In the framework of the series of exchange visits within the ALTICORE project, a field mission was planned to install a pilot sea level monitoring station at Port Absheron, Baku, Azerbaijan during 8-13 June 2008.  

The intention of this technical mission was (1) to deploy a bottom pressure owned by LEGOS at the site identified during a previous inspection visit; (2) to perform a geodetic levelling campaign, including GPS measurements at land and sea. It is expected that we will be able (1) to collect an accurate record of in situ sea level measurements at high temporal resolution; (2) to assess the impact of local conditions in terms of weather and morphology; (3) to decide if the site is good candidate for installation of a permanent calibration/validation (cal/val) site for satellite altimetry. 

The location offers safe and good protection from harsh conditions for the measuring equipment with the possibility of data logging and transmission system to be housed somewhere. In addition, a sea level gauge in Absheron could also provide useful measurements to the local Port authority. The pilot installation will enable us to determine if the site is an optimal location for a permanent cal/val station.    

Amir Alyev will also install a new air pressure sensor at Pirallah Island (few kilometres offshore sea level station site) collecting hourly data, an important additional parameter that will permit us to better interpret the effects of atmospheric effects on sea level measurements. Thanks to Amir, the delegates also visited the Marine Hydrometeorology Centre of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Republic, where it was showed the current practices in collecting and processing the metocean data in the Caspian region.  

A synthesis of notes and pictures compiled from the participants are collated in a report restricted to parties involved in this technical mission and members of the ALTICORE project. An abstract of this report will be published in the Caspian Sea Bulletin (editor: Prof. Igor Zonn), a monthly publication aiming to illustrate to the stakeholders of the riparian countries the most important outcomes of scientific activities in the region.

Here some photos during the exchange visit (click above to view real size) 

The team: from left to right, Laurent Testut, Stefano Vignudelli, Ramiz Mamedov, Michel Calzas

The bottom pressure instrument, equipped with temperature and conductivity sensors as well

While deploying the instrument on the sea bottom 

GPS buoy at sea.

The air pressure sensor manufactured in Russia installed at Pirallah Island

The hydro-meteorological station owned by Azerbaijan government at Pirallah Island

Meeting at Marine Hydrometeorology Centre of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Republic