- University of Tuscia, Laboratory of Experimental Oceanology and Marine Ecology (LOSEM), Department of ecological and biological sciences, Civitavecchia, Italy (benedetta.torelli@unitus.it)
According to the IPCC (2022), climatic phenomena such as increased wind stress and nighttime heat loss influence the depth of the mixed layer and, consequently, pelagic primary production. The use of Gliders, an autonomous underwater vehicle, represents a promising method for investigating the interaction between chlorophyll biomass, oceanographic processes, and climatic phenomena, with significant implications for understanding marine ecosystems, secondary production, and their implication on economic activities.
Gliders are advanced tools for oceanographic data collection, particularly useful for studies conducted over long distances and extended periods. Thanks to their ability to operate both vertically and horizontally, Gliders can also be programmed to monitor specific sites over time, enabling detailed analysis of complex oceanographic phenomena.
In this study a Glider was used to investigate the Tiber River plume and its effects on the waters of the Tyrrhenian shelf.
The data collected revealed important oceanographic features, including the position of the Deep Chlorophyll Maximum (DCM), which was shallower near the coast and deeper toward the open sea. This phenomenon is linked to high surface temperatures and the formation of a pronounced mixed layer, which pushes phytoplankton toward the bottom of the water column. Furthermore, the analysis of the sections highlighted a well-defined thermocline and halocline throughout the area, while the Tiber plume predominantly influenced the first 500 m of the transect, reducing salinity and increasing the surface concentration of chlorophyll a and turbidity.
This study shows the preliminary results of the effectiveness of Gliders in investigating river plumes and oceanographic phenomena at both coastal and mesoscale levels. Their ability to collect data at high spatial and temporal resolutions makes them invaluable tools for future applications, including primary production and numerical modeling.
How to cite: Torelli, B. and Marcelli, M.: Glider and Oceanographic Processes: A high-resolution analysis of the Tiber river plume, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-11738, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-11738, 2025.
