Spain launches its first marine climate change observatory

The project will analyze the impacts derived from global change on the marine systems of the network of national parks and develop early warning tools against extreme weather events

Currently, the information related to the state of conservation of the marine ecosystems of the Network of National Parks is basically obtained from oceanographic campaigns, circumscribed to certain times of the year and located in specific points of our coast.

An information that is clearly insufficient to correctly interpret the complex processes that occur in these marine protected areas, given their great extension and high seasonal variability.

It will improve the knowledge of the marine environment in the face of the climate crisis to favor the conservation of its biodiversity

To cover this information deficit, the ‘TIAMAT Climate Change Observatory’ project emerges, developed by researchers from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Coastal Prediction and Observation System of the Balearic Islands (ICTS SOCIB). This new scientific equipment incorporates remote sensing as a tool for research, analysis and permanent evaluation of the marine systems of the National Parks.

According to Gabriel Navarro, scientist at the Institute of Marine Sciences of Andalusia (ICMAN-CSIC) and coordinator of the project, “the TIAMAT observatory will be of great value for the study and management of the marine natural systems of the National Maritime Terrestrial Park (PNMT) of the Cabrera Archipelago, the PNMT of the Atlantic Islands and the coast located in front of the Doñana National Park”.

Remote sensing is a technique based on obtaining data through the analysis of satellite images. This technology was incorporated into oceanographic research in the 80s and now, through this project, it will serve to permanently monitor the marine systems of our national parks, which will allow a considerable improvement in obtaining data related to temperature, chlorophyll, sea level and other essential variables to better understand the marine environment.

This information will make it possible, for example, to carry out retrospective analyses of the state of the marine areas of the parks and to evaluate their trends. Likewise, the creation of early warning systems, the automation of the Observatory, and other derived applications will lead not only to a better understanding of the marine systems of the parks, but also to a management based on scientific knowledge and therefore much more rigorous and effective.

For Mélanie Juza, researcher at the ICTS-SOCIB, “the creation and development of the TIAMAT Observatory will improve our knowledge of the marine environment in a context of global change and support the conservation and preservation of biodiversity, ecosystems and the socioeconomic environment of each of the National Parks under study”

Beyond the collection of data for this improvement of knowledge, according to Antonio Padín, researcher at the Institute of Marine Research (IIM-CSIC), “this project also aims to contribute to raising awareness in society about the different challenges associated with the conservation of National Parks in the face of climate change”

To this end, an interactive website will be designed and launched, with free access and content aimed at all audiences. The website will include a playful version of the TIAMAT Observatory, especially aimed at the educational community, with the main purpose of bringing students closer to the great challenges posed by the conservation of marine ecosystems in the face of the climate crisis.

Source: The Confidential