The improvements of the ships of opportunity program in MFS-TEP

摘要

The Ships Of Opportunity Program in the Mediterranean Sea wasestablished at the end of 1999, in the framework of the MediterraneanForecasting System – Pilot Project (MFS-PP). Many improvements have been madein data collection, transmission and management. Calibration of selected XBTsand a comparison of XBTs vs. CTDs during some research cruises have assuredthe quality of the data. Transmission now allows receiving data in fullresolution by using GSM or satellite telecommunication services; managementis offering access to high quality data and view services. The effects oftechnological and methodological improvements in the observing system areassessed in terms of capability to represent the most important circulationfeatures. The improved methodologies have been tested during theMediterranean Forecasting System – Toward Environmental Prediction (MFS-TEP)– Targeted Operational Period (MFS-TOP), lasting from September 2004 toFebruary 2005. In spite of the short period of measurements, severalimportant aspects of the Mediterranean Sea circulation have been verified,such as eddies and gyres in the various sub-basins, and dense water formationprocesses in some of them (vertical homogeneous profiles of about 13°C downto ~800 m in the Provençal, and of about 14.9°C down to ~300 m in theLevantine have allowed defining an index of dense water formation).