In this report we present all activities realised during the oceanographic cruise named SICILY09, carried out from October 30th November 23rd 2009, on board the R/V URANIA in the central and western Mediterranean basins. CTD, SADCP, LADCP, marine microbic microbiology and baxo corers have been carried on for the following objectives: 1. Water masses characteristics and biological structures from the definition of the main paths of the circulation and the physicalchemical-biological properties (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, nutrients, chlorophyll, phytoplankton, primary production, etc) of the water upper, intermediate and deep central (Sicily Strait) and western (Tyrrhenian sea, Sardinia Channel) Mediterranean water masses. Check of the diffusion of the new deep waters found during a cruise in 2005 in the same areas; 2. Validation of numerical models by measurements used to validate four numerical circulation models implemented at IAMC-CNR in Oristano (SCRM32, SCRM48, WMRM, BONIFACIO/LA MADDALENA) and at ISMAR-CNR in La Spezia (box model); 3. Methodological developments • Measurements of velocity profiles by Lowered ADCP; • Periodical maintenance of currentmeters moored in the Sicily Strait and Corsica Channel; • Comparison of different methods for the quantification of Chlorophyll and calibration of the fluorometer coupled with the multiparametric probe through several photochemical techniques
