The Nazare Canyon observatory (W Portugal) real-time monitoring of a large submarine canyon

In 2002 the Portuguese hydrographic office Institute Hidrografico (IHPT) started a program of monitoring of the largest submarine canyon of the European margin: Nazare Canyon. Since it incises a rather sensible continental margin, characterized by the presence of a protected area for marine life (Berlengas marine reserve), the proximity of important routes for maritime traffic and the existence of traditional fishery centers, efforts was conducted to the maintenance of a mooring array equipped with currentmeters/ADCP, which was complemented with multidisciplinary surveys conducted on a regular basis. Here we describe the more recent experience in the monitoring of Nazare Canyon, through Project MONICAN (MONItoring of the Nazare CANyon area), financed by the EEA Grants mechanism. The monitoring system integrates an array of two multiparametric platforms, one coastal meteorological station and two coastal tide gauge stations, all providing real time data transmission. The array of multi-parametric platforms is the central component of this system. Public dissemination of the data collected by the monitoring system is a key aspect of the MONICAN project. The real-time data can be freely accessed through a dedicated web portal. Innovative experiences are being conduct to validate the recent installed systems and test the capability of performing regular observation of the Nazare Canyon area, using low cost sensors on non-dedicated surveys and ships of opportunity. Further developments to take place in the very near future will reinforce the monitoring capacity installed by IHPT in this area.