大亚湾坝光海域表层海水和沉积物中酸可挥发性硫化物含量的分布和污染评价

于2011年10月对大亚湾坝光海域表层海水和沉积物的酸可挥发性硫化物(AVS)及相关环境因子进行了调查研究.结果显示,20个测站表层海水的AVS含量在0.039 ～0.129 mg/dm3之间,平均0.070 mg/dm3,区域分布规律不显著;12个测站的表层沉积物中均检测出AVS,其含量(干重)范围是12.8 ～ 867.7 mg/kg,平均为272.4 mg/kg,整体呈近岸较高、离岸较低的分布规律.相关性分析显示,表层水体pH值、CCOD和CDo等环境因子与CAVS相关系数的绝对值均较小,相关性特征不明显;表层沉积物中的CAVS与Eh之间的相关系数为-0.957,呈高度相关性,符合挥发性硫化物含量较高的沉积物处于较强还原状态的普遍规律;大亚湾表层沉积物中的CAVS与pH值、CTOC的相关系数分别为-0.065和0.219,相关性不显著.单因子污染指数评价结果表明,大亚湾坝光海域表层海水硫化物含量已超过所在自然保护区(一类标准)和养殖区(二类标准)所要求的水质标准,局部水体已受到污染;表层沉积物中硫化物含量符合国家一类标准,环境质量良好.     

南黄海秋季叶绿素a的分布特征与浮游植物的固碳强度

依据2005年10月中下旬对南黄海的调查结果,系统阐述了2005年秋季南黄海叶绿素a的分布特征,并估算了南黄海和东中国近海初级生产力水平及浮游植物固碳强度,分析了控制其变化的生物地球化学机制.结果表明,南黄海表层叶绿素a含量的变化范围为0.11~2.38 mg/m3,平均浓度为0.66 mg/m3,明显高于50 m层的含量.南黄海表层和次表层叶绿素a分布趋势基本一致,均显现出西北高、东南低的趋势,在近岸海域出现显著的高值带,这主要是由于受到陆源输入和沿岸流带来的高营养盐的影响;中部海域的低值区则主要受控于来自东海低营养盐海流的“冲淡”作用.在垂直分布上,叶绿素a最高值基本出现在次表层,与以往发现的该海域次表层溶解氧最大值一致,这显然与南黄海浮游植物及区域水团特性有关.2005年秋季南黄海初级生产力(C)变化在95~1 634 mg/(m2·d),平均为586 mg/(m2·d),其分布趋势显示了海洋初级生产力与海水磷浓度以及水团、海流的关系.应用初级生产力估算的浮游植物固碳强度的结果表明,我国东部近海浮游植物年总固碳量约为222Mt,约占全球近海浮游植物的年固碳量的2.0%,为我国东部近海通过海-气界面总表观碳汇强度每年1 369万t的16.2倍,在不同的海域,浮游植物固碳量是其通过海-气界面总表观碳汇强度的倍数不同(渤海为3.0倍,黄海为6.7倍,东海为81.6倍).     

北太平洋鱿鱼渔场叶绿素a分布特点及其与渔场的关系

根据2001年～8月对位于39°～43°N,152°E～171°W的北太平洋鱿鱼渔场进行的水温、盐度、叶绿素a、浮游植物和鱿鱼捕捞等的调查结果,主要分析北太平洋鱿鱼渔场表层叶绿素a分布特点及其与环境因子、中心渔场的关系.分析结果表明,调查区表层叶绿素a含量变化为0.03～0.32 mg/m3,平均为0.13 mg/m3,其中中部渔场表层叶绿素a含量值最大,东部渔场次之,西部渔场最低;调查海域表层叶绿素a含量分布与表层温度、盐度存在较好的对应关系,叶绿素a含量高值区对应高温区,冷涡区含量最低,暖涡区含量最高;叶绿素a含量随盐度的增加而增加;在西部、中部、东部渔场,表层叶绿素a含量与浮游植物数量呈正相关关系;表层叶绿素a的分布与鱿鱼中心渔场存在较好的对应关系,中心渔场主要位于0.1 mg/m3叶绿素a等值线舌状部分或叶绿素a水平梯度较大处,渔场中心的叶绿素a值大于0.1 mg/m3.叶绿素a分布与环境要素及渔场的相关性分析表明叶绿素a可作为鱿鱼渔场分析中的一个重要参考指标.     

