Giving a New Life to Buoys: climate change data monitoring at the Torre Guaceto Nature Reserve

This case study is part of the AdriaClim project and can also be found on the ClimateLiteracy website produced by the project.

Introduction

This case study occurs on the Apulian Adriatic coast of Italy, characterized by a heterogenous coast with sheer cliffs and sandy beaches and showcases how the reuse of buoys can aid in the adaptation efforts of the Torre Guaceto nature reserve. The Torre Guaceto promontory has rich biodiversity and a unique coastal ecosystem. Climate change impacts on the Torre Guaceto Nature Reserve have caused the management team to think outside of the box regarding ecosystem monitoring. Viviana Piermattei, an oceanographer at CMCC, and her team have reused the buoy system at the nature reserve to monitor the effects of climate change on the marine and coastal ecosystems of the area. 

The Torre Guaceto reserve was originally built during Charles V to defend the coasts but has since become a nature reserve with an internationally protected marine area. Marine and coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to changes in their physical parameters, like temperature, salinity, and sea-level changes. The lush Posidonia meadows and coral formations of the Torre Guaceto are being affected by increasing temperatures, and the shoreline is slowly disappearing to sea-level rise caused by climate change.  

Methodology and Tools

The management and research team have created sensored buoy systems to facilitate the collection and use of oceanographic data. This data will be used to monitor the short- and long-term changes to the marine and coastal ecosystems of the reserve.  Not only is the data important for monitoring climate changes in the area, but it can also alert local authorities to any sudden environmental abnormalities. In an interview with Viviana Piermattei, she emphasized the importance of the data collection and how it will be significant in safeguarding the marine ecosystem of the Terre Guaceto reserve. 

Project Highlights

Re-using the buoy system at the Torre Guaceto nature reserve has proven to be an effective measure in climate monitoring and will greatly help the management of the reserve to implement effective climate change adaptation measures. The work of Viviana Piermattei and her team at CMCC show the importance of short- and long-term data monitoring in combatting climate change.