Introduction - Environmental Analytical Chemistry
as a Tool for Studying Chemical Processes in Marine
Environments
A. Gianguzza . E. Pelizzetti . S. Sammartano
Introduction
The marine analytical chemist must be aware that the constituents - dissolved and
suspended - of sea water have a three-dimensional distribution pattern. In contrast
to distribution patterns in a mineral resource or in a batch of ore, distribution patterns in the marine environment are influenced by chemical, biological and physical
processes, resulting in pronounced variability of individual patterns. Very often, only
the general features of such a distribution pattern are known before seawater analysis
is carried out. The optimal approach, therefore, presupposes an understanding of the
marine environment and of the wide variety of chemical processes influencing the
distribution of the compounds under examination. This means the marine analytical
chemist is forced to have a reasonable knowledge of chemical oceanography.
A correct understanding of processes in the marine environment can only be achieved
by unravelling the extreme physical and chemical complexity of the different compartments involved - atmosphere, water and sediments - and their interconnections. It is
recognised that the determination of global parameters, such as total concentrations
or average constants, is only a first step in the correct and rigorous representation of
environmental properties. Environmental processes are affected by many factors that
are still poorly evaluated or not evaluated at all. New approaches and methodologies
are needed, such as the combination of analytical techniques (hyphenated techniques)
or the use of mathematical procedures to extract detailed information and to build
up useful predictive models, and finally a critical body of compilation data. By following the suggestions of the IUPAC Commission on Environmental Analytical Chemistry (1989), concerning the "Principal Activities" in which the evaluation of concepts
and methodologies are of primary importance, the second meeting of the "International School on Marine Chemistry" (Ustica, Palermo 7-14 September 1998), was planned
with the aim of presenting the most recent developments in the chemistry of the
sea, with particular emphasis on chemical processes and analytical methodologies.
Some aspects of the main topics presented during the School are briefly outlined, below.
Biogeochemical Cycles
The Carbon Cycle and Organic Matter. The biogeochemical processes occurring at
the air-ocean interface are closely linked to the marine productivity and to earth's climate. Among these, the most important for the life on the earth is by far the assimilatory
reduction of carbon and nitrogen by photosynthetic organisms. Therefore, the car-
as a Tool for Studying Chemical Processes in Marine
Environments
A. Gianguzza . E. Pelizzetti . S. Sammartano
Introduction
The marine analytical chemist must be aware that the constituents - dissolved and
suspended - of sea water have a three-dimensional distribution pattern. In contrast
to distribution patterns in a mineral resource or in a batch of ore, distribution patterns in the marine environment are influenced by chemical, biological and physical
processes, resulting in pronounced variability of individual patterns. Very often, only
the general features of such a distribution pattern are known before seawater analysis
is carried out. The optimal approach, therefore, presupposes an understanding of the
marine environment and of the wide variety of chemical processes influencing the
distribution of the compounds under examination. This means the marine analytical
chemist is forced to have a reasonable knowledge of chemical oceanography.
A correct understanding of processes in the marine environment can only be achieved
by unravelling the extreme physical and chemical complexity of the different compartments involved - atmosphere, water and sediments - and their interconnections. It is
recognised that the determination of global parameters, such as total concentrations
or average constants, is only a first step in the correct and rigorous representation of
environmental properties. Environmental processes are affected by many factors that
are still poorly evaluated or not evaluated at all. New approaches and methodologies
are needed, such as the combination of analytical techniques (hyphenated techniques)
or the use of mathematical procedures to extract detailed information and to build
up useful predictive models, and finally a critical body of compilation data. By following the suggestions of the IUPAC Commission on Environmental Analytical Chemistry (1989), concerning the "Principal Activities" in which the evaluation of concepts
and methodologies are of primary importance, the second meeting of the "International School on Marine Chemistry" (Ustica, Palermo 7-14 September 1998), was planned
with the aim of presenting the most recent developments in the chemistry of the
sea, with particular emphasis on chemical processes and analytical methodologies.
Some aspects of the main topics presented during the School are briefly outlined, below.
Biogeochemical Cycles
The Carbon Cycle and Organic Matter. The biogeochemical processes occurring at
the air-ocean interface are closely linked to the marine productivity and to earth's climate. Among these, the most important for the life on the earth is by far the assimilatory
reduction of carbon and nitrogen by photosynthetic organisms. Therefore, the car-