EMSO SA-2024 Cruise Report

The EMSO SA 2024 cruise, conducted aboard the R/V Gaia Blu, was focused on investigating mesoscale variability in hydrological and biogeochemical conditions, studying particulate sediment transfer to deep basins, and maintaining the long-term observational site E2M3A for oceanographic and biogeochemical time series. A key component of the campaign was the recovery, maintenance, and redeployment of the oceanographic mooring E2M3A, which provides continuous monitoring of physical and biogeochemical parameters. Additionally, hydrological profiling was carried out at various stations and along transects perpendicular to the bathymetry. This included acquiring vertical CTD and other profiles to examine water column properties and validate data collected at the E2M3A site. Water samples were taken at different depths to analyse dissolved oxygen, carbonate system parameters, and dissolved nutrients, contributing to a better understanding of water mass characteristics and biogeochemical cycles. Another significant activity was the deployment of a mooring equipped with floating traps as part of the CUPIDO Project’s Transnational Access initiative to EMSO -ERIC Southern Adriatic facility. This experiment aims to study plastic dynamics and its transport in the deep ocean. The cruise also conducted a multibeam bathymetric survey to map the seafloor and improve knowledge of the region’s geomorphological features. Overall, the EMSO SA 2024 cruise provided high-quality data essential for advancing oceanographic research. The findings will enhance the understanding of hydrodynamic variability, deep-sea sediment transport, and long-term changes in marine biogeochemistry, contributing to global ocean monitoring efforts.