广东雷州珍稀海洋生物国家级自然保护区水体和沉积物中石油类含量与分布特征

为了探讨广东雷州珍稀海洋生物国家级自然保护区海域水体和沉积物中石油类的含量及其分布特征,文章于2017年和2018年分别对保护区海域的石油类进行了调查。结果表明,保护区表层水体石油类含量为0.003~0.066mg/L,平均含量为0.015mg/L,平均污染指数为0.30,保护区水体中的石油类基本符合一类海水水质标准。保护区表层沉积物中石油类含量为3.0~54.8mg/kg,平均值为11.109mg/kg,符合海洋沉积物第一类质量标准。保护区水体和沉积物中石油类含量的变化规律基本相似,但是沉积物中石油类含量的变化更大。根据调查数据分析,保护区水体中石油类的主要来源是保护区社区小型渔船航行排放的石油类,以及保护区周边渔船在航行过程排放的石油类扩散到保护区海域。     

渤海表层沉积物中的生物硅

采用0.1 mol/L HCl和1%Na2CO3两步连续提取法,对103个渤海表层沉积物样品的生物硅含量进行了分析,结果表明,渤海表层沉积物中生物硅含量范围为7.3~54.7 g/kg,均值31.5 g/kg,高于其他相关调查,原因可能是由于采用0.1 mol/L HCl提取过程中,破坏了生物硅表面的金属氧化膜。对沉积物生物硅含量的空间分布表征显示,莱州湾是沉积物生物硅的低值区、而渤海湾与辽东湾之间的河北沿岸海域是相对高值区,初步认为是陆源营养物质的输入与黄河泥沙长期不断输入干扰沉积环境的稳定性,造成了该海域表层沉积物生物硅分布差异。主成分分析显示,生物硅含量与沉积物黏粒含量、细粉砂、有机氮、有机碳的含量均呈极显著正相关(P0.01),进一步证实沉积物粒度特征和营养环境对生物硅积累的影响。     

东山湾表层沉积物5种重金属元素含量分布及其与主要环境因子的关系

根据2011年8月福建东山湾12个站位表层沉积物中5种重金属含量调查,探讨了它们的分布趋势、相互关系、影响因素,并运用潜在生态风险指数法对重金属污染进行风险评价.结果表明,该海域表层沉积物中重金属Cu含量变化范围在5.53～22.40 mg/kg之间,平均值为15.10 mg/kg;Pb含量变化范围在28.9～42.6 mg/kg之间,平均值为35.0 mg/kg;Zn含量变化范围在34.8～133.9 mg/kg之间,平均值为95.9 mg/kg;Cd含量变化范围在0.031～0.078 mg/kg之间,平均值为0.059 mg/kg;Cr含量变化范围在19.2～91.8 mg/kg之间,平均值为62.5 mg/kg.重金属含量的分布呈现湾顶（3、11号站）高、湾外（7号站）低的格局;沉积物中有机质对重金属含量的分布起着重要作用;重金属Cu、Zn和Cr的含量随着沉积物粗颗粒组分（63～2 000μm）含量的增大而降低,成负相关关系（p〈0.05）;Cr的含量随着粘土组分（〈1μm）含量的增大而增大,成正相关关系（p〈0.05）.除了湾顶3号站Cr（含量为91.8 mg/kg）以外,其他重金属元素含量均符合《海洋沉积物质量》一类标准;各元素潜在生态危害系数Ei r大小顺序为Cd〉Pb〉Cu〉Cr〉Zn,所有站位重金属潜在生态危害指数RI均远小于90,属低度生态风险,表明东山湾沉积环境基本良好.     

南海北部海域叶绿素a浓度时空特征遥感分析

利用2007-2010年MODIS的L2级叶绿素a浓度产品作为数据基础, 对叶绿素a浓度年平均和月平均数据进行分级分区处理, 研究南海北部海域叶绿素a浓度时空分布特征及其与海洋环境因素的关系。初步研究结果表明:2007-2010年在南海北部海域叶绿素a浓度的高值区(>5.0 mg/m3)主要分布在广东省沿岸河流的入海口, 分布范围在夏季最大, 在春秋次之, 在冬季最小;叶绿素a浓度的次高值区(1.0～5.0 mg/m3)主要分布在海岸线到50 m等深线之间的海域, 分布范围夏冬较大, 能扩展到50 m等深线附近, 而春秋较小, 会退缩到50 m等深线以内;叶绿素a浓度的中值区(0.3～1.0 mg/m3)主要分布在50 m到100 m等深线之间的海域, 时空变化复杂;叶绿素a浓度的低值区(<0.3 mg/m3)主要分布在100 m等深线以外的海域, 其区域平均值夏季最低, 春秋次之, 冬季最高, 同时该区域叶绿素a浓度在春夏秋三季空间分布较均匀, 而冬季受季风和黑潮入侵影响空间分布较为复杂。南海北部海域海表叶绿素a浓度的时空变化特征与季风、沿岸河流、海流、海表温度等海洋环境因素的变化有关。     

