STliDY OF THE SURFACE 'VATER INORGAl"C PHOSPHATE IN THE SOUTH EAST MEDITERRANEAN By , l\l.L. EI-Sayed EI-Hehyawi Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Alexandria, A.R.E.

STliDY OF THE SURFACE ‘VATER INORGAl”C PHOSPHATE
IN THE SOUTH EAST MEDITERRANEAN
By
, l\l.L. EI-Sayed EI-Hehyawi
Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Alexandria, A.R.E.
JJULLETIN OF THE INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY &; FISHERIES 127
ABSTRACT
Regional differences of inorganic phosphate content
of the surface 0-10 m water layer appear in the south easternMediterraneancoastalwater. During autumn 1964
the water north to Alexandria attained 0.17-0.57 ug-at
PO,-PjL. Frequently, maximum values were observed in
the nearshore waters of the Nile delta. The estimated discharge of about 8200.0 ton P04-P ions in the coastal region
during autumn 1964 was decreased to about 160.2
ton P04-P ton in autumn 1966. Consequent decrease in
the maximum phosphate concentration from about 1.60
in 1964 to aboutO.16ug-atPO,-P/L in 1966 was observed.
Formulae are constructed to explain th phosphate-chlorinity relationship under the conditions of simple mixiing
ofthe Nile and sea water types. These fromulae are also
used successfully to calculate the phsophate anomalies
The deduced aniomalies are suggested to identify the
water masses. They helped to detect the distributicn of
three of them wich are the transformed current water
mass of Atlantic origin, the Nile delta nearshore mixed
water mass and the coastal south eastern surface water
mass of the Levantine basin.