Physico-chemical characteristics of Suez Bay water during 2006-2007

urface and bottom water samples were collected seasonally from eight stations at Suez Bay during the period from spring 2006 to winter 2007. Water temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, nitrite, nitrate, ammonia and dissolved inorganic phosphate were determined in each sample. The results indicated that, the annual mean range of concentration of these parameters for the surface water were 22.00-23.00°C, 8.10-8.28, 41.16-42.22‰, 8.76-10.17 mgO_2/l, 1.54-3.23 μM NO_2-N/l, 6.77-17.85 μM NO_3-N/l, 3.59-12.13 μM NH_3- N/l and 0.44-2.56 μM PO_4-P/l respectively. The corresponding values for bottom water were 21.50-22.38°C,8.12-8.19,41.11-41.86 ‰,8.58-9.53 mg 0_2/l, 1.72-3.23 μM NO_2-N/l, 5.25-16.32 μM NO_3-N/l, 2.79-8.89 μM NH_3-N/l and 0.35-2.12 μM PO_4-P/l respectively. Generally, the present data indicated that the concentration of the measured parameters were relatively high at the northwestern coast of the Bay and decreased eastward (Sinai side). This reflects the high intensive disposal of sewage and industrial effluents in the western and north-western parts of the Bay.