Abstract
PAR (Photosynthetic Active Radiation) vertical profiles that were
obtained from casts with the Sea and Sun MSS90 microstructure probe in
the southern part of the Gulf of Trieste near buoy Vida were analyzed in
the years from 2011 to 2015. PAR fortnightly profiles were explored with
the linear fit of decrease with the depth of logarithm of PAR,
normalized with its value in the air. The inverse relation between the
coefficient of PAR attenuation and the Secchi disk depth was also
validated. Also, other relations (e.g. the bi-exponential non-linear
decrease of PAR with depth) were explored. Our findings about the
attenuation of PAR and the Secchi disk depth are in line with the study
conducted decades ago for the north-eastern part of the Gulf of Trieste
(Stravisi, 1999). Furthermore, the initial values of PAR profiles
measured with the Sea & Sun probe in the air before the cast were
validated with the PAR values measured continuously on buoy Vida, about
100 m away from the profiling measurement station.