Environmental quality evaluation of Ligurian Sea coastal waters

In the framework of SAReF Project, carried out in the Ligurian Sea in 1996, water samples were collected in 108 stations distributed to form a series of transepts from coast to open sea, offshore Genoa, Savona and Imperia. Di ssolved nutrients, chlorophyll-a, phaeopigments, particulate organic carbon and nitrogen and carbohydrates were determined in water samples. Data, tog ether to physical parameters were analysed by means of multivariate analysi s (PCA), to get a quantitative evaluation of their distribution in the exam ined areas. Moreover, C/N, N/P, Chlorophyll-a/phaeopigments, Chlorophyll-a/ (NP)1/2 and proteins/carbohydrates ratios were used to classify the areas o n the basis of these water quality indices. Taken together, the results of the application of PCA and water quality indices allowed us to differentiat e the investigated areas.