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Optical characterization of the middle and southern Adriatic waters – discriminating pollution impact

The paper aims to demonstrate water optical properties in the Middle and Southern Adriatic. Investigated are particular locations in the channel and bay areas as well as the open sea. The research is based on the spectral measurements of daylight intensity, performed with the profiling radiometer PRR800 (Biospherical Instruments Inc.). High resolution measurements of downward irradiance and upward radiance were carried out at 14 wavelengths from UV to visible light (340 ; 380 ; 412 ; 443 ; 465 ; 490 ; 510 ; 532 ; 555 ; 589 ; 625 ; 665 ; 683 and 710 nm) together with the PAR (400-700 nm) and natural fluorescence measurements. Among the measurements performed through 2003-2006, selected were those that demonstrate high spatial variability of optical characteristics, pointing to the different exposure of the areas to the coastal pollution or to the influence of clear open sea waters. Optical water types were determined for the selected stations demonstrate large variability. The comparison is performed with the optical water types established by Jerlov (1976), from PAR attenuation measurements and from irradiance spectra at 10m depth. The open sea stations and some channel stations show characteristics of unpolluted sea, like clear oceanic waters of optical types I or II. Stations located in semi-enclosed bays and the stations exposed to the river runoffs have characteristics of coastal optical water types, spanning over a wide range of optical types.

Optical water types; spectral irradiance characteristics; PAR; Adriatic Sea.

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