Remotely sensed seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton in the Ligurian Sea in 1997-1999

[1] Remotely sensed data and a one-dimensional hydrophysical model were used to study the seasonal dynamics of surface plant pigments concentration in the Ligurian-Provencal basin. The variations of phytoplankton biomass were estimated from the observations of the Coastal Zone Color Scanner ( 1978 - 1986) and Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) ( September 1997 to October 1999) radiometers. The factors of physical environment analyzed included remotely sensed sea surface temperature ( from advanced very high resolution radiometers), wind, air temperature, and atmospheric precipitation. The Geohydrodynamics and Environment Research (GHER) model was used to explain the observed correlations between the physical forcing and the response of phytoplankton biomass. The general pattern of phytoplankton seasonal dynamics was typical to subtropical areas: maximum biomass during cold season from October to April and low biomass during summer months. The intensity of winter/spring bloom significantly varied during different years. The correlation was revealed between the summer/autumn air temperature contrast ( expressed as the difference between the air temperatures in August and in November) and the maximum monthly averaged surface chlorophyll concentration during the subsequent winter/spring bloom. The features of seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton are regulated by the physical impacts influencing water stratification. The difference between two seasonal cycles ( from September 1997 to October 1999) illustrates the response of phytoplankton growth to local meteorological conditions. In March - April 1999 the vernal bloom was much more pronounced; it resulted from deeper winter cooling and more intensive winter convection. Heating of surface water layer, wind mixing, and freshwater load with rains and river discharge either stimulate or depress the development of phytoplankton, depending on what limiting environmental factor ( light or nutrient limitation) prevailed

Introduction to Part II: National Case Studies

This book (Part II of a volume on “Oil Pollution in the Mediterranean Sea”) presents a review of knowledge on oil pollution in the Mediterranean Sea, through a series of national and regional case studies. Making use of a range of data on oil extraction and production activities, oil transportation, satellite technology, aerial surveillance, in situ monitoring, oil spill sampling and oil fingerprinting, for example, it presents a picture of trends in oil pollution in various areas of the region over many years. It examines national practices in a number of Mediterranean Sea states. A range of legislative measures are in place to protect the marine environment of the region. For example, the Mediterranean Sea and its various regions, such as the Adriatic Sea, have Special Status for the prevention of pollution by oil from ships under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and its Protocols (MARPOL 73/78 Convention). At the same time, the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution (Barcelona Convention, 1976) and its various protocols provide a legislative framework under which countries in the region can work together to cooperate in preventing pollution from ships, for example, and work together to combat pollution in the event of an emergency. National contingency planning and oil pollution preparedness and response activities and the work of the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Centre (REMPEC) for the Barcelona Convention’s contracting parties are also discussed within various national case studies. This book brings together the work of scientists, legal and policy experts, academic researchers and specialists in various fields relating to marine environmental protection, satellite monitoring, oil pollution and the Mediterranean Sea

History, Sources and Volumes of Oil Pollution in the Mediterranean Sea

This chapter presents a brief review of history, sources and volumes of oil pollu-tion in the Mediterranean Sea. Historical records show 16 major oil spills oc-curred between May 1966 and September 2017, and resulted in oil spills ranging between 6,000 and 144,000 tonnes; the largest spill came from the MT Haven tanker after an explosion on board on April 11, 1991. Sources of oil pollution are typical for other seas and include shipping, oil and gas platforms, ports and oil terminals, land-based sources, military conflicts, natural oil seeps, and even at-mospheric inputs. Shipping activities are the main cause for oil pollution in the Mediterranean Sea because oil and gas production and exploration is not so im-portant, unlike in the Gulf of Mexico or the Caspian Sea. If we exclude major oil spill accidents from ships, which are very rare events in the Mediterranean, dif-ferent expert reports and estimates provide total volumes of oil pollution ranging from 1,600 to 1,000,000 tonnes per year. The 625 times difference in values means that we still do not know the real volume of oil pollution entering the Mediterranean Sea and this is a big problem that should be addressed

Introduction to Part I: The International Context

This book (Part 1 of a volume on Oil Pollution in the Mediterranean Sea) presents a review of knowledge on oil pollution in the Mediterranean Sea, through a series of chapters at an international level. The chapters consider various sources of oil entering the marine environment, activities such as numerical modeling of oil pollution in the Eastern and Western Mediterranean Basins, oil spill beaching probability assessment, and oil spill intervention activities. They also examine legislative measures in place to protect the marine environment of the Mediterranean from oil pollution, including the role of the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution (Barcelona Convention, 1976) and its various protocols, in providing a framework under which nations across the region can work together to cooperate in preventing pollution from ships and from offshore exploration and exploitation activities or in the event of an emergency. The work of the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC), established under the Barcelona Convention to enhance collaboration and cooperation between national contracting parties, is also examined, including its role in national contingency planning and oil pollution preparedness and response activities. The International Maritime Organization has a role in protecting the Mediterranean Sea and its various regions through the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and its Protocols (MARPOL 73/78 Convention) and sets limits on discharges of oil from ships, while the European Maritime Safety Agency supports oil spill detection activities through satellite surveillance across the region. This book brings together the work of scientists, legal and policy experts, academic researchers and specialists in various fields relating to marine environmental protection, satellite monitoring, oil pollution, and the Mediterranean Sea