Glider sustained observations in the Mediterranean Testor P., Heslop E., Gana S., A. Bosse, Hayes D., Ait-Ameur N., Budillon G., Gildor H., Iudicone D., Mauri E., Mortier L., Petihakis G., J. Tintore et al. The Economist, 2012/06/09

1km ~2-5km / ~4h Data Centers Land Station Users Glider facilities Gliders Physical and biogeochemical sensors on board (a ‘profile’ in h ~ 0.5-5km) + depth-average currents (GPS + dead reckoning) U ~ 25 km/day (~ 0.5 knot) Small & smart

Pot. Temp SalinityPot. Dens.OxygenFluo ChlaTurbidity north south Northern Current North Balearic Front Mixed patch Gliders: Reveal a wide range of variability (small  basin scales) Are present at sea even during strong weather conditions Allow to study the physical-biogeochemical coupling A vertical section from a glider: eddies Plumes ~1km Multidisciplinary data

10 years of gliders in the Mediterranean 2004/09  2005/09: EU: MFSTEP and creation of the EGO network 2005/09  2006/09: EU: MFSTEP, MERSEA2006/09  2007/09: EU: MERSEA national projects: ES, FR, UK (spin-off of EU projects) 2007/09  2008/09: EU: MERSEA national projects: ES, FR, UK 2008/09  2009/09: national projects: CY, ES, IT, FR beginning of long term monitoring initiatives (CY, ES, FR) 2009/09  2010/09: EU: EGO COST Action national projects: CY, ES, IT, FR 2010/09  2011/09: EU: GROOM, JERICO / EGO COST Action national projects: CY, ES, FR 2011/09  2012/09: EU: PERSEUS, GROOM, JERICO / EGO COST Action national projects: CY, ES, FR 2012/09  2013/09: EU: PERSEUS, GROOM, JERICO / EGO COST Action national projects: CY, ES, FR, IT 2013/09  now: EU: PERSEUS, GROOM, JERICO / EGO COST Action national projects: CY, ES, FR, IT, DZ, TN,

10 years of gliders in the Mediterranean 2004/09  now: > profiles of Temp, Sal, Chl-a, O2,Turb,… > estimates of average currents All glider data

Gliders in the Mediterranean Glider observations have been sustained in 3 areas of the Med. Demonstrations elsewhere and in particular: the Algerian basin in the framework of JERICO TNA (MUSICS and ABACCUS projects) = identified gap by PERSEUS Momentum: plans for new gliderports and sustained observations (IL, IT, GR,…) The number of profiles of T, S, Chla, O2, Turb,… and average currents estimates provides now new knowledge of the oceanic variability in the Med. In the following: examples of the glider added value in the 3 sustained observations areas, in the context of global changes important to monitor the ocean but difficult to really assess the heat content CYCOFOS MOOSE SOCIB

2014: all Temperature profiles Nb of profiles per year in the NWMED profiling floats gliders ships XBTs/XCTDs … before the gliders era Example of the northwestern Mediterranean At depth: small variability (~0.1degC)  low (small) frequency signals can emerge But above: larger variability, strong need of much more observations to reduce uncertainties We know the temperature of deep waters (>700m) is increasing since the 70s, But no similar assessment could be made for the surface and intermediate layers… Pot. Temp (>700m)

Variability/trends in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea Surface and intermediate layers in the Ligurian Sea Contrasts between the open ocean (brown/yellow) and the coast (green/Villefranche and blue/Corsica)  indicators of dynamical regimes (full line = significant and not aliased) AW temperature AW salinity LIW temperature LIW salinity Seasonal cycles Abrupt changes / reversals Interannual variability

Variability/trends in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea Surface and intermediate layers in the Golf of Lion Contrasts between the open ocean (brown/yellow) and the coast (pink/Toulon, orange/Marseille, purple/Banyuls)  indicators of dynamical regimes (full line = significant and not aliased) AW temperature AW salinity LIW temperature LIW salinity Seasonal cycles Abrupt changes / reversals Interannual variability

Variability/trends in the Eastern Mediterranean salinity temperature at depth of 29 sigma0 Shift in temperature and salinity in 2009 Recovery to previous values since Possibly: LIW formed differently in different years or in multiple locations Atmospheric conditions and/or surface properties have changed Implications on heat/salt budgets of the Med and processes that involve LIW

Variability/trends in the Ibiza channel Long timeseries at high frequency Climatology: Seasonal variability in transports throught the Ibiza Channel TALK: Heslop E., Tintore J., Poulain P., Lopez-Jurado J-L. & Torner M.: The ‘quiet revolution’: continuous glider monitoring at ocean ‘choke’ points as key component of an EU cross-platform ocean observation strategy

New components: MUSICS and ABACUS -Hydrography along altimetry tracks -Biogeochemical data -Strait transports -Eddy hunting -Large/meso/submeso scale features ABACUS: 31/08 -04/09 ;15/09-30/10; 20/11  now MUSICS: 16/08-23/09 TALK: Gana S., Iudicone D., Ghenim L., Mortier L., Testor P., Olita A., Nardelli B. & Tintore J. : Multi- Sensor Investigation in the Channel Of Sardinia (MuSiCs) To be sustained ! (observing systems: SOMBA/SOCIB) Towards a Mediterranean glider network (prospects) Integrated and sustained in complement with the other observing systems prospects repeat sections

Conclusions 10 years of gliders in the Mediterranean Sea have changed the way we can characterize the oceanic variability. Constant presence at sea is possible and a wide range of scales can now be resolved (avoid aliasing). New knowledge for hydrography and currents. Reliable indicators can now be built ! Work in progress for biogeochemistry (O2, Chl-a, Turbidity) The glider network is expanding in order to fill gaps thanks to PERSEUS WP3 actions. Gliders = platforms with on board sensors. The scientific bay is evolving fast. The present portfolio is (T, S, O2, fluorescence Chl-a, fluorescence CDOM, fluorescence Phycoerythrin, Turbidity) but tests with nitrate, ph/pCo2 hydrocarbons sensors, passive/active acoustics have been carried out. Water samples and video are planned too.  Vast field of usages in the framework of MSFD  Real time data can be assimilated in numerical models (Earth observation, Copernicus)