The following projects have investigated the marine domain over the past years. Other examples of projects can be found in the project database available on this website.
MERSEA
The FP6 project MERSEA developed a European system for operational monitoring and forecasting on global and regional scales of the ocean physics, biogeochemistry and ecosystems.
The system consists of an operational network that systematically acquires data (earth observation from satellites, in situ from ocean observing networks, and surface forcing fields from numerical weather prediction agencies). These data from diverse sources are combined and merged with numerical ocean circulation models (i.e. assimilated) to produce best estimates of the actual state of the ocean (nowcasts) and forecasts.
The MERSEA project includes a global ocean system as well as 4 regional components addressing the following areas: Artic ocean, Baltic sea, Mediterranean sea and North-East Atlantic.
For more information, please visit the MERSEA website
ECOOP
The overall goal of ECOOP was to consolidate, integrate and further develop existing European coastal and regional seas operational observing and forecasting systems into an integrated pan-European system targeted at detecting environmental and climate changes, predicting their evolution, producing timely and quality assured forecasts, providing marine information services (including data, information products, knowledge and scientific advices) and facilitate decision support needs.
ECOOP tuned the products made available by MERSEA in order to address a variety of applications in European coastal seas such as:
- Ecosystem models
- Harmful Algal Bloom warning systems
- Oil spill and contaminant dispersion and forecast studies
- Maritime ship routing applications
ECOOP has been funded by the European Commission.
For more information, please visit the ECOOP website
Polar View
Polar View is an earth observation programme focused on both the Arctic and the Antarctic.
Polar View offers integrated monitoring and forecasting services in the Polar Regions, as well as mid-latitude areas affected by ice and snow. Polar View utilizes satellite earth observation data from multiple satellites, in combination with ground truth and numerous sophisticated models and automatic tools, to deliver products that accurately illustrate the characteristics of the ice and snow on any given day.
The services delivered by Polar View take the form of enhanced sea ice information (charts and forecasts) as well as ice-edge and iceberg monitoring data. Polar View also provide monitoring services for lake and river ice, snow cover maps and glacier monitoring and assessment. Many services are delivered in near real time and are readily accessible via the Internet.
Polar View has been supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission with participation from the Canadian Space Agency.
For more information, please visit the Polar View website
MarCoast
MarCoast (Marine & Coastal Environmental Information Services) delivers satellite-based services in the field of marine and coastal applications.
The project, which addresses the domains of oil spill monitoring and water quality assessment in coastal areas, proposes the following services:
- Oil spill alert & polluter identification
- Oil spill drift forecast
- Water quality monitoring
- Algal Bloom detection and alert
- Water quality indicators
- Met-Ocean data
MarCoast has been initiated and funded by the European Space Agency.
For more information, please visit the MarCoast website
GlobColour
The GlobColour service distributes global data sets of chlorophyll concentration, water leaving radiances, diffuse attenuation coefficient, coloured dissolved and detrital organic materials, total suspended matter or particulate backscattering coefficient, turbidity index, cloud fraction, quality indicators.
The global Earth domain is covered with focus on local Diagnostic Data Sets areas for qualification and validation purpose.
GlobColour has been initiated and funded by the European Space Agency.
For more information, please visit the GlobColour website