Caratterizzazione delle proprietà ottiche delle acque costiere del Mar Adriatico per il progetto CLAM-PHYM

The optical properties of coastal waters could vary significantly, both spatially and temporally, in function of terrestrial input of material and marine processes. The ENVADR-LTER-CLAM-PHYM oceanographic survey has been carried out between 3rd and 17th of May 2012, for the characterization of optical variability of Adriatic Sea waters. Biogeochemical concentrations and key water optical parameters have been sampled, in order to define the inherent and apparent optical properties of the water column at 48 stations. The preliminary analysis of the dataset has revealed three main optical regional domains, which correspond to the 3 sub-basin of Adriatic Sea (Northern, Central and Southern). Moreover, during a few days, we have registered three different situations near the mouth of Po river (due to normal fluvial regime, river flood and phytoplankton bloom), which have considerably modified the water optical properties.