Southampton University Falmouth 2015

Group 13

© B Carter

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Chemical Analysis

For all three stations, dissolved silicon shows a fairly similar trend in concentration, as it increases with depth.  At station 68, there is a constant level of silicon concentration at mid depth, probably due to the large chlorophyll maxima observed at this station.  Silicate is rapidly taken up by phytoplankton for aid in biological processes.

Dissolved nitrogen is essential for phytoplankton growth.  As a result, nitrate concentrations tend to inversely follow phytoplankton abundance. At station 68, a large chlorophyll maximum was observed at mid depth, resulting in reduced nitrate concentrations which increase after the maximum. Station 69 did not have high concentrations of phytoplankton in surface waters, leading to high levels of nitrate which rapidly decrease at the observed chlorophyll maximum for that station.  

Dissolved phosphate levels stayed fairly constant at stations 68 and 69.  However, phosphate levels increased dramatically with depth at station 71.  This could be due to pollution from waste management plants placed around the coastal areas of Falmouth.

Figure 25. Silicon concentration against depth (m).

Figure 26. Phosphate concentration against depth (m)

Figure 27 Nitrate concentration against depth (m).