From the Satellite to the Model
Whether measuring marine pollutants or monitoring changes in currents, the European project “My Ocean” has the oceans of the world in its focus. In the recently initiated second phase of the project , “My Ocean 2”, Prof. Dr. Emil Stanev and his colleagues in the Institute of Coastal Research at the Helmholtz Centre in Geesthacht are advancing the development of computer models and thereby improving the ability to monitor and forecast the state of the marine environment.
My Ocean 2 Kickoff Meeting
Objective of the project “My Ocean”: The establishment of an integrated monitoring service for the oceans of the world. The freely available online service provides measurement data and forecasts from computer models.
This provision of information concerning water levels, currents, nutrients or sea ice coverage is intended for the use of shipping navigation, the fishing industry or coastal protection measures, for example.
Over 40 of the European ocean monitoring and forecast systems currently in existence have been coordinated within “My Ocean” to form a common system and thus facilitate access to data and other information.
Improving Forecasts
The latest measurement data and computer models are being combined in order to assess the state of the seas and to make forecasts. Emil Stanev and his colleagues from the department of “Data Analysis and Data Assimilation” at the Institute of Coastal Research are experts in this field.
Within the scope of the second project phase, “My Ocean 2”, the scientists are integrating observation data such as, for example, satellite data regarding the extent of sea ice coverage or radar measurements of currents, into the computer model NEMO. In the first step, the dependency of currents and waves will be calculated in the model. In future, however, NEMO will also calculate sea ice coverage and biogeochemical components such as nutrient content or sediment transport.
It is expected that the expertise of the coastal researchers in “My Ocean” will scientifically advance and improve the previous forecast service overall, as the knowledge gained from further development of NEMO can also be applied in other areas.
Background
Since the 01 April 2012, “My Ocean” has been continued in a second project stage, within the scope of the European initiative GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security). The project is being financed by the European Commission and Member States.
The data is freely available via a web portal in a catalogue which contains more than 250 products and is continuously updated. As from the end of 2014, the operation of the online portal is to be continued in the ECOMF (European Centre for Ocean Monitoring and Forecasting).
Further Information
To the online service “My Ocean” To the department “Data Analysis and Data Assimilation” at the Institute of Coastal Research
Contact
Institut for Coastal Research
Phone: +49 4152 87-1597
E-mail contactMax-Planck-Straße 1
21502 Geesthacht