The incoming solar radiation is an important term in the air-sea energy fluxes, above all in the Polar regions where the Sun is present only for a restricted period of the year and has a great influence on the surface radiative balance.... more
The incoming solar radiation is an important term in the air-sea energy fluxes, above all in the Polar regions where the Sun is present only for a restricted period of the year and has a great influence on the surface radiative balance. The Arctic Ocean is in fact the focus-area of ARTIST (Arctic Radiation and Turbulence Interaction Study), a European
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... A method that merges MW daily data with diurnal IR observations is proposed. Finally, we use optimal interpolation ... field. As such, this error is a function of data availability. For IR sensors, this is highly dependent on cloud... more
... A method that merges MW daily data with diurnal IR observations is proposed. Finally, we use optimal interpolation ... field. As such, this error is a function of data availability. For IR sensors, this is highly dependent on cloud cover extent. Thus ...
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The spatio-temporal evolution of the dispersion of riverine waters in coastal areas on a regional scale was numerically simulated using a marine circulation model and a Lagrangian particle dispersion model. The oceanographic model,... more
The spatio-temporal evolution of the dispersion of riverine waters in coastal areas on a regional scale was numerically simulated using a marine circulation model and a Lagrangian particle dispersion model. The oceanographic model, developed from the Princeton Ocean Model, was nested in the Mediterranean Forecasting System (Oddo et al., 2009) domain in order to have the boundary conditions (temperature, salinity and currents) in almost every part of the Mediterranean Sea. On a regional scale, it was able to simulate the effects due to the presence of a river considering the outflow as a subgrid process behaving like a buoyant jet flow (Oey, 1996). The model was forced at the surface by high resolution winds and by MODIS SST fields. The currents generated by the oceanographic model were passed to a Lagrangian particles model (Garcıa Lafuente et al., 2007), which was used to simulate the dispersion of a mass of particles proportional to the known daily discharge of the river. Episodes...
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The channel of Sicily represents the only connection between the western and the east- ern Mediterranean sea. The channel is often described as a three-layer system, where fresher water of Atlantic origin (MAW) is found in the upper... more
The channel of Sicily represents the only connection between the western and the east- ern Mediterranean sea. The channel is often described as a three-layer system, where fresher water of Atlantic origin (MAW) is found in the upper layer, Levantine Interme- diate Water (LIW) occupies the lower one, and below the LIW a layer of Transitional Ionian Deep Water (TIDW) is found. In the Ionian sea LIW q-S characteristics are spread over a wide range of values while inside the channel LIW results much more homogenized. It is then a spontaneous question what is the mechanism of mixing at the eastern sill. Possible intermediate and deep waters mixing processes are thus inves- tigated through the analysis of the hydrographic data collected by R/V Urania during four surveys in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 in the framework of SYMPLEX experi- ment. Both classical T-S characteristics and more innovative methodologies (such as Thorpe length determination) are used.
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This work represents the remote sensing contribution to LIWEX (Levantine Interme- diate Water Experiment). Sea surface Temperature (SST) maps, derived from GAC (Global Area Coverage), AVHRR (Advancd Very Hight resolution Radiometer) data... more
This work represents the remote sensing contribution to LIWEX (Levantine Interme- diate Water Experiment). Sea surface Temperature (SST) maps, derived from GAC (Global Area Coverage), AVHRR (Advancd Very Hight resolution Radiometer) data in the framework of the Pathfinder Project and sea level anomalies, derived from Topex/Poseidon altimeter, were used to track the evolution, both in terms of dimension and position, of the cyclonic Rhodes Gure and the Ierapetra anticyclon. Air-sea fluxes over the area were estimated using ECMWF analysis and AVHRR data. The analysis was performed from October 1994 to the end of April 1995, i.e. from the precondi- tioning to the spreading phase of the dense water formation period in the Rhodes Gyre area. SST maps, ECMWF-AVHRR derived heat fluxes have been used as forcings for 1-D numerical model to study the time varibility of the mixed layer in the Rodes Gyre area from the preconditioning phase (Autumn) to the spreading phase (Spring). The model was ...
