Changes and causes of variability in salinity and dissolved inorganic phosphate in the Irish Sea, English Channel, and Dutch coastal zone

In an attempt to investigate the sources of variability in salinity and dissolved inorganic phosphate (DIP) in the English Channel, Irish Sea, and southern North Sea, time series (20–40 yr) of observations at four different stations were studied. Highest salinities and lowest DIP, both associated with the lowest residuals, were found at station E1 in the English Channel near Plymouth, which is assumed to be representative of the natural signal of Atlantic Water entering the shelf seas. The influence of freshwater run-off, reflected in lower salinities and, more recently, in increased DIP conce... Mehr ...