The PIT AGEM Project: an example of integrated, continuous and punctual coastal monitoring in the Gulf of Manfredonia, adjacent to the Gargano National Park

The PIT AGEM project includes bi-monthly water monitoring, platform monitoring, and primary production and biogeochemical characterization of the Gulf of Manfredonia (southern Adriatic Sea). The bi-monthly monitoring consists of continuous, horizontal tracking of surface physico-chemical parameters (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, in vivo fluorescence and turbidity), and vertical physico-chemical profiles and sub-surface and bottom water sampling for suspended solid and nutrient (N-NH3, N-NO2, N-NO3, P-PO4, Si(OH)4) analyses. The platform provides meteorological data and high frequency monitoring of temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, fluorescence, turbidity and compounds of N and P at 5 depths. Two oceanographic cruises are planned to provide information on primary production and biogeochemical cycles of nutrients in sediment and in the water column. At this stage, the boat monitoring and the platforms are still being tested, however, the first of the two cruises was completed on October 2002. This paper shows the program and some preliminary results.