Environmental condition of the western harbour of Alexandria: I-physico-chemical characteristics

ABSTRACT

A study was carried out in order to evaluate the recent environmental condition of the Western harbour of Alexandria during the period from August 1988 to June 1989. The levels of temperature, salinity, hydrogen ion concentration [pH], dissolved oxygen, hydrogen sulphide, chlorophy11-a, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and inorganic phosphate are scattered in the ranges [17.00-30.50C], [24.92-39.09%], [7.70-9.25], [0.00-8.35 nl/D], [0.22-13.60 mg 0/1], [1.61-4.30 mg/1], [0.02-7.22 mg/m], [0.72-26.98/ug it/I], [0.07-2.84/ug at.1].[0.036-24,69/ig at./I] and [0.003-3.98 > ug at./I]. Hydrogen sulphide-ammonia showed an obvious relationship. The calculated ratio of H[2]S/NH[3]- was 0.49 which is much lower than the theoretical value of anoxic water. The calculated amount of dissolved oxygen present after complete oxidation of organic matter [54-55%] was comparable to that recorded in the Eastern harbour and El-Mex Bay during 1988. The mean annual ratio of N/P [141] suggests that phosphorus is the most limiting factor for the growth of algae in the harbour