Design and development of a new stand-alone profiler for marine monitoring purposes

Abstract

Marine pollution is a complex issue that has prompted extensive research. The Mar Menor lagoon, a singular Mediterranean ecological feature, is under pressure from various economic activities, leading to episodes of hypoxia and fish mass mortality. The lagoon is covered by an extensive meadow of submerged vegetation that release oxygen during daylight hours but consumes it during the night. Under exceptional conditions, the water column becomes stratified, with higher oxygen consumption in the deeper layers due to organic matter decomposition. Therefore, continuous high-frequency monitoring of critical parameters affecting the metabolic behaviour of the lagoon is essential. This marine environment has traditionally been monitored with traditional techniques from vessels on a weekly basis, incurring in high costs and yielding limited results. This article introduces the s-Nautilus, a submersible profiler that enables near real-time data transmission in shallow marine environments. It showcases an operational autonomy of two months and significantly reduces installation costs by eliminating the need for on-site infrastructure and personnel. Weighing 21 kg, makes it easy to transport, and it can be equipped with different commercial sensors to monitor various parameters as required. Currently, several s-Nautilus profilers are deployed in the Mar Menor lagoon, collecting data during critical hours, and providing valuable information to the managers of this emblematic environment.