Eutrophic lakes display unpredictable patterns of phytoplankton growth, distribution, vertical and horizontal migration, likely depending on environmental conditions. Monitoring chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration provides reliable information on the dynamics of primary producers if monitoring is conducted frequently. We present a practical approach that allows continuous monitoring of Chl-a concentration by using a radiometric system that measures optical spectral properties of water. We tested this method in a shallow, nutrient-rich lake in northern Italy, the Mantua Superior Lake, where the radiometric system collected data all throughout the day (i.e. every 5 min) for ~30 days. Here, specifically developed algorithms were used to convert water reflectance to Chl-a concentration. The best performing algorithm (R2 = 0.863) was applied to a larger dataset collected in September 2011. We characterised intra- and inter-daily Chl-a concentration dynamics and observed a high variability; during a single day, Chl-a concentration varied from 20 to 130 mg m–3. Values of Chl-a concentration were correlated with meteo-climatic parameters, showing that solar radiance and wind speed are key factors regulating the daily phytoplankton growth and dynamics. Such patterns are usually determined by vertical migration of different phytoplankton species within the water column, as well as by metabolic adaptations to changes in light conditions.
