The Setubal Submarine Canyon waters (Sesimbra, Portugal) have been the scene where technicians from the Instituto Hidrográfico da Marinha (IH) and PLOCAN have put into operation an underwater glider from the NRP Andrómeda in order to undertake a four-weeks scientific mission within the framework of the JERICO-S3 project.
The activity, called CBONDEX-TNA, is a transnational access (TNA) required by the IHM-Portugal through a SeaExplorer glider unit belonging to the PLOCAN’s VIMAS fleet, and takes place in the surrounding waters of the coastal region of Lisbon in order to respond to certain scientific and operational challenges that JERICO-S3 poses. To this end, the glider unit has been configured with a specific oceanographic-sensor payload for measuring biogeochemical seawater parameters (temperature, salinity, pressure, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll and turbidity) between the surface and a maximum depth of 1000 meters.
The JERICO-S3 project funded by the European Horizon 2020 program aims at a more integrative approach to science for better observation of the coastal ecosystem, increasing scientific excellence, considering regional and local ecosystems; the preliminary development of an electronic infrastructure to support scientists and users by offering access to dedicated services; advance the design of the European Research Infrastructure (RI) dedicated to coastal observatories and its strategy for sustainability. To this end, JERICO-S3 addresses significant user-driven improvements in terms of systematic monitoring of the physical and biogeochemical complexity of coastal seas, access to facilities, data and services, good practices and performance indicators, innovative monitoring strategies, cooperation with other European RIs (EuroARGO, EMSO, AQUACOSM, DANUBIUS, ICOS, EMBRC, LIFEWATCH) and the international scientific communities, industry and other stakeholders, ultimately aligning its strategy with COPERNICUS/CMEMS, EMODNET and GEO/GEOSS.
Follow the mission in real time through the PLOCAN glider data portal.
