The ABACUS 2026 project aims to address critical knowledge gaps, enhance monitoring capabilities, and increase awareness of the impacts of human activities and climate change on Mediterranean marine ecosystems, particularly in the Algerian Basin. This region features dynamic circulation patterns and mesoscale phenomena that influence the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the water column, impacting biodiversity and ecosystem health. Despite this, it remains underexplored due to the scarcity of high-resolution observational data. Since 2014, the ABACUS team has conducted glider-based surveys in the basin, improving our understanding of its dynamics. However, significant gaps remain, such as the impact of water properties variability on its ecosystems, the presence and typology of emerging pollutants, anthropogenic noise, and marine mammal activity.
To address these gaps, ABACUS 2026 will use the SOCIB Glider Facility in Mallorca and bring together an international and interdisciplinary team of scientists, early-career researchers, and PhD students.