MONIAQUA project campaign under way in Costa Vicentina

The NRP Hydrographic Ship Andromeda started on April 10, in the coastal region between Vila Nova de Mil Fontes and Sagres, a campaign of the MONIAQUA project.

In the current monitoring campaign, which runs until the end of April, several elements of the Marine Environment Chemical and Pollution Division of the Hydrographic Institute participate, with 30 sediment and seawater samples already taken in the first phase of the mission.

The main objective of the MONIAQUA project is to carry out the environmental characterization of sensitive zones by collecting sediment and water samples, which are analyzed in the laboratories of the Hydrographic Institute for the determination of various physicochemical and microplastic parameters.

The sediment samples shall be taken with a dredge of the type Smith-McIntyre, while water samples are taken with bottle of Niskin. Measurements in-situ are performed to determine classical physicochemical parameters, namely pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen. The collection of microplastics on the surface shall be carried out by drag, while in the water column it shall be carried out using a net of 300 μm, in cone shape, coupled to a cable that allows its descent into the water column up to 20 metres.