PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE HYDROCHEMISTRY OF THE EGYPTIAN COASTAL WATER OF AQABA GULF, AS A UNIQUE ECOSYSTEM DURING YEAR 2000

PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE HYDROCHEMISTRY

OF THE EGYPTIAN COASTAL WATER OF AQABA GULF,

AS A UNIQUE ECOSYSTEM DURING YEAR 2000

By
MAMDOlTH A. FAHMY*
*National Institute ofOceanography & Fisheries, Anfoushi. Alexandria. Egypt.
Key words: Aqaba Gulf, Coastal zone., Waterquality, Hydrographical
conditions, Nutrients, Eutrophications
ABSTRACT
The Environmental Infol111ation and Monitoring Program (EIMP)
was established to assess the aesthetic quality of Aqaba Gulf to
initiate monitoring and database system for the Egyptian coastal
water by using the quality assurance and quality control ‘work and for
sustainable lise of the Gulf coast line. Within the frameu’ork of this
program. six bimonthly field trips were carried out during year 2000.
A total of 11 coastal stations were selected to cover different locations
of the Gulf The surface distribution pattern of hydrographical
conditions (li1ater temperature S%o, DO and pH) and eutrophication
parameters (Chl-a. TSM. trans, NH4• N02, N03• TN, P04• TP and
Si04) were investigated and the obtained data deduced that: Water
temperature was relatively high with almost no thelwocline or
thermal pollution. Variations in the distribution pattern of S%o and
pH values were insign(ficant. The OJ.ygen measurements clearly
indicated that the water column is well oxygenated and the present
load qf organic matter and nutrients reached the Aqaba Gulf is below
the level which bring about oJ.ygen deficiency. Nitrogen in the
dissolved inorganic fOlws (NH4, NO), N03) is quite low in the swface
coastal water of most locations of Aqaba Gulf. The abundance of
different inorganic rzitrogen fonns were in the order NH4 > NO3 2
NO) reflect{ng the increa5ing rate of NH4 production. as compared
with the other inorganic nitrogen forms, than its uptake rate as a