Abstract

Posidonia oceanica meadows have suffered a global regression in the Mediterranean Sea during the last decades. In order to counter this decline, some restoration projects have relied on the use of seedlings as a strategy to accelerate the natural recovery of their meadows and increase genetic diversity. Furthermore, understanding the dynamics and interactions that affect each species and between different organisms are key to enhance restoration success. On this project, we set an experiment in Pollensa Bay (Mallorca, Spain) to study whether P. oceanica seedlings, which had been previously cultured in controlled conditions for three months, improve their survivorship rates at different planting densities (1, 4, 8, 12 and 16 seedlings/0.04 m2). We planted the seedlings in two locations of Pollensa Bay, which presented different substrates: dead matte with marine phanerogams, sand with marine phanerogams and bare sand. Six months after plantation, no density-dependent effect was observed in any of the clumps anywhere. However, an interspecific facilitation effect was noticed for the seedlings planted in sand with other marine phanerogams, as they displayed a 39.27% ± 34.56 average survivorship rate, compared to 0% survivorship on this same substrate without any other seagrass around. Moreover, dead matte remained as the best substrate for restoration purposes, with an average survivorship rate of 57.07% ± 29.92. Our results reinforce the relevance of understanding the ecological interactions between seagrass species in order to increase restoration success, as well as the main factors affecting the survivorship of P. oceanica seedlings in the early stages after establishment in the substrate.

El próximo 4 de julio de 2024 se celebrará en Esporles “ConCiencia Gen Z: el reto de la transición ecológica”, el tercer encuentro de la serie de Think Tanks que organiza el IMEDEA con el objetivo de crear un espacio de debate y reflexión entre agentes sociales y expertos del ámbito científico en torno a temáticas de interés común. Esta nueva edición está especialmente dirigida a la juventud, a quien se busca empoderar y dar voz en el debate sobre el futuro del planeta. En conjunto, se reflexionará sobre el papel de la ciencia en el reto de la transición ecológica, tan necesaria en el contexto “glocal” de emergencia climática y pérdida de biodiversidad.

ConCiencia Gen Z reunirá en el IMEDEA a jóvenes de las Islas Baleares con interés y compromiso hacia la emergencia climática, quienes tendrán la oportunidad, a través de metodologías participativas, de interaccionar de forma directa y constructiva con tomadores de decisiones en distintos ámbitos de la administración pública, además de personal científico experto. El objetivo es analizar colectivamente algunos de los retos ambientales que afrontamos como sociedad y de valorar cómo la ciencia puede contribuir a mejorar la comprensión y la gestión de los problemas urgentes e importantes.

Durante la jornada, se abordarán temas cruciales como la comunicación de la ciencia, las perspectivas de futuro y la evidencia científica ante la crisis climática. El conjunto de participantes contribuirá con sus ideas, conocimientos y experiencias, conformando un espacio dinámico y enriquecedor en el que se fomentará el diálogo y la colaboración.

Este evento está dirigido a jóvenes de 18 a 26 años, gestores y tomadores de decisiones de diferentes ámbitos de la administración pública y personal investigador en el inicio de su carrera científica. 

Asbtract

Beaches play a crucial role in protecting coastlines from wave energy, acting as the final barrier against coastal erosion. Sandy beaches are particularly susceptible to climate change effects, such as sea level rise and storminess. Understanding the dynamics of these environments amid ongoing changes is essential for designing effective adaptation measures and management strategies. However, the various factors influencing beach morphodynamics, coupled with their dynamic nature, render the integrated monitoring of these areas both resource-intensive and challenging in terms of time, human involvement, and economic resources. Therefore, long-term and high-frequency data-sets, including morphological and wave data, remain scarce in the literature. In this talk, I will present the preliminary results of the analysis of the Son Bou Beach (Menorca, Spain) data-set, with over 13 years (2011-2023) measurements, generated by the Modular Beach Integral Monitoring Systems (MOBIMS) from the Balearic Islands Coastal Observing and Forecasting System (SOCIB). The analysis focuses on characterizing the mid and short-term response of Son Bou beach by means of the shoreline position-change detection. A negative trend in beach width was observed, as well as different responses along the beach. The presence of a coastal lagoon and its opening periods have a significant impact on the beach behavior.

Abstract

Over the past 30 years, satellite-based radar altimetry has revolutionized the measurement of sea level changes on global and regional scales. However, conventional altimeters, designed primarily for open-ocean observations, face significant challenges in coastal zones, particularly within 20 km of the shoreline, where radar signals are contaminated by land reflections. This limitation has impeded precise monitoring of coastal sea level variations, which are crucial for understanding local coastal processes and assessing risks to coastal communities. The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission, developed by NASA and CNES, represents a breakthrough in coastal sea level observation. Equipped with the innovative Ka-band Radar Interferometer (KaRIn), SWOT offers unprecedented high-resolution (2 km) sea surface height (SSH) measurements across a two-dimensional swath, enabling detailed analysis of coastal sea level dynamics. Furthermore, SWOT's high-resolution SSH mapping enables the detection of extreme coastal sea level events, such as storm surges, providing a novel tool for monitoring and characterizing the processes involved in these phenomena. This project evaluates SWOT's performance in coastal regions by comparing it against tide gauges, ERA5 reanalysis weather model and SCHISM ocean circulation model. This study has the potential to significantly advance our understanding of coastal processes and improve monitoring efforts for extreme events, with a focus on its capacity to detect storm surges, driven by strong winds and low atmospheric pressure during intense weather events like tropical cyclones and extratropical storms which cause abrupt and significant rises in sea level along coastlines.

Visita del DG d’Universitats, Recerca i Ensenyaments Artístics Superiors a l’IMEDEA

Dimarts, 24 de setembre de 2024, a les 09.30 h -  IMEDEA, Esporles

Assistents

Dr. Sebastian Massanet, DG d’Universitats, Recerca i Ensenyaments Artístics Superiors del GOIB

Dra. Salud Deudero, Delegada del CSIC a les Illes Balears

Dr. Jaume Carot, Rector de la UIB

Dr. Gotzon Besterrechea, director de l’IMEDEA

Dra. Marta Marcos, vicedirectora de l’IMEDEA

Dr. Idan Tuval, vicedirector de l’IMEDEA

Abstract

Understanding the 3D dynamics of meso- and submesoscale ocean structures (10–100 km) remains a critical challenge in oceanography. These small-scale eddies, vital to the global climate system, regulate heat balance and transport key elements like salt, carbon, and nutrients. Current methodologies integrate multi-platform in-situ data, remote sensing, and high-resolution model simulations to study these features. However, conventional satellite Sea Surface Height (SSH) measurements struggle to detect smaller currents and eddies. The launch of the SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) satellite in 2022 represents a breakthrough, offering higher-resolution SSH observations that provide unprecedented insights into ocean dynamics. During SWOT's validation phase in April and May 2023, we conducted two oceanographic campaigns to monitor a small anticyclonic eddy (~12.5 km radius) in the Western Mediterranean Sea. Our study aimed to analyze the eddy's vertical structure using in-situ data and assess SWOT’s capability to detect it. Glider observations revealed the eddy as an intrathermocline feature, and SWOT successfully captured the associated sea level and geostrophic currents, showing significant improvement over conventional altimetry. This study underscores SWOT's ability to resolve both submesoscale and mesoscale structures and highlights the value of integrating satellite and multi-platform data for comprehensive oceanographic insights.