Monitoring Mediterranean surface waters with ships of opportunity.
Coordinators:
NE Mediterranean: Anastasia Miliou
Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation, Samos Isl., Greece
TransMED coordination (SST data): Isabelle Taupier-Letage
Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO), CNRS Aix-Marseille University, France
The interaction between the ocean and atmosphere significantly influences Earth’s climate, with global warming and human pressures increasingly driving environmental changes. The Mediterranean Sea’s unique topography, characterized as a semi-enclosed sea with multiple sub-basins divided by various straits and channels, makes it particularly susceptible to atmospheric forces and changes. Research conducted by CIESM revealed that Mediterranean water masses became progressively saltier and warmer over recent decades across all depths (CIESM WK 16, 2002). Additionally, since the onset of the industrial era, even the deepest waters experience acidification (Touratier and Goyet, 2011). These subtle yet consistent changes at both the surface and deeper layers underscore the need for long-term observations to provide a comprehensive array of environmental and climatic indicators.
The sea-surface layer actes as a critical interface for physical and chemical exchanges between the ocean and atmosphere, influencing nutrient cycling, anthropogenic CO2 transfer, and overall marine biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. To monitor long-term hydrological and biogeochemical changes throughout the Basin, especially in surface waters along coastal and central zones, sustained observations are essential. Traditional monitoring methods using buoys and platforms equipped with in-situ sensors could be prohibitively expensive. To address this challenge, CIESM fostered partnerships between scientists, governments, and shipping companies worldwide. This collaboration leveraged regular maritime routes of ferries and cargo ships to maintain ongoing surveillance of water characteristics. Instruments mounted on these “ships of opportunity” ranged from simple plankton collectors to sophisticated multi-parameter boxes equipped with diverse sensors and biogeochemical analysers, facilitating the construction of detailed time series at relatively high temporal resolutions.
The CIESM PartnerSHIPS program aimed to potentiate the Mediterranean Sea’s dense maritime traffic to create an automated monitoring network using ships of opportunity. This innovative network employed a suite of physical and chemical sensors aboard various vessels—ranging from oil tankers to car ferries—to continuously measure key biogeochemical and physical parameters such as temperature, salinity, oxygen, pCO2, and chlorophyll across the Mediterranean.
Given the region’s status as one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors, this network provided a near-synoptic view of the basin, extending beyond coastal areas to central and less-studied southern and eastern Mediterranean zones. Data collected by these ships were transmitted in real-time via Inmarsat, significantly enhancing the scope and accuracy of operational oceanography by filling critical data gaps and offering insights into the dynamic marine environment of the Mediterranean.
Pilot Phase
The CIESM PartnerSHIPS program commenced with a pilot phase in the western Mediterranean in March 2005. The SeaKeepers 1000TM Module, a prototype combining a thermosalinometer and meteorological station along with a fluorometer, was installed on the SNCM car-ferry “Méditerranée.” This ferry, operating between Marseille, Algiers, and Tunis, tracked the intersection of Mediterranean and Atlantic waters, studying key parameters like circulation, salinity, and surface temperatures. Despite encountering several issues such as bio-fouling during its initial run in 2005-2006, the pilot provided valuable insights.
Latest prototype
A new, simplified prototype was developed through collaborations with INSU (Division technique) and the HYMEX programme. After successful trials on Tethys 2 in 2006 and updates through 2009, this upgraded system was installed on a container ship operated by Linea Messina Company. During May 2010, it actively collected data along routes between Genoa, Malta, and Libyan harbours.
Optimizing the Network
A network across the Basin
The optimal network for the PartnerSHIPS program leveraged the dense maritime traffic of the Mediterranean, utilizing fully autonomous systems on cargoes and ferries that followed regular, short routes. This network spanned the entire basin, with special focus on dense water formation areas and less explored southern and eastern regions.
A multiparametric sensor box
The sensor technology onboard evolved to encompass a broader range of parameters. The multiparametric sensor box captured data on pH, pCO2, chlorophyll a fluorescence, and major algal groups, as well as nutrients like ammonium, nitrate, phosphate, and silicate. These measurements were important for supporting international research on sea acidification, eutrophication, and early detection of algal blooms.
A comprehensive database
Data collected were synthesized into a comprehensive database, integrated into various physical and forecasting models that enhanced understanding of Mediterranean hydrodynamics and water circulation.
The CIESM PartnerSHIPS Programme, in conjunction with the CIESM Hydrochanges Programme, aimed to provide long-term, accessible data to the scientific community. This collaborative effort ensured a holistic view of the Mediterranean Sea’s functioning, promoting advanced research and sustainable management practices.
References [list]
CIESM WK N°16. Tracking long term hydrological change in the Mediterranean Sea, Monaco, 22-24 April 2002, CIESM Workshop series.
Touratier F. and Goyet C., 2011. Impact of the eastern Mediterranean Transient on the distribution of anthropogenic CO2 and first estimate of acidification for the Mediterranean Sea. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers: 58 (1): 1-15.
Partner Agencies
