physical oceanography unit ioi-malta operational centre university of malta [email protected]

Physical Oceanography Unit

IOI-Malta Operational Centre

University of Malta

[email protected]

The Malta Operational Centre aims to develop and The Malta Operational Centre aims to develop and implement research and studies related to the sea, implement research and studies related to the sea, promote education, training and public awareness as well promote education, training and public awareness as well as provide services mainly in physical oceanography as provide services mainly in physical oceanography targeting the sustainable use of ocean space and targeting the sustainable use of ocean space and resources, their management and regulation as well as resources, their management and regulation as well as the promotion and conservation of the marine the promotion and conservation of the marine environment. environment.

IntroductionIntroduction

Sea-Search First Regional Meeting - 15-17 May 2003 - Istanbul TurkeySea-Search First Regional Meeting - 15-17 May 2003 - Istanbul Turkey

• promotes the undertaking of marine research promotes the undertaking of marine research and monitoring in Malta based on a holistic and monitoring in Malta based on a holistic approach;approach;

• organizes training programmes and courses, organizes training programmes and courses, conferences, seminars and other meetings to conferences, seminars and other meetings to study topics of interest related to ocean studies; study topics of interest related to ocean studies;

Aims Aims (i)(i)


• co-operates with the International Ocean Institute and co-operates with the International Ocean Institute and other international organizations concerned with ocean other international organizations concerned with ocean affairs, governments, foundations, industries and affairs, governments, foundations, industries and academic institutions, for the establishment of academic institutions, for the establishment of appropriate liaison mechanisms and synergies;appropriate liaison mechanisms and synergies;

• promotes the concept of the Common Heritage of promotes the concept of the Common Heritage of Mankind, and encourages regional cooperation for its Mankind, and encourages regional cooperation for its practical usespractical uses

Aims Aims (ii)(ii)


E Foresee – Marine E Foresee – Marine Pilot ProjectPilot Project


The The MedMediterranean iterranean GGlobal lobal OOcean cean OObserving bserving SSystem is ystem is an informal association founded under the auspices an informal association founded under the auspices of the UNESCO/Intergovernmental Oceanographic of the UNESCO/Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) to provide a concerted approach to Commission (IOC) to provide a concerted approach to the planning and implementation of the Global Ocean the planning and implementation of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) in the Mediterranean.Observing System (GOOS) in the Mediterranean.



The Secretariat provides administrative support and The Secretariat provides administrative support and assists in the co-ordination of MedGOOS activities. It assists in the co-ordination of MedGOOS activities. It secures the continuous flow of information related to secures the continuous flow of information related to MedGOOS and its project activities, among the MedGOOS and its project activities, among the members. Important developments, training members. Important developments, training opportunities, conferences, seminars, etc. related to opportunities, conferences, seminars, etc. related to ocean monitoring and forecasting in the region are ocean monitoring and forecasting in the region are circulated to the members by the MedGOOS circulated to the members by the MedGOOS Secretariat. This strengthens the network and brings Secretariat. This strengthens the network and brings its components closer together.its components closer together.

MedGOOS SecretariatMedGOOS Secretariat



The The Physical Oceanography UnitPhysical Oceanography Unit was established in was established in the early 90's under the Malta Council for Science and the early 90's under the Malta Council for Science and Technology. It now constitutes the research arm of Technology. It now constitutes the research arm of the IOI-Malta Operational Centre at the University of the IOI-Malta Operational Centre at the University of Malta. Malta.


• research in coastal meteorology, hydrography and research in coastal meteorology, hydrography and physical oceanographyphysical oceanography

• gathers, processes, analysis and manages high quality gathers, processes, analysis and manages high quality ocean observationsocean observations

• promotes marine observations in Malta especially by promotes marine observations in Malta especially by permanent monitoring systemspermanent monitoring systems

Aims Aims (i)(i)


• collaborates with international research institutionscollaborates with international research institutions

• provides services and technical assistance to provides services and technical assistance to public/private entitiespublic/private entities

Aims Aims (ii)(ii)


MedGLOSS station in PortomasoMedGLOSS station in Portomaso

Secondary station in St. George’s BaySecondary station in St. George’s Bay

Open sea stationsOpen sea stations

Malta Channel ExperimentMalta Channel Experiment

MMA station in Grand HarbourMMA station in Grand Harbour

Sea Level StationsSea Level Stations


Contributions in SEA SEARCH so farContributions in SEA SEARCH so far


EDMERP EDMED CSR ROSARIO 1 Ahrax Station PO-UNIT-AUG92

SABRINA Milghuba Qawra Station PO-UNIT-AUG93

KUNCETTA MedGLOSS Malta Station PO-UNIT-MAR94

COMINO PO-UNIT-AUG94

KUNCETTA PO-UNIT-NOV94

VALETTA

Local Potential Contributors Local Potential Contributors (i)(i)


