A CHEMOMETRIC SURVEY OF 3 SITES IN MUGGIA BAY (NORTHERN ADRIATIC-SEA)- METEOROLOGICAL EFFECTS ON HEAVY-METAL PATTERNS IN SURFACE COASTAL WATERS

Within research on the quality of the waters of the Gulf of Trieste, t his study on patterns of trace metal contents in the inner part of the gulf (Muggia Bay) discusses data of Cu, Pb, Cd and Zn, determined vol tammetrically (DPASV), and collected in three sites with a 10-day freq uency over the period of one year. Two of the sites lie inside the dam system which protects the harbour of Trieste, while the third one is situated outside for comparison purposes. Principal component analysis pointed out different metal patterns inside and outside the dam syste m; PC scores were related to meteorological information: rain plays a major role in conditioning the estuarine inner site: wind stirring act ion was detectable for the outer site. Both univariate graphics and ca nonical correlation analysis suggest a diffuse source for Pb, probably atmospheric deposition.