This ocean currents They play an important role in the ocean by transporting heat, nutrients and planktonic organisms. It also affects shipping, fishing activity, the quality of water on beaches and determines the trajectory of pollutants and other entrained objects, and also stipulates the rescue of injured people.
Despite its importance, in Catalonia current measurements of ocean currents are quite limited. However, after that, the coverage and resolution of this data will improve significantly thanks to the implementation of an application. new high frequency radar network It is managed by ICATMAR, a collaborative body between the Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC) and the Generalitat de Catalunya, whose purpose is to provide scientific advice on maritime matters, encourage cooperation and advance marine research.
“The new network will allow real-time monitoring of sea currents and waves, which improve fisheries management, biodiversity status, safety and maritime transport“The radars will also help predict the movement of pollutants to mitigate their effects between the coastline and about 40 miles offshore,” explains ICM-CSIC researcher Jordi Isern, head of ICATMAR’s new operational oceanography service.
In total, heThe network will consist of 7 antennas, 2 of which will provide the direction and intensity of the surface currents, and the rest will be commissioned by the end of 2024. (1 meter deep) and one wave measurement per hour.
“about Essentials to improve fisheries management, optimize navigation routes and help people search In the event of a shipwreck,” elaborates Isern on this.
oceanographic buoy net
Finally, it will be complemented by the new network deployment of another network of oceanographic buoys in the next two years It was designed together with the Catalonia Meteorological Service, which will serve obtain measurements of bottom currents, surface temperature and salinity, waves and various atmospheric measurements. All these data will be integrated with other data collected on European shores within the framework of different national and international projects.
However, these infrastructures It will serve to advance the sustainable development of the Blue Economy in CataloniaTo optimize responses to emergencies involving the fishing and recreational marine activities sectors, but also to shipwrecks or pollutant spills. Likewise, incorporating these data into ocean models being developed under ICATMAR will enable much more accurate predictions of sea currents.
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Contact details of the environment department: [email protected]