Marinello coastal system, north-eastern Sicily, in "Nutrient fluxes in transitional zones of the Italian coast". LOICZ Reports & Studies

The Marinello coastal system is located on the Tyrrhenian coast of the Messina province, Sicily (Italy) and includes five ponds. Physical and chemical features of two of them were studied from April, 1997 to March, 1998 in order to evaluate water and nutrient budgets using a single-box, single-layer LOICZ Biogeochemical model. Air temperature and rainfall records were obtained from the meteorological station in Tindari. Estimated water exchange time varied from approximately two months for the outer basin (Fondo Porto) in the wet period (Oct-Mar) to about one year for the inner basin (Verde) in the dry period (Apr-Sept) depending on the variability of the inputs. The ponds are net exporters of DIP to the sea in both periods, and appear to act as net sinks for DIP. High DIN concentrations were measured in both ponds during the wet season with values four to five times higher than in the dry season. The system is a net producer of organic matter; this applies to both periods and particularly to Verde pond. Nitrogen removal is generally balanced by nitrogen storage processes during summer, while N-fixation prevails in the wet season.