Journal
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
Volume 272, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecss.2022.107902
Keywords
Chlorophyll a; Coastal zone; Long-term series; Northern Adriatic Sea; Nutrients; Run-off
Categories
Funding
- EU [10044130]
- University of Urbino and Regione Marche [49]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
This study analyzed the dynamics of physical and biogeochemical properties in a temperate coastal area in the north-western Adriatic Sea. The results showed that the inputs from minor rivers and ecological processes played a role in the interannual and seasonal biogeochemical dynamics. The study also found a trend towards more oligotrophic conditions, mainly due to reduced phosphate and nitrate loadings from the minor rivers and increased freshwater discharges.
Dynamics of the physical and biogeochemical properties in a temperate coastal area in the north-western Adriatic Sea were analyzed. Multi-year (1997-2019) continuous observations allowed assessing their trends at two sites directly influenced by the discharges of two minor rivers as well as by human activities and climate change. Statistical models were applied to investigate the temporal variability and trends of seawater temperature, salinity, chlorophyll a, nutrients, river discharges and precipitations. The analysis highlighted a role for the minor river inputs and for ecological processes on interannual and seasonal biogeochemical dynamics. We found a significant trend toward more oligotrophic conditions; in particular, chlorophyll a exhibited a long-term decline (-1.38% year(-1) and -1.5% year(-1) at the two Foglia and Metauro river transects, respectively) that was largely determined by low phosphate and nitrate seawater concentrations as a result of a significant reduction in the phosphate and nitrate loadings of the two minor rivers (respectively mean values of-4.65% year(-1) and-2.65% year(-1)). In contrast, salinity showed a long-term decrease of-0.24% year(-1) and-0.19% year(-1) at Foglia and Metauro, respectively, corresponding to a significant increase of the freshwater discharges of the two minor rivers (+1.86% and +1.57% year(-1) at Foglia and Metauro, respectively) possibly due to precipitations. Data analysis highlighted the conditions of temperate coastal areas affected by freshwater discharges. Nutrient load management and climate conditions such as precipitation regimes appear to be the main factors driving physical and biogeochemical dynamics in the north-western Adriatic Sea.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available