Analysis of mesoscale productivity processes in the Adriatic Sea: comparison between data acquired by Sarago, a towed undulating vehicle, and by CTD casts.

A modern approach to the study of pelagic ecosystems requires both an appropriate spatial and temporal resolution and a synoptic observation. For this reason, it is indispensable a rapid and high-resolution data acquisition along the water column. During the CNR project PRISMA II, four oceanographic cruises were performed in the Northern Adriatic Sea to analyse the high variability of ecological processes related to the frontal system. The SARAGO, a towed undulating vehicle, allowed a fine description of physical and biological acquired parameters (CTD, chlorophyll a concentration, photosynthetic efficiency, PAR). In succession, CTD and bottle carousel casts were performed to analyse physical and biogeochemical features. In this work, we compare the distribution and quantification of the relevant variables acquired by the two different sampling methods. A mathematical model was applied to estimate primary production.