Beakon Lampedusa

The instrumented beakon constitutes the oceanographic node of the integrated observatory dedicated to the measurement of parameters of relevance for climate studies owned by ENEA on the island of Lampedusa.

The beakon is installed in the Strait of Sicily, about 3.3 miles off the southwestern coast of Lampedusa, in a body of water with a depth of about 74 m (GPS 35.49°N, 12.47°E) and has been operational since August 2015, with sensors dedicated to researching air-sea interactions and validating satellite observations.

Operational sensors include, in the atmospheric section: a meteorological station with sonic anemometer, solar and infrared radiometers, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) sensor, and the following instrumentation installed and operated by the Institute of Marine Sciences: 7-band radiometer, installed at the surface, pressure and temperature sensors at 1 and 2 m depth, pressure, temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen sensor at 18 m depth, 7-band radiometers at 2. 5 and 6 m depth, as well as chlorophyll, CDOM and backscattering sensors.

The beakon is located at a point of interest for monitoring the biogeochemical characteristics of the water by being in conditions of particular transparency, which is of particular relevance for validating satellite observations.