Site descritpion

The Meda Senigallia is a marine and weather station located in the Central Adriatic Sea, off the coast of Cesano small fraction of Senigallia. The station is marked by a pylon fixed in the sediment and it corresponds to the SG01 station of Senigallia-Susak Transect transect of the Long-Term Ecosystem Research (e-LTER) network. The transect is constituted by 14 stations, from the western Italian coast near Senigallia to the western coast of the island of Susak in Croatia. Physical parameters, nutrient concentration, phytoplankton abundance and biomass have been recorded since 1988. The dominant current present in the area is the Western Adriatic Current (WAC) that clearly separates the coastal waters which are nutrient-rich and influenced by the inflow of continental waters from the northern Adriatic from the oligotrophic offshore waters. The Meda Senigallia is managed by the CNR–IRBIM Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology and it is equipped with advanced technology to monitor various marine parameters. A key feature is the current meter that uses the Doppler effect to measure the direction and speed of sea currents, as well as wave motion. Additionally, a camera provides real-time images, allowing researchers and the public to observe wave height and direction. Data collected from the platform are essential for creating historical data series, validating marine forecasting models, and understanding local coastal hydrodynamics. Data are accessible to the public and a range of professionals, including researchers, fishermen, and maritime operators.