Enrichment of inorganic nutrients in the Western Saronikos Gulf

Abstract

Studies of nutrient enrichment in the Western Saronikos Gulf for the period 1973–1976 are presented here. Also, a comparison of nutrient enrichment is made between the Western and Inner Gulfs and Elefsis Bay. The Western Gulf and Inner Gulf appear to hold phosphate equally. However, the tendency for silicate to be depleted in the Inner Gulf is clear, while the Western Gulf tends to accumulate silicate more than phosphate. Nitrate tends to be accumulated even more than silicate in the Western Gulf. Elefsis Bay accumulated more nutrients than the other gulfs, especially inorganic nitrogen. This was mainly due to the different sources of nutrients as well as the morphology of each area and the circulation of the waters. The water masses of the Western Gulf were renewed in Spring 1974, as can be seen from the silicate values which fell by 1 3 . Nutrient ratios in the Western Gulf were close to normal.