2011 年春、夏季黄、东海叶绿素a和初级生产力的时空变化特征

依据2011年春、夏两季黄、东海调查资料,分析了叶绿素a和初级生产力的空间分布和季节变化特征,并分析了主要影响因素。南黄海、东海北部春季叶绿素a平均含量为74.83mg/m2,夏季为23.84mg/m2,春季明显高于夏季。春季大部分海域叶绿素a含量垂直分布均匀,夏季则出现较为明显的分层现象,在次表层出现最大值。初级生产力水平春季为993.9mgC/(m2.d),夏季为1274mgC/(m2.d),与1984—1985年相比有所升高。春季高值区出现在黄海中部及长江口附近海域;夏季高值区主要分布在山东半岛南岸近海海域、长江口外的黄、东海交界海域以及浙江省沿岸海域。春季整个调查海区叶绿素a浓度与磷酸盐浓度呈显著负相关,与氮磷比呈显著的正相关性,表明黄、东海春季磷酸盐可能成为浮游植物生长的一个限制因子。     

白洋淀叶绿素a及其水质因子分析

从2009年5月到2010年3月,选择代表月份对白洋淀水体中叶绿素a浓度的时空分布进行了调查并分析了白洋淀的水质特征。结果表明,白洋淀叶绿素a有明显的时空分布规律:夏季(平均含量为41.19mg/m3)>秋季(平均含量为40.42mg/m3)>春季(平均含量为16.95mg/m3)>冬季(平均含量为10.30mg/m3);空间方面,清洁对照点最低(年平均值为10.65mg/m3),养鱼点含量最高(年平均值为42.11mg/m3)。叶绿素a的含量变化范围是4.37～97.45mg/m3,表明白洋淀处于富营养化水平。叶绿素a的含量与其他水质因子呈现一定的相关性:与水温、透明度、总铁、总磷之间有较高的相关性,与CODMn之间相关程度显著,与总氮相关程度较小。     

秦山Ⅲ期核电站工程邻近水域叶绿素a的电布特征

根据 1 995年 1 0月至 1 996年 7月秦山 期核电站邻近水域生态调查资料 ,对叶绿素 a的分布特征进行研究。结果表明 ,该调查水域叶绿素 a含量低 ,表层叶绿素 a平均含量为 0 .2 93mg/m3,底层叶绿素 a平均含量为 0 .2 2 2 mg/m3。叶绿素 a含量的季节变化明显 ,秋季最高 ,其它依次为夏季、春季、冬季。与该水域过去的调查资料进行比较分析 ,发现叶绿素 a的含量有明显下降。     

Satellite and ship observations of Kuroshio warm-core ring 93A off Sanriku, northwestern North Pacific, in spring 1997

Synoptic ship and satellite observations were performed of the Kuroshio warm-core ring (KWCR) 93A and its adjacent waters, off Sanriku, northwestern North Pacific, between early April and late June 1997. The temporal and spatial distribution of chlorophylla (Chl-a) and sea surface temperature in the study area were analyzed using data from ADEOS Ocean Color and Temperature Scanner (OCTS) and NOAA Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). The objective of this study was to describe the temporal and spatial variability of the spring bloom and understand its relationship with the changes in the hydrographic structure of these waters in and around KWCR 93A. The maximum value of Chl-a concentration in the ring was less than 1 mg/m³ during April. The spring bloom in the ring occurred early in May and the relatively high maximum (>1.0 mg/m³) continued from early in May to mid-June. In late June, a ship-observed surface Chl-a concentration of less than 0.4 mg/m³ suggests that the spring bloom had already declined in and around KWCR 93A. Double spiral structures of warm and cold streamers appeared from late April to mid-May, which may have an influence on the occurrence of the spring bloom in and around the ring. In this episodic event, the warm streamer can maintain the available potential energy of the ring and the strength of upwelling around the ring. The cold streamer provided water with a high Chl-a concentration to the surface layer of the ring. In order to understand the temporal and spatial variability of Chl-a distribution in the ring, the behavior of the warm and cold streamers needs to be taken into consideration.     

