The M3A multi-sensor buoy network of the Mediterranean Sea

摘要

A network of three multi-sensor timeseries stations able to deliver realtime physical and biochemical observations of the upper thermocline has beendeveloped for the needs of the Mediterranean Forecasting System during theMFSTEP project. They follow the experience of the prototype M3A system thatwas developed during the MFSPP project and has been tested during a pilotpre-operational period of 22 months (2000–2001). The systems integratesensors for physical (temperature, salinity, turbidity, current speed anddirection) as well as optical and chemical observations (dissolved oxygen,chlorophyll-a, PAR, nitrate). The south Aegean system (E1-M3A) follows amodular design using independent mooring lines and collects biochemical datain the upper 100 m and physical data in the upper 500 m of the water column.The south Adriatic buoy system (E2-M3A) uses similar instrumentation but ona single mooring line and also tests a new method of pumping water samplesfrom relatively deep layers, performing analysis in the protected "dry"environment of the buoy interior. The Ligurian Sea system (W1-M3A) is anideal platform for air-sea interaction processes since it hosts a largenumber of meteorological sensors while its ocean instrumentation, with realtime transmission capabilities, is confined in the upper 50 m layer. Despitetheir different architecture, the three systems have common samplingstrategy, quality control and data management procedures. The networkoperates in the Mediterranean Sea since autumn 2004 collecting timeseriesdata for calibration and validation of the forecasting system as well forprocess studies of regional dynamics.