Hydrochemical conditions Bransfield Strait and Elephant Island during the austral summer 2006

Abstract

The Peruvian Expedition to Antarctica (ANTAR XVI) aboard the R/V Humboldt was carried out on the austral summer 2006. The study area included between Bransfield Strait and Elephant Island. Hydrochemical conditions at the surface and water column were showed. Dissolved oxygen on the sea surface ranged from 4.69 to 7.45 mL/L, concentrations less than 6 mL/L were found both Greenwich Island and Elephant Island, these concentrations were lower than previous Peruvian expeditions (ANTAR III, IX, XI, XIII and XIV) where values from 7.5 to 8 mL/L. predominated. The results of chlorophyll analyzes in the Peruvian expeditions (ANTAR IX, XI, XIII, XIV and XVI) showed variations in their concentrations both in Bransfield Strait, convergence zone and Elephant Island. The highest value (2.5 μg/L) occurred in the convergence zone unlike previous expeditions where values ranged between 0.5 and 1.5 μg/L. The ranges of nutrients in the sea surface (0.52-1.93 μM phosphates, 6.68-71.46 μM silicates, 3.36-18.32 μM nitrate and 0.02-0.36 μM nitrites) characteristic of this study area were high.