Ocean Color Satellite Imagery and Shipboard Measurements of Chlorophyll a and Suspended Particulate Matter Distribution in the East China Sea

Satellite-derived ocean color data of Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) on board the Nimbus-7 and Ocean Color and Temperature Scanner (OCTS) on board the Advanced Earth Observing Satellite (ADEOS) are jointly used with historical in situ data to examine seasonal and spatial distributions of chlorophyll a (Chl-a) and suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentrations in the East China Sea. Ocean color imagery showed that Chl-a concentrations on the continental shelf were higher than those of the Kuroshio area throughout the year. Satellite-derived Chl-a concentrations are generally in good accordance with historical in situ values during spring through autumn (although no shipboard in situ measurement was conducted at nearshore areas). In contrast, ocean color imagery in winter indicated high Chl-a concentrations (4–10 mg m^–3) on the continental shelf where bottom depth was less than 50 m when surface water was turbid (2–72 g m^–3 of SPM at surface), while historical in situ values were usually less than 1 mg m^–3. This suggests that resuspended bottom sediment due to wind-driven mixing and winter cooling is responsible for the noticeable overestimation of satellite-derived Chl-a concentrations. The algorithm for ocean color needs to be improved urgently for turbid water.     

Satellite-derived measurements of spatial and temporal chlorophyll-a variability in Funka Bay, southwestern Hokkaido, Japan

Chlorophyll-a (chl-a) concentration has an important economic effect in coastal and marine environments on fisheries resources and marine aquaculture development. Monthly climatologies the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) derived chl-a from February 1998 to August 2004 around Funka Bay were used to investigate the spatial and temporal variability of chl-a concentrations. SeaWiFS-derived suspended sediment, MODIS derived sea surface temperature (SST), solar radiation and wind data were also analyzed. Results showed two distinct chlorophyll blooms in spring and autumn. Chl-a concentrations were relatively low (<0.3 mg m⁻³) in the bay during summer, with high concentrations occurring along the coast, particularly near Yakumo and Shiraoi. In spring, chl-a concentrations increased, and a large (>2 mg m⁻³) phytoplankton bloom occurred. The spatial and temporal patterns were further confirmed by empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis. About 83.94% of the variability could be explained by the first three modes. The first chl-a mode (77.93% of the total variance) explained the general seasonal cycle and quantified interannual variability in the bay. The spring condition was explained by the second mode (3.89% of the total variance), while the third mode (2.12% of the total variance) was associated with autumn condition. Local forcing such as the timing of intrusion of Oyashio water, wind condition and surface heating are the mechanisms that controlled the spatial and temporal variations of chlorophyll concentrations. Moreover, the variation of chlorophyll concentration along the coast seemed to be influenced by suspended sediment caused by resuspension or river discharge.     

Phytoplankton production characteristics in the southern Atlantic and the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean in the austral summer of 2009–2010

In December–January of 2010 the spatial distribution of the phytoplankton production characteristics was studied along transects in the vicinity of the Greenwich meridian (I) and in the Drake Passage (II). On transect I, the surface chlorophyll a concentration and primary production varied from 0.11 up to 3.57 mg/m³ and from 4.38 up to 37.47 mgC/m³ per day, respectively. The chlorophyll a in the photosynthetic layer and the integrated primary production varied from 10.7 up to 66.1 mg/m² and from 83 to 646 mgC/m² per day, respectively. On transect II in the surface layer, the chlorophyll a concentration changed within the range of 0.09–1.02 mg/m³ and the primary production ranged from 2.08 to 9.49 mgC/m³. The integrated values ranged from 6.32 to 38.29 mg/m² and from 41 to 221 mgC/m² per day, respectively. The moderate means of themaximum quantum yield (F _v/F _m) on transects I and II (0.41 and 0.35, respectively) testify to the low activity of the phytoplankton’s photosynthetic apparatus. The studied water areas in the Southern Ocean differed both in the phytoplankton biomass expressed in the chlorophyll a concentration values and in the conditions of the primary production formation.     

