Underground flows in most of the islands are higher than surface run-off, accounting for 53.2 % of the total on the island of Flores, 55.0 % in Santa Maria, 67.9 % in São Miguel, 75.7 % in Terceira and 85.6 % in São Jorge. and 89.7 % in Graciosa

Higher values of chlorophyll are recorded for the northern area of the Exclusive Economic Zone surrounding the EEZ of the Azores together with the adjacent area of the extended continental shelf claimed by Portugal, i.e. between 28° and 40° N, 17° and 41° W, whereas variability has been higher in the areas plus the south of this area. At the same time, higher chlorophyll values were observed in the areas associated with the islands. For average net primary productivity estimates (NPP), determined between 2003-2013, they were 464.3 ± 142.2 mg/2-1. The highest concentrations were recorded in May (704 ± 64 mg/2.day-1) and minors in December (307 ± 15 mg/2.day-1). For particulate matter average monthly average organic carbon estimates, determined from 2003-2013, these ranged from about 42.1 ± 2.9 mg.m-3 in September and 73.8 ± 6.4 mg.m-3 in April, having been the minimum of 37.43 and maximum 86,61 ± 11.19 mg.m-3, whereas the annual average was around 57.75 ± 11.19 mg.m-3. As regards particulate carbon, but for the inorganic component (particulate inorganic carbon), the average values determined between 2003 and 2013 varied between 0.00013 and 0.00049 mol.m-3, with an average of 0.00021 ± 0.0008 mol.m-3. [reference to: Please see attached written report]

On the island of São Miguel, for a total of 38 samples, 22 were positive for the occurrence of PSts. 7 absorption values were thus detected above the legal threshold for two starfish species (Ophidiaster ophidianus and Marthasterias glacialis) followed by molluscs belonging to the species Stronita haemasoma and Patella gomesii. Although there are no harmful algal blooms with a significant environmental impact, there has been a one-off occurrence reported for the island of São Jorge. These writers referred to the first expression of the toxic inado-ice-cream in the Azores in which high concentrations of more than 1,3 x 107 cells were recorded in September 2013 in the Fajã de Santo Christ lagoon and the island of São Jorge. Orange browned colours, with consequent fish mortality (Mugil cephalus) and bivalves (Ruditapes decussatus), derived from the occurrence of high levels of shellfish poison that exceeded 30 times acceptable levels for these toxic substances, which also led to four poisoning. The increase in phosphate levels has increased the abundance of the Prorocentrum dinofolice, which demonstrates storage and mobilisation capacity for phosphate while the capacity to store macronutrients was verified in diatoms of the genus Chaetoceros. Although the increase in the nitrogen level has promoted the abundance of inofolicice and diatoms, it has not been significant, which may indicate that phosphorus (together with trace metals), rather than nitrogen, is the limiting nutrient factor. In the island of São Miguel, and in particular in São Roque, two strains of cyanobacteria, in particular Synehatystis sp. and Chroococccales, were isolated from the species of sponges Polypotent agglutinans and Tedania Ignis, respectively. Although the two strains have already been demonstrated to be embryotoxic, on the contrary no change in the larval length has been observed, which will allow the inference that their toxic effect is only felt in the early embryonic stages of the sea urchins. [further details and related bibliographic references are available in the written report]

On the islands of São Miguel, Santa Maria and Terceira, it was observed that the depth values of the euphotic zone varied between 30 and 130 m, 20 m and 105 m and 53 m and 130 m respectively. In addition, values for the euphotic area of 33 m and 4 m respectively were recorded for the Islands of the Triangle (Faial, Pico and São Jorge) and for the island of Corvo. Active radiation from photosynthesis with basic values for the photic zone of approximately 70 m depth and the dysphotic limit is approximately 150 m deep. Bio-erosion, primarily a light availability function for the phototrophic bodies of phototrophic and for herbivorous grazing livestock, is 10 times higher in the more illuminated area of the photic zone. Specifically, for the southern part of the Canal Faial, the superficial irradiance varied between 809 and 2611 ?mol phtons m ? 2 s ? 1 and between 419 and 1797 ?mol phtons m ? 2 s ? 1, respectively, above and immediately below the water surface

In the Azores, dissolved oxygen concentrations in seawater show a variation of approximately 5 to 6 ml/l (surface) to < 4 ml/l in the deep water areas, with, on the surface, a tendency to increase and decrease respectively to the north and south and south-east of the Azores. Winter and spring seasons, which account for higher productivity periods, do not, however, show the maximum values for dissolved oxygen

In the Azores, there are sites without registration of opportunistic species and the maximum figure for the average proportion of these species was 0.38 for the island of Santa Maria. 4 species of opportunistic macroalgae have been identified: Chaetomorpha pachynema, Ulva Compressa, Ulva intestinal insalis and Ulva rida (Wallenstein, Neto, et al., 2013). However, there was an increase in this value with a further 6 species, namely, Ulva compressa, Porphyra sp. Arctocarpus fasciatus, Ectocarpus siliculosus, minimum and Chaetomorpha pha aerea for the island of São Miguel. In fact, opportunistic green algae are known to be responsive to nutrient enrichment and are more sensitive to changes in water quality than other opportunistic species, with the species of the genera Ulva, Chaetomorpha or Cladhora are in fact the most commonly used species in the outcrops, although the species of the genera Ceramium, Ecoccarpus and Porphyra can reach proportions. In addition, results have shown that for a total of 43 macroalgal taxa recorded and in which Pico Island has the highest number of opportunistic taxa (4), in a ratio of 58 %, which is in line with previous studies. [further details and related bibliographic references are available in the written report]

Oxygen values are on average close to the saturation values and do not vary significantly