Students following the M.Sc. in Applied Oceanography have just completed the fieldwork activity that comprises one of the study-units of the course. The activity was conducted during a one-week live-in experience planned and supervised by academic staff of the Physical Oceanography Research Group (Department of Geosciences).
The students were introduced to the baseline principles comprising the planning and execution of oceanographic field studies, with hands-on experience in scientific data acquisition in the marine environment, direct use of marine equipment, instrument calibration and deployment, data extraction and processing. The work featured fieldwork, lab work, lectures, joint analysis of data, group discussions and scientific evaluations.
The students were introduced to the baseline principles comprising the planning and execution of oceanographic field studies, with hands-on experience in scientific data acquisition in the marine environment, direct use of marine equipment, instrument calibration and deployment, data extraction and processing. The work featured fieldwork, lab work, lectures, joint analysis of data, group discussions and scientific evaluations.
This year the marine domain of study was the Mġarr ix-Xini Marine Protected Area (MPA). This was designated in August 2010 as one of five nearshore/coastal MPAs. The MPA is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) of International Importance (as prescribed under the Habitats Directive) and thus consequently forms part of the Natura 2000 network.
The very steep bathymetry and close proximity to the shelf break further south renders the near-shore flows to be highly dictated by the open sea dynamics. This is a practically pristine marine area for in situ physical observations and the bootcamp served to acquire the first direct measurements of sea currents, temperature, salinity and other basic parameters. The stretch of sea south of Gozo is also known from models to be influenced by upwelling events resulting from strong mistral winds.
The very steep bathymetry and close proximity to the shelf break further south renders the near-shore flows to be highly dictated by the open sea dynamics. This is a practically pristine marine area for in situ physical observations and the bootcamp served to acquire the first direct measurements of sea currents, temperature, salinity and other basic parameters. The stretch of sea south of Gozo is also known from models to be influenced by upwelling events resulting from strong mistral winds.
The profiling of underwater temperature at a selected station with 35 m depth was made by means of a string of temperature loggers at discrete depths. A sea current meter was deployed at the station to measure currents, temperature and salinity close to the seabed. The instruments were set to investigate the variability of the physical parameters at high temporal resolution. A CTD was deployed at several stations to profile water temperature, conductivity, pH and dissolved oxygen.
Surface currents were measured by means of drogues carrying GPS trackers and Lagrangian CODE coastal drifters which were followed by satellite tracking. Water quality was assessed at three stations across the Channel by means of Secchi disk (to measure the water turbidity) and Niskin bottle water sampling at selected depths and lab analysis of filtered samples for chlorophyll concentration by spectrophotometry. An underwater camera was used for benthic mapping along transects following chosen isobaths.
A number of benthic sediment samples were collected off Hondoq ir-Rummien by means of hand-held corers deployed during SCUBA dives. Posidonia oceanica shoots from the samples were used to assess the health of sea grass in the area using the Posidonia Rapid Easy Index (PREI). Granulometric analyses of the dried sediment samples was correlated to the dynamical regimes. All these measurements were used by students to assess how the marine biota and habitats are influenced by the site-specific dynamics.
The study served to better understand the dynamics in this highly-flushed channel and to characterise the benthic and pelagic baseline ahead of putative environmental impacts that planned developments may have on the contiguous marine area.
The study served to better understand the dynamics in this highly-flushed channel and to characterise the benthic and pelagic baseline ahead of putative environmental impacts that planned developments may have on the contiguous marine area.
Under the coordination of Prof. Aldo Drago, the PO Res-Grp. availed of three other academic members (Prof. Alan Deidun, Dr Adam Gauci and Dr Anthony Galea) as well as dedicated technical and administrative staff members (Ms Raisa Galea De Giovanni, Mrs Audrey Zammit and Mrs Tiziana Bartolo) to conduct this effort. Mr. John Spiteri from the Chemistry Department assisted in the water quality measurements.
The one-year Master course (over 3 semesters as a full-time day course) is offered annually to local and foreign students and is delivered with the participation of an international faculty including high profile experts in operational oceanography. Apart from this Boot Camp, the course covers the Scientific and Practical Baseline of Oceanography, Essentials of Operational Oceanography, Data Resources in Operational Oceanography, Ocean Governance, and Applications and Services deriving from Operational Oceanography.
The main target of the course is to match the human resource needs in the evolving marine sector providing professionals with wide ranging skills to exploit the outcomes of marine research and technology in favour of the competitiveness of the industry and service sectors.
Are you interested in pursuing an oceanography career?
Do you have what it takes to enlist and join next year’s boot camp?
The main target of the course is to match the human resource needs in the evolving marine sector providing professionals with wide ranging skills to exploit the outcomes of marine research and technology in favour of the competitiveness of the industry and service sectors.
Are you interested in pursuing an oceanography career?
Do you have what it takes to enlist and join next year’s boot camp?