SOCIB hosts Erasmus+ Trainees in marine data processing

As the year draws to a close, we look back at some of the highlights and collaborations that marked 2024. One such example is the Erasmus+ traineeship of Athina Pantazi from the University of the Aegean (Mytilene, Greece), hosted by the Balearic Islands Coastal Observing and Forecasting System (ICTS SOCIB) earlier this year. Under the guidance of Nikolaos Zarokanellos, a research scientist at the SOCIB Glider Facility, Athina focused on processing, analyzing, and quality-controlling data and metadata from autonomous platforms, such as ocean gliders. Her traineeship, which concluded on June 1, 2024, highlights SOCIB's commitment to fostering international collaboration and developing future experts in marine sciences.

Focus on data processing and quality control

Athina’s project involved meticulous data cleaning, removing spikes and outliers, and performing corrections, such as adjusting chlorophyll offsets. She developed scripts to read, store, and merge variables from NetCDF files and to create visual representations like TS diagrams and vertical sections. Her work aimed to enhance the understanding of the Western Mediterranean Circulation, focusing particularly on the Ibiza and Mallorca Channels.

Athina gained extensive field experience through various activities, including a Glider Deployment and Mooring maintenance and a CANALES oceanographic field campaign involving multiple stations in the Mallorca and Ibiza Channels. Activities included sampling for chlorophyll-a, pH, and dissolved oxygen, deploying drifters and Argo floats, and sampling plastics with a manta trawl. Her hands-on work was crucial in understanding these regions' seasonal variability and environmental dynamics.

Academic and professional growth

Athina's Erasmus+ traineeship significantly boosted her academic career. It enhanced her critical thinking, creativity, and practical skills, which are highly valued by future employers. Furthermore, this experience improved her foreign language skills and strengthened connections between universities and research institutes.
Athina's experience at SOCIB highlights the exceptional learning environment the institution offers. She encourages other students to consider internships at SOCIB, emphasizing the supportive and comprehensive learning atmosphere that fosters significant experiences in marine science. Her journey exemplifies the invaluable opportunities SOCIB provides for aspiring marine scientists.