EPEA - Estacion Permanente de Estudios Ambientales Argentine Coastal Waters Latitude:   -38.4670     Longitude:   -57.6830 Associated Investigators: Ruben Negri (PI, phytoplankton, hydrography) , Vivian Lutz (Co-PI, bio-optics) ,   Carla_F. Berghoff (carbonates) ,   Mario_O. Carignan (nutrients) ,   Georgina Cepeda (zooplankton) ,   Daniel Cucchi_Colleoni (Chlorophyll a and oxygen) ,   Marina Vera_Diaz (ichtyoplankton) ,   Maria Constanza_Hozbor (bacterioplankton) ,   Ezequiel Leonarduzzi (ichtyoplankton) ,   Graciela_N. Molinari (meteorology) ,   Nora Montoya (pigments) ,   Luciano Padovani (zooplankton) ,   Marcelo Pajaro (ichtyoplankton) ,   M._Guillermina Ruiz (bio-optics) ,   Valeria Segura (primary production) ,   Ricardo_I. Silva (picoplankton) ,   Maria_Delia Vi   Related Web Sites: [www.inidep.edu.ar/]   The main objective of the EPEA time-series (38 28'S 57 41'W) is to understand the annual and inter-annual dynamics of environmental variables and all components of plankton, and follow possible long term changes. It is sampled monthly (with unfortunate gaps) since 2000. The variables measured are: temperature and salinity, oxygen, nutrients, light penetration, absorption by particulate matter -phytoplankton and NAP- and CDOM, Chlorophyll a, pigment composition, bacterioplankton, phytoplankton (pico, nano and micro), zooplankton, ichtyoplankton. The station is characterized by a temperate regime; annual range of SST: 10 to 21 C and salinity: 33.5 to 34.1. The hydrographic system is a transition between High Salinity Coastal Waters and Mid Shelf Waters. Under exceptional conditions salinity can drop due to the influence of the Rio de la Plata. Several unusual phytoplankton events, linked to large spatial and temporal scales, were detected during these years. EPEA forms part of the Latin-American network Antares.