King George Island (KGI, Isla 25 de Mayo) is located within one
of the most rapidly warming regions on Earth at the north-
western tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. Since 1991
hydrographical characteristics and phytoplankton dynamics were
monitored at two stations in Potter Cove, a fjord-like
environment on the south-eastern KGI coastline. Seawater
temperature and salinity, total suspended particulate matter
(TSPM) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a, a proxy for phytoplankton
biomass) concentrations were measured in summer and winter over
a 19 year period, together with local air temperature. Mean air
temperatures rose by 0.39 and 0.48 ºC per decade in summer and
winter, respectively. Positive anomalies characterised wind
speeds during the decade between the mid ’90 and the mid 2000
years, whereas negative anomalies were observed from 2004
onwards. Day of sea ice formation and retreat, based on
satellite data, did not change, although total sea ice cover
diminished during the studied period. Surface water temperature
incr