Organisation Contact Person

Data Field Description of Holding

Storage Time Span

Physical Oceanography Unit

Aldo Drago - Water level records - Meteorological data - CTD data - Subsurface currents at

stations along the northern coast of the Maltese islands in the Comino Channel

- 1993-2002 - 1994-2002

Department of Biology

Patrick Schembri, Joe Borg

- Data for biodiversity - Data on threatened

flora and important plant areas

- Data for bathing water - Data relevant to

quality of coastal waters and heavy metal and hydrocarbon content of marine sediments

- Bathymetry - Bottom types - Biotic assemblages

- - - 1994-2002 - 1997-2002

Local Potential Contributors Local Potential Contributors (ii)(ii)




Storage Time Span

CMC, Malta Freeport

Andrew Ellul - Wave data - 1992-2002

Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries

Matthew Camilleri, Andreina Farrugia

- Water quality Data

- Fishing related data (such as fishing fleet, fishing gear, fishing population, fishing zones, fishing effort)

- Landings by species - Biological data - Stock assessments

(mainly direct methods – trawls syrveys0

Local Potential Contributors Local Potential Contributors (iii)(iii)




Storage Time Span

ICoD Anton Micallef

- Multi-spectral scanning of selected coastal areas of the Maltese Islands observed in visible and near infra-red mode

- Thermal imagery for selected Maltese and Southern Sicilian coast, representing sites with high risk potential

- Digital imaging of the entire Maltese coastline observed in visible wavelength

- In-situ marine water quality of selected areas off the North-West & South-East Maltese and Southern Sicilian coast

- Sensitivity maps for the entire Maltese coastline

- Potential on-line display of real-time satellite (MeteoSat and NOAH AVHRR) imagery

- Maltese islands/coastal wide coverage with aerial digital imagery

- Operational forecasts of atmosphere - Ocean and waves - Dust

- 1999 - 1997-2000 - 2000

Local Potential Contributors Local Potential Contributors (iv)(iv)




Storage Time Span

MEPA - Data related to environmental impact assessments

Malta Maritime Authority

Joe Bianco - Coastal Bathymetry - Tidal Data

Oil Division, Office of the Prime Minister

Godwin Debono

- Marine seismic data

The PO-Unit is launching a web-based oceanographic The PO-Unit is launching a web-based oceanographic database, to be called thedatabase, to be called the Malta Blue PagesMalta Blue Pages, , whichwhich will will be hosted within the CapeMalta website of the PO-Unit. be hosted within the CapeMalta website of the PO-Unit. This is the first phase towards establishing an online This is the first phase towards establishing an online data repository center for a number of data sources in data repository center for a number of data sources in the field of oceanography in Malta. the field of oceanography in Malta.

Introduction Introduction (i)(i)


TheThe Malta Blue PagesMalta Blue Pages will be developed on will be developed on methodologies using state-of-the-art server-side methodologies using state-of-the-art server-side technologies and makes use of RealTimetechnologies and makes use of RealTimeTMTM Publishing Publishing Systems for remote maintenance and updating of the Systems for remote maintenance and updating of the database over the Internet.database over the Internet.

Introduction Introduction (ii)(ii)


The structure of the Malta Blue Pages is on The structure of the Malta Blue Pages is on

three levels:three levels:

Level 1Level 1 : : The Introductory PageThe Introductory Page

Level 2Level 2 : : The Data Description Level • Cruise summaries • Monitoring summaries • Inventories • Data sets

Level 3Level 3 : : The Search Interface LevelThe Search Interface Level • Browse the database• Query the database • Download the selections


Postal Address : Postal Address : IOI-Malta Operational Centre, University of IOI-Malta Operational Centre, University of

Malta, c/o 36, Old Mint Street, Valletta Malta, c/o 36, Old Mint Street, Valletta VLT VLT 12, MALTA. 12, MALTA. Telephone: Telephone: +356 21 232493+356 21 232493Fax:Fax: +356 21 232493+356 21 232493Email:Email: [email protected]@um.edu.mtWebsite:Website: http://www.capemalta.nethttp://www.capemalta.net


physical oceanography unit ioi-malta operational centre university of malta [email protected]

Documents