Robust ocean monitoring and forecasting
Developing robust ocean monitoring and forecasting systems calls for a broad range of research and development (R\;&\;D) activities to ensure that they operate on firm scientific and technical grounds. At least this is how the 'Marine environment and security for the European area' (Mersea) project approached the challenge back in 2004 when it started with EUR 14 million of EU funding in hand. The Mersea project tackled the full range of tasks, from ocean data collection, R\;&\;D and systems development to user products, applications and even outreach programmes. For example, on the data side, Mersea focused on improving the retrieval algorithms required to determine geophysical parameters, such as ice concentration and drift and levels of suspended matter. The FP6 integrate project included nearly 40 partners from all over Europe, among them the UK's MET Office, technology firms and leading academic centres. It was led by the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (Ifremer). The data and results they produce help shed light on a number of important changes taking place in and around the world's oceans, from seasonal weather forecasting to longer-term climate and ecosystems indicators (biogeochemical analyses). Its work also contributes to the EU's Inspire Directive for more informed environmental policy. Mersea put in place a network of monitoring and forecasting centres (MFCs) and thematic assembly centres (TACs). Today, the MFCs cover the global ocean and the main European seas (Arctic, North East Atlantic, Baltic and Mediterranean), while the TACs process the data from satellite remote sensing (sea ice, ocean colour, altimetry, and sea surface temperature), and from global networks in the field. At present, the centres offer these data as a standardised service to a range of end-users. The partners invested a lot of effort into upgrading the monitoring and forecasting centres using, for instance, better software models, and providing faster and more frequent analyses which boost overall performance. Maritime operators can use Mersea's ice drift forecasting, for example, to improve their ship routing, while the petroleum industry can use the data to predict oil spill drift. Where accurate ocean data is needed, systems like Mersea's are highly valued. Further research and development would help keep the systems up to date and in tune with the target users' potentially changing needs.
