Descripción del proyecto
Manantiales submarinos en ambientes kársticos
La descarga submarina de agua subterránea inyecta nutrientes a las zonas costeras, lo que afecta a los sistemas ecológicos. En entornos kársticos, estos procesos tienen lugar sobre todo en manantiales submarinos que son difíciles de localizar, pero que pueden identificarse a través de cambios en la superficie del mar en zonas muy poco profundas. En el proyecto KARST, financiado con fondos europeos, se identificará y caracterizará la distribución de manantiales submarinos y su influencia en los ecosistemas locales en entornos kársticos. En zonas costeras poco profundas, con una profundidad inferior a cinco metros, vehículos aéreos no tripulados tomarán imágenes y correlacionarán simultáneamente los hábitats biológicos y las anomalías en la superficie del mar relacionadas con manantiales submarinos. Se empleará un sistema geoeléctrico recientemente desarrollado junto con técnicas de obtención de imágenes multihaz para estudiar el comportamiento físico de la columna de agua y la distribución de praderas marinas alrededor de manantiales a mayor profundidad.
Objetivo
Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is the flow of fresh or recirculated groundwater into the ocean. This process introduces substantial amounts of nutrients to coastal areas, which significantly influences ecological systems. In karstic settings SGD dominantly occurs from submarine springs that manifest as point source discharge sites. Their identification generally relies on sea-surface changes (e.g. visual sea-surface anomalies or changes in sea-surface temperature) and is therefore confined to shallow areas with high discharge rates. As a result the distribution of offshore freshwater springs in karstic environments, which is crucial for determining the architecture and dissemination of offshore groundwater systems, is usually poorly constrained. Similarly, the negative effects of groundwater springs on seagrass diversity and biomass have been investigated at individual springs but have not been characterised over larger areas. This proposal focuses on the identification, characterisation and distribution of submarine springs and their influence on local ecosystems in karstic environments. KARST will make use of state of the art geophysical and remote sensing techniques for optimal imaging at various depths. In the shallow coastal areas (<~5 m), unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with multispectral and thermal infrared cameras will be used to simultaneously image and correlate biological habitats and sea-surface anomalies related to submarine springs. In deeper areas, a newly developed geoelectric system from the University of Kiel in combination with multibeam water column imaging techniques will provide insight into the physical behaviour of the water column as well as salinity and seagrass distribution around springs. All techniques will be guided by biological sampling and flow rate measurements, which will not only help to determine the ecological effects of SGD but will also provide valuable knowledge on the architecture of karstic groundwater systems.
Ámbito científico
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmarine biology
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsoptical sensors
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringremote sensing
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringroboticsautonomous robotsdrones
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystems
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
MSCA-IF-EF-RI - RI – Reintegration panelCoordinador
2080 MSIDA
Malta