Dynamics of microphytobenthic biomass in a coastal area of western Seto Inland Sea, Japan

This study focused on the causes of the variation in microphytobenthic biomass and the effects of this variation on macrobenthic animals in the western Seto Inland Sea, Japan, where the importance of microphytobenthos as the primary food source for benthic animals has been recently reported. We investigated the microphytobenthic biomass together with light attenuation of seawater, phytoplanktonic biomass, macrobenthic density and biomass at eight stations (water depth = 5–15 m) during four cruises in 1999–2000. The increased light attenuation coefficient of the water column associated with increased concentration of the phytoplanktonic Chl-a caused a decrease in light flux that reached the seafloor. The biomass of the microphytobenthos within the upper 1 cm of the sediment, 1.9–46.5 mg Chl-a m⁻², was inversely correlated with the phytoplanktonic biomass in the overlying water column, 10.9–65.0 mg Chl-a m⁻². Thus, interception of light by phytoplankton is considered to be a main cause of the variation in the microphytobenthic biomass. The microphytobenthos biomass showed a significant positive correlation with the macrobenthic density (78–9369 ind. m⁻²) and biomass (0.4–78.8 gWW m⁻²). It appears that the increase in oxygen production by the microphytobenthos allowed macrobenthic animals to become more abundant, as a consequence of oxygenation of the organically enriched muddy sediments (14.5 ± 2.69 mg TOC g⁻¹). This study suggests that the variation in the microphytobenthic biomass is influenced by the phytoplanktonic biomass due to shading effect, and the balance between these two functional groups might affect the variability in the macrobenthic density and biomass.     

Calibration and validation of the ocean color version-3 product from ADEOS OCTS

We present calibration and validation results of the OCTS’s ocean color version-3 product, which mainly consists of the chlorophyll-a concentration (Chl-a) and the normalized water-leaving radiance (_nL_w). First, OCTS was calibrated for the inter-detector sensitivity difference, offset, and absolute sensitivity using external calibration source. It was also vicariously calibrated using in-situ measurements for water (Chl-a and_nL_w) and atmosphere (optical thickness), which were acquired synchronously with OCTS under cloud-free conditions. Second, the product was validated using selected 17 in-situ Chl-a and 11 in-situ_nL_w measurements. We confirmed that Chl-a was estimated with an accuracy of 68% for Chl-a less than 2 mg/m³, and_nL_w from 94% (band 2) to 128% (band 4). Geometric accuracy was improved to 1.3 km. Stripes were significantly reduced by modifying the detector normalization factor as a function of input radiance.     

The distribution of chlorophyll a and its influencing factors in different regions of the Bering Sea

The distribution of chlorophyll a(Chl a) and its relationships with physical and chemical parameters in different regions of the Bering Sea were discussed in July 2010. The results showed the seawater column Chl a concentrations were 13.41–553.89 mg/m2 and the average value was 118.15 mg/m2 in the study areas. The horizontal distribution of Chl a varied remarkably from basin to shelf in the Bering Sea. The regional order of Chl a concentrations from low to high was basin, slope, outer shelf, inner shelf, and middle shelf. The vertical distribution of Chl a was grouped mainly from single-peak type in basin, slope, outer shelf, and middle shelf, where the deep Chl a maxima(DCM) layer was observed at 25–50 m, 30–35 m, 36–44 m, and 37–47 m, respectively. The vertical distribution of Chl a mainly had three basic patterns: standard single-peak type, surface maximum type, and bottom maximum type in the inner shelf. The analysis also showed that the transportation of ocean currents may control the distribution of Chl a, and the effects were not simple in the basin of the Bering Sea. There was a positive correlation between Chl a and temperature, but no significant correlation between Chl a and nutrients. The Bering Sea slope was an area deeply influenced by slope current. Silicate was the factor that controlled the distribution of Chl a within parts of the water in the slope. Light intensity was an important environmental factor in controlling seawater column Chl a in the shelf, where Chl a was limited by nitrate rather than phosphate within the upper water. Meanwhile, there was a positive relationship between Chl a and salinity. Algal blooms broke out at Sta. B6 of the southwestern St. Lawrence Island and Stas F6 and F11 in the middle of the Bering Strait.     

