PRIMARY PRODUCTION AND CHLOROPHYLL IN THE KARA SEA IN SEPTEMBER 1993

Primary production in water column (P(p)) varied within the ranges of 107 - 312 mg C/m2 per day in the Yenisei Bay, 25 - 63 mg C/m2 per day in the Ob Inlet and 20 - 359 mg C/m2 per day in the open sea (south-we stern region and the Ob - Yenisei Shoal). The latter regions were char acterized by low values of chlorophyll ''a'' content in the photosynth etic zone - C(ph) (0.2 - 1.8 mg/m3). This index was higher in the Yeni sei Bay (2.0 - 5.2 mg/m3) and in the ob inlet (1.6 - 21.7 mg/m3). Surf ace salinity (S) and surface chlorophyll ''a'' content (C(s)) as S and C(ph) were inversely related. The maximum values of C(s) and C(ph) (0 .8 - 22 mg/m3) were measured at S < 10 parts per thousand; the minimum values (0.2 - 0.8 mg/m3) - at S > 22 parts per thousand. Values of P( p) depended inversely of S only in the Yenisei Bay and in the open sea . The obtained results agree closely with the outwelling hypothesis. L ow values of P(p) in the investigated regions may be attributed to suc h unfavourable factors as deficiency of nutrients, low temperature, la ck of solar radiation and high water turbidity.