Hydrochanges

Program Coordination: Rosa Balbín, Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

The CIESM Hydrochanges Program focuses on the continuous, long-term monitoring of temperature and salinity in the deep waters of the Mediterranean, emphasizing key areas that are crucial under the current global warming scenario. This program is vital for understanding the dynamic changes occurring within this semi-enclosed sea, known for its unique hydrographic properties.

The initiative involves in-situ measurements of temperature and salinity with high spatial and temporal resolutions, paying special attention to sensitive and often overlooked areas such as straits, channels, dense water formation zones, and deeper basin parts. These measurements are paramount in the context of global climate change. The program operates an array of stations that serve as marine equivalents to meteorological stations. Each station consists of a short (~10 m high) subsurface mooring, equipped with an autonomous CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth) sensor that samples every 1 to 2 hours, and typically a current meter. These moorings are strategically placed near the seabed at depths ranging from 300 to 2,500 meters. They are maintained and recalibrated every 1-2 years through recovery and re-deployment by scientific teams and hydrographic services from participating countries.

Currently, over twenty stations are actively collecting data, with additional deployments planned. The locations of these stations, including those soon to be operational, are indicated on the accompanying map.