Influence des conditions hivernales sur les productions phyto- et zooplanctoniques en Méditerranée nord-occidentale. I. Structures hydrologiques et distribution des sels nutritifs

During two periods (1 to 15 March and 3 to 17 April, 1969), the R.V. “Jean Charcot” accomplished hydrological, chemical, and biological observations in the northern portion of the Western Mediterranean Sea. The main aim was to study the influence of the intensive vertical mixing of water masses on primary and secondary productions during winter. Earlier work in this area had revealed, in the offshore region, relatively large biomasses and high production rates during spring; considering the low potential fertility of Mediterranean waters, this finding may be explained by the effective vertical transport of nutrients upwards to the photic zone. The present paper discusses the hydrological features and the distribution of nutrients (phosphates and nitrates), in these areas, where, in winter, formation of deep water occurs. Observations were made down to 1,000 m on a grid of stations centred at 42°N; 5° E (“région provençale”) and another series of stations in the region “Corse-Côte d'Azur”. These two areas are characterized by cyclonic gyres, in which each centre shows a sector of high surface density (σ _t > 29.00). The surface mixed layer encountered is not deeper than 100 m; however, the Medoc Group (1970) has described formation of a homogeneous layer down to more than 1000 m. Many well-mixed water columns (maximum temperature and salinity at any depth do not exceed 13°C and 38.45‰, respectively) remain and occupy the western portion of the high surface density area; everywhere, the Mediterranean 3-layer system (superficial, intermediate and deep waters), more or less affected by mixing, remains well developed in the coastal region, and especially in the region of Côte d'Azur and Corsica. At some places, relatively high surface temperature (>13°C) associated with high salinity shows that the intermediate water fraction reaches the surface not only by direct vertical mixing, but also by any other dynamic lifting process, which constitutes another way of nutrient transport to the photic layer. The highest surface nutrient (0.3μ atg/l P?PO₄; 5 μ atg/l N?NO₃) and the lowest surface oxygen content (saturation <90%) are encountered in the mixed area; they are the best indicators of recently upwelled water. The surface layer around the cyclonic area is characterized by the low nutrient content of water of Atlantic origin. The lower salinity (<38%) of this water does not allow deep vertical mixing. During 3 to 17 April, 1969, the survey carried out on the same grid and sections reveals heating effects on all surface waters; the resulting stability in the most superficial layer accomodates the general spring bloom of phytoplankton. Nutrient consumption by photosynthesis in the upper 100 m layer of the surveyed area south of Marseilles was calculated to be: 129.1×10⁶ g-at P?PO₄ per 16,000 km² per month, converted on the atomic basis of P:C=1:106 represents almost 75% of the carbon production obtained by ¹⁴C-uptake measurements.