Spectrofluorometric phytoplankton and seawater characterization during the XIII Italian Antarctic mission

Seawaters detailed spectroscopic analyses were carried out in the ENEA mobile fluorosensor laboratory participating to the oceanographic campaign within the XIII Italian Antarctic Mission (R/V Italica, Nov. '97 - Jan '98). A complete set of in-vivo emission and excitation spectra was measured during cruises in the Ross Sea and along Southern Ocean transects up- to New Zealand. Measurements allowed for distinguishing among natural seawater components (tyrosine and tryptophan protein- like substances) and for identifying phytoplankton pigments (Chl-a, b, c, carotenoids, phycoerithrin, and phaeopigments). Georeferenced data have been collected at fixed time intervals and released on thematic maps.