Annual spatio-temporal variation of the euphotic depth in the SW-Finnish archipelago, Baltic Sea

Abstract

We measured depth profiles of underwater PAR (photosynthetically active radiation) together with optically derived turbidity and chlorophyll fluorescence values at 11 sampling stations in the South-West Finnish archipelago of the Baltic Sea. The data were collected eight times during the spring, summer and early autumn of 2010. The results illustrate complex and multidimensional variations in the euphotic depth, which was subject to fourfold and twofold differences in the geographical and seasonal dimensions respectively. The spatio-temporal inconsistency and non-linearity of the seasonal euphotic depth variation calls for further studies at different spatial and temporal scales.

Keywords

• Light attenuation
• Euphotic zone
• Spatio-temporal variation
• Coastal waters
• Baltic Sea