Expanding Europe’s ocean observing and forecasting capacity: SOCIB at the 9th EuroGOOS International Conference

According to EuroGOOs, in recent years, significant developments have been taking place in oceanography, particularly in the enhanced networking and cooperation in ocean observing, modeling, data management, and ocean services to society. 2021 has marked the beginning of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). In this context, the 9th EuroGOOS International Conference held online from 3 to 5 May, has provided a forum of interaction between marine scientists and technologists developing operational oceanography products, including the Balearic Island Coastal Observing and Forecasting System (SOCIB), and the users of these services, including decision and policy-makers as well as the private sector, from all around Europe.

The three-day virtual meeting has reviewed the present status of ocean monitoring and forecasting capacities including relevant services and tools, and identified new science and technology priorities. Furthermore, it has facilitated dialogue, experience sharing, and future planning with international partners and stakeholders towards a more coordinated response to global challenges and societal needs related to seas and the global ocean.

Among the participants, researchers from SOCIB and the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies - IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB) have taken part in the conference, in the framework of the Horizon 2020 EuroSea and JERICO-S3 projects, by presenting the “Sub-regional Mediterranean Sea Indicators” tool. This tool, recently described in a paper published in Frontiers in Marine Science, provides continuous information about the sub-regional ocean state and variability from daily (events) to interannual/decadal (climate) scales via user-friendly diagnostics (2D map and time series). SOCIB and IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB) researchers have also presented coastal ocean forecasting advances and recent applications of the Western Mediterranean Operational modelling system (WMOP). In addition, researchers have held a presentation about ocean gliders, a key element to understanding physical and biochemical processes and long-term variability in the Mediterranean Sea. Moreover, together with the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO), researchers have presented “Heat waves and fisheries management, practical integration of operational oceanography into the management of tunas”.

Furthermore, SOCIB and Puertos del Estado have led the presentation of the “Mediterranean High-Frequency radar (HFR) network: regional coordinated efforts meeting end users and science-driven requirements”, in the framework of the Mediterranean Operational Network for the Global Ocean Observing System (MONGOOS), aligned with the roadmap and strategy defined by the EuroGOOS HFR Task Team. In addition, SOCIB has contributed to the session about the “EuroGOOS HFR Task Team: a success story of collaboration. To be kept alive and made growing”, led by CNR-ISMAR; as well as to the presentation “Building a reliable and standardized long-term data set of surface coastal ocean currents from the European HF radars”, led by AZTI.

About EuroGOOS

EuroGOOS is an association of national governmental agencies, research organizations, and private companies, committed to oceanography within the context of the intergovernmental Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). EuroGOOS is one of the UNESCO-IOC Global Ocean Observing System regions and is currently Chair of the GOOS Regional Alliances Forum. Founded in 1994, EuroGOOS has today 44 members from 18 European countries, including SOCIB, providing operational oceanographic services and carrying out marine research. EuroGOOS goals are to identify strategies, cooperate, co-produce, and promote the operational oceanography value for society.

References

  • Juza, M. and Tintoré, J., 2021. The subregional Mediterranean Sea indicators tool in support of the sustainable management of the oceans. Ninth International Conference of EuroGOOS, 3-5 May, virtual. Poster presentation.
  • Mourre B., A. Santana, J. Hernández-Lasheras, E. Aguiar, M. García Jove, E. Cutolo., A. Révelard, E. Reyes, L. F. Ruiz-Orejón, N. Zarokanellos and J. Tintoré. Coastal ocean forecasting advances and recent applications of the Western Mediterranean Operational modelling system. Ninth International Conference of EuroGOOS, 3-5 May, virtual. Oral presentation.
  • Zarokanellos N., Miralles A., Rubio M., Llorens M., Casas B. and Tintore J., 2021 Ocean gliders a key element to understand physical and biochemical processes & long-term variability in the Mediterranean. Ninth International Conference of EuroGOOS, 3-5 May, virtual. Poster presentation.
  • Alvarez-Berastegui D., P. Reglero, P. Tugores, M. Juza, X. Alemany, M. Martín-Quetglas, R. Balbín, D. Ottmann, P. Rotllán, B. Frontera, B. Mourre and J. Tintoré, 2021. Heat waves and fisheries management, practical integration of operational oceanography into the management of tunas. Ninth International Conference of EuroGOOS, 3-5 May, virtual. Oral presentation.
  • Reyes, E., Lorente., P et al., 2021. Mediterranean High-Frequency radar network: regional coordinated efforts meeting end users and science-driven requirements. Ninth International Conference of EuroGOOS, 3-5 May, virtual. Oral presentation.
  • Corgnati, L., Mantovani, C., Rubio, A., Reyes, E., Rotllán, P., Novellino, A., Gorringe, P., Solabarrieta, L., Griffa, A., Mader, J., 2021. The EuroGOOS High Frequency Radar Task Team: a success story of collaboration. To be kept alive and made growing. Ninth International Conference of EuroGOOS, 3-5 May, virtual. Oral presentation.
  • Rubio, A., Solabarrieta, L., Corgnati, L., Mantovani, C., Reyes, E., Rotllán, P., Novellino, A., Griffa, A., Mader, J. 2021. Building a reliable and standardized long-term data set of surface coastal ocean currents from the European HF radars. Ninth International Conference of EuroGOOS, 3-5 May, virtual. Oral presentation.