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In this paper we present the analysis of the spatial and temporal distribution of the Phytoplankton Size Classes in the Mediterranean Sea derived from a SeaWiFS satellite dataset produced using a Mediterranean regional algorithms for case... more
In this paper we present the analysis of the spatial and temporal distribution of the Phytoplankton Size Classes in the Mediterranean Sea derived from a SeaWiFS satellite dataset produced using a Mediterranean regional algorithms for case 1, case 2 and transition waters. The results show the open Mediterranean water are mainly dominated by picoplankton all around the year with a maximun during summer and minima in autumn and winter in open sea regions not affected by intense spring blooms. Coastal and intense bloom regions, instead, show the dominance of nano and micro plankton.
A series of three cruises were conducted in the western Mediterranean Sea during springs of 2012, 2013, and 2014. Hydrological and bio-optical data were taken with the broad aim of characterizing the basin phytoplankton distribution. The... more
A series of three cruises were conducted in the western Mediterranean Sea during springs of 2012, 2013, and 2014. Hydrological and bio-optical data were taken with the broad aim of characterizing the basin phytoplankton distribution. The 2013 cruise was mainly coastal, whereas the other two were more oriented towards the open ocean sampling. Standard CTD casts with associated water sampling were performed in correspondence of all radiometric measurements. HPLC-derived chlorophyll and associated pigments were extracted at discrete depths. This is a preliminary analysis of the data collected during these cruises. Despite the limited size of the basin, the three cruises experienced very different bio-optical conditions.
Il rapporto si articola innanzitutto in una ricognizione dei sistemi osservativi marini esistenti (alcuni dei quali non inclusi in RITMARE) e delle loro componenti. Si analizzano poi in dettaglio gli avanzamenti conseguiti nel corso dei... more
Il rapporto si articola innanzitutto in una ricognizione dei sistemi osservativi marini esistenti (alcuni dei quali non inclusi in RITMARE) e delle loro componenti. Si analizzano poi in dettaglio gli avanzamenti conseguiti nel corso dei primi 24 mesi nell'ambito del SottoProgetto 5 e le attività di integrazione condotte che hanno permesso l’instaurarsi di collegamenti e collaborazioni con altri Sottoprogetti. Infine si mettono in evidenza i punti di forza e di debolezza del sistema osservativo integrato RITMARE in divenire.
The Satellite Oceanography Group (GOS) of Rome developed a system that provides satellite ocean colour images and data on the web. This meets the growing demand for near real-time ocean colour products for applications in operational... more
The Satellite Oceanography Group (GOS) of Rome developed a system that provides satellite ocean colour images and data on the web. This meets the growing demand for near real-time ocean colour products for applications in operational oceanography. The system has been developed to produce: 1) fast delivery images for monitoring applications and operational support on oceanographic cruises; 2) accurate ocean colour products for data assimilation on ecosystem model. Real Time Images of SeaWiFS chlorophyll concentration, clouds/case I/case II water flags and true color images are obtained by processing the satellite passes using climatological ancillary data. These images are provided daily through an ad hoc automatic procedure that processes the raw satellite data and makes it available on the web within an hour after the acquisition. All the images are stored in a gallery archive organized in a calendar chart for the selection of the images to display. On the opposite, accurate chloro...
Daily gap-free Sea Surface Temperature (SST) fields at high resolution are required by several operational users working on monitoring and forecasting the status of the marine environment. Existing instruments cannot provide such fields,... more
Daily gap-free Sea Surface Temperature (SST) fields at high resolution are required by several operational users working on monitoring and forecasting the status of the marine environment. Existing instruments cannot provide such fields, and careful interpolation of available data is required to provide gap-free SST estimates. In the framework of the MyOcean projects (now turning into the European Copernicus Marine Service), several satellite (and/or satellite and in situ) interpolated products are distributed in real time, and continuous research and development activities are carried out to improve their quality. In this paper, we describe the work done to improve the High Resolution (1/16°) interpolated product covering the Mediterranean Sea, that is obtained by combining all available satellite infrared images. Three Optimal Interpolation schemes based on different space–time covariance models and background fields are derived, compared and validated versus in situ drifting buoy...
