2024-07-09 (IPMA)
The Research Vessel Mário Ruivo, of the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), returned to Lisbon on the July 3rd, after the completion of the TRIDENT mission. IPMA successfully coordinated this international mission, which was the longest mission in recent years with the Research Vessel Mário Ruivo.
The TRIDENT mission took place between the 13th and 30th of June, in a marine area approximately 500 km south of the Canary archipelago. This international mission, whose scientific leader is Doctor Pedro Terrinha from IPMA, included 24 researchers from five European institutions: the Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science (INESC TEC, in the Portuguese acronym), IPMA, the University College Cork (UCC), in Ireland, the Technological Research Centre of the University of Algarve (CINTAL) and the Spanish Geological and Mining Institute (IGME-CSIC).
TRIDENT project is coordinated by INESC TEC and has European funding, from the European Horizon Program, of around 16 million euros. It brings together 25 public and private institutions, including six Portuguese.
In this mission, the researchers acquired data on local oceanographic characteristics, seabed morphology and nature, seabed biology, ocean currents' speed, long-term monitoring of near seabed water properties and the biogeochemistry of the bottom sediments. For this purpose, the researchers used equipment operated on board the Vessel, fixed moorings and drifters with hydrophones to listen to environmental noise, automated monitoring stations and autonomous robotic underwater mapping equipment.
Imagens associadas
Autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) EVA, from INESC TEC, to be launched
Cephalopod (Vampyroteuthis infernalis), captured by AUV EVA at a depth of around 1000 m.
“Little Monsta” (Property of the University College of Cork, Ireland) about to be launched into the sea. It is a bottom station (Lander) equipped with sediment traps, an acoustic current profiler (ADCP) for measuring the speed of currents in the water column, a CTD equipment (in the English acronym) for measuring conductivity, temperature, pressure and turbidity at the bottom of the sea
IPMA's CTD equipped with several more environmental sensors in addition to conductivity, temperature and pressure, namely: chlorophyll-turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen, particulate matter, and fluorescent organic matter
CINTAL's Sparse Vertical Array (SVA), on deck, about to be launched. The SVA is a sound measurement device in the water column with hydrophones positioned at 40m, 500m and 900m depths, to characterize environmental sound, including noise of anthropogenic origin.
Launch of the ALSEAMAR glider to characterize environmental sound, including noise of anthropogenic origin over a 40 km distance (far field), equipped with several sensors including turbidity, dissolved oxygen and fluorimeter