The MEDA unit manages the two coastal vessels (M/B Vettoria and M/B Hippocampus) used for environmental monitoring, research and teaching.

The service includes the maintenance and calibration of the on-board instrumentation, and support for their use in research and data collection activities.

In addition, the MEDA collaborates with the University of Naples, providing teaching support through exercitations on board of the M/N Vettoria.

Availability of two vessels complete of crew and equipment.

Assistance in sampling, collection of biological material, and in the acquisition of instrumental data.

Teaching on board the M/B Vettoria:

• demonstrations of oceanographic instruments and their functioning;
• exercitations on key techniques of data collection and sampling .

M/B Vettoria

• GPS
• Radar
• Echo sounder
• VHF
• Multiparametric Probe SBE 911Plus
• Hydraulic portal for oceanographic instruments and sampling of planktonic and benthic communities
• Hydraulic winch with double drum
• Cable (1500 m) for multiparameter probes and samplers
• Automatic sampler Carousell SBE with 12 bottles of 10 liters
• Steel cord (600 m, 5 mm diameter)
• Wet laboratory for filtration and first processing of samples for chemical and biological analysis

M/B Hippocampus

• Electric winch with steel cable (5 mm diameter)
• Inverter 1500W, 220V
• Generator 2000W, 220V
• Depth sounder
• Portable GPS
• Multiparameter probe SBE 19Plus V2

Fabio Conversano

Tel. + 39 081 5833357

e-mail: fabio.conversano(at)szn.it

Acquisition of the key hydrographic data, water sample collection and pretreatment (for the analyses of the main physical, chemical and biotic variables).

These activities are mainly carried on board the M / N Vettoria or on other research vessels. Moreover, in absence of suitable support structures, a fully equipped mobile laboratory can be set up, allowing the first processing of samples.

• Continuous acquisition of the key hydrographic variables (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, fluorescence, transmission, PAR, SPAR and pH) along the water column by means of CTD profiler;
• Use of optical (eg.  Spectroradiometers) and turbulence profilers;
• Collection from Niskin bottles and pretreatment on board of samples for the analyses of the main abiotic and biotic variables:

ü  Inorganic nutrients,

ü  Total and dissolved N and P,

ü  Dissolved oxygen,

ü  Dissolved organic carbon (DOC),

ü  Particulate organic carbon (POC)

ü  Total suspended solids (TSS),

ü  Chlorophyll a and Photosynthetic pigments

ü  Picoplankton and bacteria ( for FCM analysis)

ü  Plankton

• Sampling of plankton through net (phytoplankton, microzooplankton and mesozooplankton).

Equipped research boats

Multi-parametric CTD probes and Automatic sampler

Carousel with 12 Niskin bottles

Optical and turbulence profilers

Fabio Conversano

Tel. + 39 081 5833357

e-mail: fabio.conversano(at)szn.it