Chemical-physical conditions in the Taranto sea system from 2002 to 2004

In the present paper, the variations of seawater variables in the Taranto Sea System (i.e. the Mar Grande, Primo Seno e Secondo Seno of the Mar Piccolo) are presented. The variables examined were: temperature, salinity, chl-a, transparency and nutrients. Sampling was carried out from 2002 to 2004 at ten stations. The data obtained showed that the basins are characterised by different levels of confinement; moreover, the most confined basins exhibit a noticeable instability. This, probably, depends not only on their morphological characteristics but also on human activities.