Researchers from the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA) and the National Research Council (CNR) chose the small bay as a perfect location to monitor the seawater.
It provides data for the study of extreme weather events that are becoming more frequent in countries such as Italy, Greece, Spain, and France.
"The Mediterranean Sea has basically become a hot spot of what is happening globally in the world's oceans," said ENEA researcher and ocean expert Franco Reseghetti, who has been monitoring temperature changes in the Mediterranean for years.
"We must bear in mind how important the sea is for Italy, but not only for Italy, just think of France, Greece, and Spain, which this year have paid a very high price in terms of alternating fires and very heavy rainfall," said ENEA researcher and ocean expert Franco Reseghetti.
The Mediterranean represents 0.7% of the global ocean surface and is a semi-enclosed basin with its only connection to the Atlantic via the Strait of Gibraltar, which gives its waters unique characteristics. There is very little swell and only a small amount of nutrients due to the low flow of rivers that reach it. There has also been a lot of over-fishing and pollution.
Monitoring in Gibraltar
Underwater Webcam Citizen Science Project Monitoring Marine Life
The underwater camera used for this project is the first of its kind in Europe. Thus far, its video feed is attracting hundreds—sometimes thousands—of visitors each day, each one “seeing” an aquarium-style view of what the camera sees on their smartphone or tablet screen.
Get your own view of the underwater camera at http://www.thinkinggreen.gov.gi/cameras/underwater-camera