Development of a Coastal Oceanographic Observatory for the North Aegean Sea: The AEGIS projects
Vassilis ZervakisΕvangelia KrasakopoulouElina TragouVassilis KolovoyiannisIoannis MamoutosEmmanuel PotirisIoannis AndroulidakisΚορίνα ΜόσιουMaria Ignatia KalatziAikaterini A. MaziotiChristos ChatzilaouRafailia Filitsa KougioumtzoglouΣταμάτιος Πεταλάς
0
Citation
0
Reference
10
Related Paper
Abstract:
The North Aegean Sea is a sub-basin of the Mediterranean which exhibits a range of oceanic processes at various scales. Due to the inflow of very light, mesotrophic Black-Sea waters it is the most productive region of the seas around the Hellenic Peninsula, although the regular seasonal coastal upwelling along its eastern shores does not contribute to its productivity. Despite the continuous buoyancy import by the Black Sea, the North Aegean hosts the densest waters of the Eastern Mediterranean. Finally, three semi-enclosed bays located in two islands of the North Aegean exhibit an alternating behavior as sources or sinks of buoyancy for the basin, while their productivity and natural beauty support a range of coastal activities. For the above reasons, the University of the Aegean has invested over several years in the development of a coastal oceanographic observatory (AEGIS), covering both the open North Aegean Sea and the three main bays of the islands of Lesvos and Lemnos. The Observatory consists of a numerical modeling component and an observational component.The modeling component of the observatory consists of four coastal circulation models (for the three bays and the island of Lesvos) nested within a larger domain circulation model covering the whole Aegean Sea north of 37º N. Data assimilation, employing both satellite (sea-surface temperature and sea-level) and field data (employing mostly ARGO float observations) is used in the model of the extended domain (an implementation/configuration of the ROMS system), while the observations obtained in the coastal regions are currently used for coastal models’ (DELFT-3D FLOW and ROMS) validation. In addition to the above circulation models, SWAN is used to simulate the surface waves and DELFT-3D WAQ is being implemented to simulate the biochemical functioning at the various model domains.The observational component at small geographical scales (in the Bays) comprise of continuous meteorological and oceanographic observations through an oceanographic mooring in the middle of the Bay of Kalloni, sea-level observations at the Bays of Kalloni and Gera, and High-Frequency radar observations of sea-surface currents and waves in a region east of Lemnos island, aiming to monitor the Black Sea outflow into the Aegean. The above continuous measurements are supplemented by periodic hydrographic and biogeochemical measurements in the three Bays, to validate the models and calibrate the in-situ continuous data. A recent addition to the AEGIS’s observational arsenal is an ocean glider aimed to capture the variability of the open North Aegean sea.The AEGIS Observatory provides the necessary background to support strategic planning of human interventions at regional and local scales, such as Marine Spatial Planning or the construction of river dams affecting sensitive coastal basins. The implementation of the Coastal Laboratory has been supported by several projects, the most recent being the project “Coastal Environment Observatory and Risk Management in Island Regions AEGIS+” (MIS 5047038), implemented within the Operational Programme “Competitiveness, Enterpreneurship and Innovation” (NSRF 2014-2020), cofinanced by the Hellenic Government (Ministry of Development and Investments) and the European Union (European Regional Development Fund).Keywords:
Argo
Peninsula
Abstract Apoglossum gregarium , a minute deep-water red alga considered an alien in the Mediterranean Sea, was previously known only from the western basin. The present paper reports A. gregarium for the first time off Greece, in the eastern Mediterranean basin. It was found on artificial substrata at 50 m depth in the southeastern Ionian Sea. The Greek specimens were identical to previous Mediterranean descriptions. Moreover, the Greek habitat is the deepest ever recorded for the species. Associated flora as well as biogeographical data are also provided. Based on its worldwide distribution, the possibility that A. gregarium is native to the Mediterranean Sea should not be ruled out.
Mediterranean Basin
Flora
Alien species
Cite
Citations (3)
The bluespotted cornetfish, Fistularia commersonii, has established in a few years a large population in the Mediterranean Sea and is considered among the most spectacular Lessepsian fish invaders. This work estimated the essential population structure of the species in the eastern Mediterranean off the coast of Lebanon. A total of 1073 individuals were sampled between 2005 and 2009. Fish size ranged from 19.2 to 113.1 cm L T and the most frequent size class was 55 cm L T . Weight-length relationship was described by the equation W G = 1.066 × 10 –4 L T 3.4063 , showing a positive allometric growth; the overall sex ratio did not deviate significantly from 1:1 throughout the sampling period. The size range and number of individuals examined in this study could be considered representative of the population living in the eastern Mediterranean and provides basic data that can be used in specific studies that aim to understand the biology and ecology of this invasive fish in the new environment.
Allometry
Population Structure
Cite
Citations (10)
The occurrence of the aristeid shrimp Hymenopenaeus debilis in the Mediterranean Sea is reported from two individuals collected in the Alborán Sea and off Eivissa (western Mediterranean) from depths of 668-679 and 1109-1140 m, respectively. Comments on the origin of the populations and biogeography of the species are related to the Mediterranean pseudopopulations hypothesis.
Cite
Citations (8)
Peninsula
Landlocked country
West coast
Cite
Citations (10)
Cite
Citations (1)
Sea turtle
Cite
Citations (64)
Peninsula
Aridity index
Mediterranean area
Cite
Citations (2)
The bluespotted cornetfish, Fistularia commersonii, has established in a few years a large population in the Mediterranean Sea and is considered among the most spectacular Lessepsian fish invaders. This work estimated the essential population structure of the species in the eastern Mediterranean off the coast of Lebanon. A total of 1073 individuals were sampled between 2005 and 2009. Fish size ranged from 19.2 to 113.1 cm L T and the most frequent size class was 55 cm L T . Weight-length relationship was described by the equation W G = 1.066 × 10 –4 L T 3.4063 , showing a positive allometric growth; the overall sex ratio did not deviate significantly from 1:1 throughout the sampling period. The size range and number of individuals examined in this study could be considered representative of the population living in the eastern Mediterranean and provides basic data that can be used in specific studies that aim to understand the biology and ecology of this invasive fish in the new environment.
Allometry
Population Structure
Cite
Citations (0)
Peninsula
Human migration
Archaeological Evidence
Western europe
Cite
Citations (54)
The presence of two species within the Eurythoe complanata complex in the Mediterranean Sea is reported, as well as their geographical distributions. One species, Eurythoe laevisetis, occurs in the eastern and central Mediterranean, likely constituting the first historical introduction to the Mediterranean Sea and the other, Eurythoe complanata, in both eastern and Levantine basins. Brief notes on their taxonomy are also provided and their potential pathways for introduction to the Mediterranean are discussed. A simplified key to the Mediterranean amphinomid genera and species of Eurythoe and Linopherus is presented plus an updated revision of the alien amphinomid species reported previously from the Mediterranean Sea. A total of five exotic species have been included; information on their location, habitat, date of introduction and other relevant features is also provided.
Mediterranean Basin
Mediterranean Islands
Cite
Citations (21)