Observing System
The integrated observing system is designed according to the appropriate spatial and temporal scales and includes in-situ measurements of environmental, climatic, and ecological variables, also aimed at verifying the functionality of habitats and species. It is integrated into a system of numerical models capable of simulating scenarios and operational forecasting models. The observational system will be combined with ecosystem service layouts and their benefits, with the goal of verifying the recovery and long-term enhancement of natural capital.
By integrating into a GIS all the layouts produced by experimental activities and models, along with previous information and knowledge, a true tool for supporting the management of the marine area will be created—likely one of the very first long-term programs, if not the first ever, based on the Ecosystem-Based Approach, capable of integrating best practices with innovative approaches.
The integrated observational system will be composed of:
Observations: fixed measurement stations; study of oceanographic and hydrodynamic characteristics of the area; study of chemical and trophic characteristics; remote sensing analysis of suspended solids, phytoplankton biomass, and CDOM; study of distribution and health of ecosystems. For this purpose, the most modern technologies for oceanographic observation will be used.
Numerical modeling, aimed at: developing what-if scenarios, which—together with observations—will allow the creation of an Early Warning System (EWS) to anticipate the risk of impacts due to dredging operations; supporting the positioning and sizing of compensation measures (eco-friendly moorings, barriers, and anti-trawling deterrents); reducing uncertainty in selecting areas to be restored, thereby minimizing the likelihood of failure in future transplant operations; considering the effects of climate change on marine-coastal ecosystems as an essential framework for studying and analyzing impacts related to the interventions and for implementing mitigation and restoration actions.
