An in-progress assessment of nutrient chemical data (phosphate, nitrate, nitrite, and silicate) from four potential OTEC sites (Puerto Rico, the Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, and the South Atlantic) show reasonable comparison with archival data. At this time sufficient data is available only at the Tampa site (Gulf of Mexico) to discern seasonal variations which show an influx of nutrient-rich water in February, which decreases with time to a minimum in December. Results show a greater potential for stimulation of primary productivity at the Hawaii site than in the northern Gulf of Mexico due to the discharge of the cold water pipe into the photic zone.

An in-progress assessment of nutrient chemical data (phosphate, nitrate, nitrite, and silicate) from four potential OTEC sites (Puerto Rico, the Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, and the South Atlantic) show reasonable comparison with archival data. At this time sufficient data is available only at the Tampa site (Gulf of Mexico) to discern seasonal variations which show an influx of nutrient-rich water in February, which decreases with time to a minimum in December. Results show a greater potential for stimulation of primary productivity at the Hawaii site than in the northern Gulf of Mexico due to the discharge of the cold water pipe into the photic zone.