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... guijarro@esa.int Leonardo Borgarelli, Renato Croci, Roberto Venturini Remote Sensing Engineering Group Alenia Spazio SpA Via Saccomuro, 24 - 00131 Rome, Italy l.borgarelli@roma.alespazio.it Rosalia Santoleri, Bruno ...
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ABSTRACT The monitoring of organic matter, suspended or dissolved in the water column, is relevant for the study of the aquatic environment. Actually, the Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) represents a major reservoir of reactive carbon in... more
ABSTRACT The monitoring of organic matter, suspended or dissolved in the water column, is relevant for the study of the aquatic environment. Actually, the Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) represents a major reservoir of reactive carbon in the global carbon cycle, thus influencing significantly the marine ecosystem. Due to the strong absorption in the near ultraviolet, DOM reduces considerably the extinction path of solar light in the water column, affecting phytoplankton population and its vertical distribution. The measurement of the DOM absorption coefficient has to be regarded as a good parameter for the monitoring of water quality. This paper deals with the measurements carried out during the oceanographic campaign 'Marine Fronts,' which took place in the Western Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean from July 14 to August 5, 1998. In this measurement campaign, a high spectral resolution fluorescence lidar (FLIDAR) was installed on the rear-deck of the O/V 'Urania,' acquiring remote fluorescence spectra both in ship motion and in stations. A particular attention was devoted to the monitoring of DOM distribution in the different water masses in marine frontal areas. The lidar data were compared and integrated with SST satellite data and biological samplings. The results show that FLIDAR data agree with satellite imagery, particularly for marine front detection. The comparison with water sample data gave indications for retrieving the DOM absorption coefficient directly from fluorescence remote spectra. In addition, a protein like fluorescence band was detected in the measurements carried out on total suspended matter filtered from the water samplings.
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Summary We compare recent observations of internal waves and currents generated by tidal mixing inside the strait of Messina, with classical measurements made in 1922–1923 by Francesco Vercelli. A peculiar front South of Capo Vaticano in... more
Summary We compare recent observations of internal waves and currents generated by tidal mixing inside the strait of Messina, with classical measurements made in 1922–1923 by Francesco Vercelli. A peculiar front South of Capo Vaticano in southern Tyrrhenian Sea is described. Its relation with the turbulence due to the breaking of internal nonlinear waves generated by the inside the Strait of Messina is discussed. We recall that this last phenomenon is novel as far as the Mediterranean Sea is concerned.
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ABSTRACT
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Summary Hydrological observations in the Ligurian Sea, north-western part of the Mediterranean Sea, are discussed. They show a steady cyclonic circulation. At theboundary of this circulation meanders and small eddies are rather frequent,... more
Summary Hydrological observations in the Ligurian Sea, north-western part of the Mediterranean Sea, are discussed. They show a steady cyclonic circulation. At theboundary of this circulation meanders and small eddies are rather frequent, in particular North of the Corsica Island. Their presence is in agreement with satellite data. In this paper also a number of simple baroclinic instability models are also
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Operational oceanography requires availability of remotely sensed data, for example sea surface temperature (SST), in near realtime (NRT). A system is presented that makes use of a combination of state of the art NASA Pathfinder SST... more
Operational oceanography requires availability of remotely sensed data, for example sea surface temperature (SST), in near realtime (NRT). A system is presented that makes use of a combination of state of the art NASA Pathfinder SST (PFSST) algorithm and cloud detection procedures both adapted to operate in NRT. A novel cloud detection algorithm that makes use of a reference image
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... Previous studies (eg Delworth and Mann, 2000) have shown that the multidecadal variability in the North Atlantic agrees with simulated multidecadal ... a good indicator of the Atlantic THC variability.The high correlation between the... more
... Previous studies (eg Delworth and Mann, 2000) have shown that the multidecadal variability in the North Atlantic agrees with simulated multidecadal ... a good indicator of the Atlantic THC variability.The high correlation between the Mediterranean SSTs with the AMO suggest that ...