Micro-organisms as indicators of hydrological phenomena in seas and oceans—I

Current boundaries, the mixing zone of sea and river waters, and the thermocline may be identified by variations in the numbers of the microbial population. In the convergence zone of different water masses, boundary surfaces are formed where organic substances accumulate due to absorption phenomena or for other unknown reasons. As a consequence an increased number of micro-organisms occur there.

Microbiological studies in the Central Arctic showed that even slight variation in the stratification of the water could be detected by determining the abundance of the micro-organisms. The pronounced increase in the microbial population in the boundary layer of waters with only slight hydrographic differences makes it possible to utilize this phenomenon to identify weak, deep ocean currents.

Another method of the utilization of micro-organisms as hydrological indicators has been shown: investigation of areas of microbial forms with perculiar morphological characteristics makes it possible to determine the origin of water masses.