A new marine coastal near real time monitoring network in the Gulf of Manfredonia - Southern Adriatic Sea

Starting at the end of 2002, a monitoring network was set up in the Gulf of Manfredonia to assess in near real time the ecological conditions of coastal waters, integrating real time oceanographic and atmospheric observations performed by a multiparametric marine platform with bimonthly oceanographic observations carried out by a coastal vessel. Correct and continuous data were acquired by in situ temperature sensors (at five fixed depths), air pressure and wind direction sensors from August 2004 to April 2005, and by air temperature, solar radiation and wind speed sensors from December 2004 to April 2005. Early data obtained with the bimonthly monitoring in the Gulf of Manfredonia showed that this area is subject to high seasonal variations and both biochemical and hydro- logical characteristics of the Gulf are influenced by coastal morphology, continental inputs and Western Southward Adriatic Current effects.