Temporal and spatial distribution of hypoxic/seasonal anoxic zone in Amvrakikos Gulf, Western Greece

Abstract

Coastal hypoxia and anoxia have become a serious environmental problem in many coastal ecosystems, and recent evidence suggests an increase in the number of systems experiencing hypoxia globally and an increased frequency and duration of hypoxia in many historically hypoxic systems. Eutrophication, low physical energy and large freshwater input are some of the most important factors, which lead to the development of hypoxia in coastal areas. The Amvrakikos Gulf, located in western Greece, is one of the most important protected areas in Greece and in Europe and past studies indicated that some regions of the Gulf experience hypoxia. Despite the importance of the Amvrakikos Gulf ecosystem, little is known about key ecological, chemical, and physical processes in the Gulf and their relationship with oxygen depletion. In the present study, authors try to answer some important questions regarding the distribution and variation of the hypoxic zone. After a year of measurements, it was concluded that according to spatial distribution of DO, the gulf can be divided into two parts, the western and eastern areas, with important differences occurring between them. Within the western area, the water column was well oxygenated during winter and spring and hypoxic conditions occurred only in summer and autumn. The eastern area was hypoxic throughout the year and anoxic conditions occurred only during autumn. In conclusion, taking into account the author’s measurements and previous studies, the seasonally hypoxic eastern area in 1987 converted into a seasonally anoxic area in 2009 and the western part of the gulf, remained seasonally hypoxic, indicating the degradation of the gulf’s environmental state within the last 20 years.