Biological and physical controls on dissolved dimethylsulfide over the north-eastern continental shelf of New Zealand

Data presented in this paper are part of an extensive investigation of the physics of cross-shelf water mass exchange in the north-east of New Zealand and its effect on biological processes. Levels of dissolved dimethylsulfide (DMS) were quantified in relation to physical processes and phytoplankton biomass. Measurements were made at three main sites over the north-east continental shelf of New Zealand's North Island during a current-driven upwelling event in late spring 1996 (October) and an oceanic surface water intrusion event in summer 1997 (January). DMS concentrations in the euphotic zone ranged between 0.4 and 12.9 nmol dm⁻³. Integrated water column DMS concentrations ranged from 33 to 173 μmol m⁻² in late spring during the higher biomass (15–62 Chl-a mg m⁻²) month of October, and from 25 to 38 μmol m⁻² in summer during the generally lower biomass (16–42 Chl-a mg m⁻²) month of January. We observed high levels of DMS in the surface waters at an Inner Shelf site in association with a Noctiluca scintillans bloom which is likely to have enhanced lysis of DMSP-producing algal cells during phagotrophy. Integrated DMS concentrations increased three-fold at a Mid Shelf site over a period of a week in conjunction with a doubling of algal biomass. A high correlation (r²=0.911, significant <0.001) of integrated DMS and chlorophyll-a concentrations for compiled data from all stations indicated that chlorophyll-a biomass may be a reasonable predictor of DMS in this region, even under highly variable hydrographic conditions. Integrated bacterial production was inversely correlated to DMS production, indicating active bacterial consumption of DMS and/or its precursor.     

南海北部表层颗粒有机碳的季节和年际变化遥感分析

海洋颗粒有机碳（POC）是海洋固碳的一个关键参数。为了研究南海北部陆架及海盆表层POC浓度的时空分布特征以及变化趋势,本文利用2009-2011年4个季节的实测数据,对NASA发布的MODIS/AQUA卫星月平均POC遥感产品,进行了验证和校正;并利用校正后的遥感数据分析了2003-2014年POC的时空分布特征和变化趋势。发现POC遥感产品与南海北部实测数据具有较好的线性关系（R2=0.72）,但存在系统性偏高,需利用实测数据对遥感数据进行区域性校正。分析校正后的遥感数据发现,南海北部陆架POC浓度较高,平均为（33.34±8.02）mg/m3;吕宋海峡西南海域浓度较低,平均为（29.25±6.20）mg/m3;中央海盆区浓度最低,平均为（27.02±4.84）mg/m3。春夏季POC浓度较低,最低值一般出现在5月,冬季（12月至翌年1月）POC浓度达到最高。利用2003-2014年的长时间序列遥感叶绿素（Chl a）和海表温度（SST）、混合层深度（MLD）模式数据,以及实测数据对南海北部POC浓度的影响机制进行了分析。发现POC与Chl a在秋冬呈现较好的相关关系（R2=0.51）,但在春夏季较离散,表明秋冬季生物作用对POC影响较大。2003-2014年期间,POC与Chl a、MLD及SST存在明显的年际变化,但并没有显著的上升或下降趋势。     

Spatial and temporal variability in bio-optical properties of the Wadden Sea

The Wadden Sea, a shallow coastal area bordering the North Sea, is optically a complex area due to its shallowness, high turbidity and fast changes in concentrations of optically active substances. This study gathers information from the area on concentrations of suspended particulate matter (SPM), Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), and Coloured Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM), on total absorption and beam attenuation, and on reflectances from the whole area. It examines the processes responsible for variations in these. Sampling took place at 156 stations in 2006 and 2007. At 37 locations also the specific inherent optical properties (SIOPs) were determined. Results showed large concentration ranges of 2–450 (g m^-3) for SPM, 2–67 (mg m^-3) for Chl-a, and 0–2.5 m⁻¹ for CDOM(440) absorption. Tides had a large influence on the SPM concentration, while Chl-a had a mainly seasonal pattern. Resuspension lead to a correlation between SPM and Chl-a. The absorption of CDOM had a spatial variability with extremely high values in the Dollard, although the slope of CDOM absorption spectra was comparable with that of the North Sea. The Chl-a specific pigment absorption proved to be influenced by phytoplankton species and specific absorption of non-algal particles at 440 nm was correlated with the mud content of the soil at the sample locations. SPM specific absorption was not found to correlate with any measured factor. As the concentrations of optically active substances changed, we also found spatial and temporal variability in the absorption, beam attenuation and reflectances. Reflectance spectra categorized in groups with decreasing station water depths and with extreme CDOM and SPM concentrations showed distinguishable shapes.