total suspended solids distributions showed higher values in the central coastal zone. These results were confirmed by remote sensing analysis; Modis elaboration showed a distribution with higher concentrations of chlorophyll a near the coast and Landsat images highlighted the extension of the surrounding agricultural areas crossed by the two main rivers which discharge into the gulf. The integration between field data with the remote sensing analysis showed to be a valid support in coastal zone management.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Artegiani, A., Bregant, D., Paschini, E., Pinardi, N., Raichic, F., & Russo, A. (1997a). The Adriatic Sea general circulation. Part I: air–sea interactions and water mass structure. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 27, 1492–1514.
Artegiani, A., Bregant, D., Paschini, E., Pinardi, N., Raichic, F., & Russo, A. (1997b). The Adriatic Sea general circulation. Part II: baroclinic circulation structure. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 27, 1515–1532.
Bello, G., Marano, G., & Vaccarella, R. (1982). Molluschi di “matte” morta di Poseidonia oceanica Delile del litorale barese. Quaderni dell’Istituto di Idrobiologia e acquacoltura “G. Brunelli” 23, 23–25.
Bombace, G., Cinelli, F., Colantoni, F., Froglia, C., & Callignani, P. (1976). Notes on geologyand biology of the Manfredonia Gulf (South Adriatic). Rapp. Comm. in Mer. Medit, 26(Suppl 6), 47–48.
Buljan, M., & Zore-Armanda, M. (1976). Oceanographical properties of the Adriatic Sea. Oceanography and Marine Biology Annual Review, 14, 11–98.
Carder, K. L., Chen, R. F., Lee, Z., Hawes, S. K., & Cannizzaro, J. P. (2003). MODIS Ocean Science Team algorithm theoretical basis document, ATBD 19, Case 2, Chlorophyll a. University of South Florida, College of Marine Science, St Petersburg.
Chavez, F. P. (1995). A comparison of ship and satellite chlorophyll from California and Perù. Journal of Geophysical Research, 100(C12), 855–862.
Chiaudani, G., Gaggino, G. F., Marchetti, R., & Vighi, M. (1982). Caratteristiche trofiche delle acque costiere Adriatiche: campagna di rilevamento 1978–79. CNR Progetto Finalizzato “Promozione della qualità dell’Ambiente”, Serie di Monografie AQ/2/14, 35 pp.
Colantoni, P., & Callignani, P. (1975). Sea floor types and recent sedimentation on the continental shelf between Manfredonia and Trani (Southern Adriatic Sea). Paper presented at the Underwater Association 8th Symposium Polytechnic of North London, London.
Damiani, V., Bianchi, C. N., Ferretti, O., Bedulli, D., Morri, C., Viel, M., & Zurlini, G. (1988). Risultati di una ricerca ecologica sul sistema marino costiero pugliese. Thalassia Salentina, 18, 153–169.
Fiesoletti, F., Specchiulli, A., Spagnoli, F., & Zappalà, G. (2005). A new near time monitoring network in the Gulf of Manfredonia—Southern Adriatic Sea. In European operational oceanography: Present and future, June 2005, pp 788–792. Paper presented at the Fourth International Conference on EuroGOOS, Brest—France.
Gordon, H. R., & Wang, M. H. (1994). Retrevial of water-leaving radiance and aerosol optical-thickness over the oceans with seawifs—A preliminary algorithm. Applied Optics, 33(Suppl. 3), 443–452.
Grasshoff, K., Ehrhardt, M., & Kremling, K. (1983). Methods of seawater analysis. Weinheim: Verlag Chemie.
Jeffry, S. W., & Humphrey, G. F. (1975). New spectrophotometric equation for determining chlorophyll a, b, c1 and c2 in higher plants, algae and natural phytoploankton. Biochemie, Physiologie Pflantzen, 167, 191–194.
Kovacevic, V., Gacic, M., & Poulain, P. M. (1999). Eulerian current measurements in the strait of Otranto and in the Southern Adriatic. Journal of Marine System, 20, 255–278.
Poulain, P. M. (1999). Drifter observations of surface circulation in the adriatic sea between December 1994 and March 1996. Journal of Marine System, 20, 231–253.
Poulain, P. M. (2001). Adriatic sea surface circulation as derived from drifter between 1990 and 1999. Journal of Marine Systems, 29, 3–32.
Raicich, F. (1994). Note on the flow rates of the Adriatic rivers. CNR, Istituto Talassografico di Trieste, Technical Report RF 02r94, Trieste, 8 pp.
Sigl, W. (1973). The gulf of Manfredonia (Southern Adriatic). 1. The differentiation of sediment facies. Senckenbergiana Maritima, 5, 3–49.
Simeoni, U. (1992). I litorali tra Manfredonia e Barletta (Basso Adriatico): dissesti, sedimenti, problematiche ambientali. Bollettino della Societa Geologica Italiana, 111, 367–398.
Strickland, J. D. H., & Parsons, T. R. (1972). A pratical handbook of sea analysis. Ottawa, Canada: Fisheries Research Board of Canada.
Udy, J., Gall, M., Longstaff, B., Moore, K., Roelfsema, C., Spooner, D. R., et al. (2005). Water quality monitoring: A combined approach to investigate gradients of change in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 51, 224–238.
Vermote, E. F., El Saleous, N. Z., Justice, C. O., Kaufman, Y. J., Privette, J. L., Remer, L., et al. (1997). Atmospheric correction of visible to middle-infrared EOS-MODIS data over land surfaces: Background, operational algorithm and validation. Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmosphere, 102(D14), 17131–17141.
Vilicic, D., Vucak, Z., Skrivanic, A., & Grzetic, Z. (1989). Phytoplankton blooms in the oligotrophic open South Adriatic waters. Marine Chemistry, 28, 89–107.
Zavatarelli, M., Baretta, J. W., Baretta-Bekker, J. G., & Pinardi, N. (2000). The dynamics of the Adriatic sea ecosystem. An idealized model study. Deep-Sea Reasearch Part I, 47, 937–970.
Zavatarelli, M., Raicich, F., Bregant, D., Russo, A., & Artegiani, A. (1998). Climatological biogeochemical characteristics of the Adriatic Sea. Journal of Marine System, 18, 227–263.
Zore, M. (1956). On gradient currents in the Adriatic sea. Acta Adriatica, 8(Suppl. 6), 1–38.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Focardi, S., Specchiulli, A., Spagnoli, F. et al. A combinated approach to investigate the biochemistry and hydrography of a shallow bay in the South Adriatic Sea: the Gulf of Manfredonia (Italy). Environ Monit Assess 153, 209–220 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0350-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0350-2