Observation, Analysis and Modelling of the Mediterranean Sea(OMMS).The main objective is to consolidate a system of observation of the Mediterranean Sea through the real-time measurement of a number of meteorological and oceanographic magnitudes with a moored buoy, complemented by periodic visits with a research vessel to the mooring site and assimilation of the observations obtained in order to carry out the systematic forecasting of sea conditions in the NW Mediterranean Sea.Six-monthly visits from the R/V Garcia del Cid will be performed at the mooring site and at a grid covering parts of the Catalan Sea. On-deck inspection and maintenance of the instrumentation on the buoy will be carried out. The system was equipped with: a. Positional (GPS, ARGOS transmitter) and meteorological sensors (radiation, wind direction and speed -2 units-, air temperature -2 units-, relative humidity and air pressure). b. Sea surface sensor (temperature, salinity) and ADCP downward looking current meter. c. Underwater sensors -2 units- (depth, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, fluorescence, turbidity, photosynthetic active radiation –PAR-). d. Data logging (Campbell Scientific) and system control. e. transmitting (two-way GSM modem connection) to the shore The proposed research project also aims at consolidating an observational system based on the CEAB multiparametric buoy, equipped with meteorological and oceanographic sensors for real time measurement and transmission to shore of the atmospheric and marine conditions. The buoy will be moored from the B/O García del Cid at a fixed point in the catalan coast, at the head of the Blanes canyon. Automatic observations will be complemented by a series of visits with the CEAB boat to the station where the buoy is moored in order to gather water and plankton samples. At the same time, the present procedure will be improved for the acquisition of water color data (chlorophyll, yellow substance, suspended particles) obtained by the MERIS sensor on board ESA’s ENVISAT satellite. These data offer two levels: 1) real time high spacial resolution files for the western Mediterranean Sea (Levels 1 and 2); and 2) global low to medium spacial resolution (Level 3). The data, together with other historical data also available, will constitute the project database with public access installed in the CEAB server. Limited access will be granted to users in general and, under request, to those with justified scientific or educational interests. A protocol for quality control of the data will be established and followed by statistical analysis in order to provide the models with a sound observational base for their calibration and validation

OAMMS-3 Cruise (29GD20100301) carried out on the Research Vessel García del Cid in 2010