A Marine Infonnation System for Ocean Predictions
43
The 'scientific monitoring' is different from the previous example, since it
involves more complex post-processing work for the purpose of identifying causes
of environmental changes and relationships among the physical, chemical and biological processes. This means that new hypothesis are tested, and complex models
are used for simulation and understanding of processes.
In general the monitoring for management addresses specific, limited objectives
and selected areas, parameters and/or indicators are sampled. The scientific assessment (research project) is usually regional or local in scope (UNESCO, 1997). In
the past twenty years monitoring has become also the method to obtain observations for operational oceanography. The monitoring activity for operational oceanography serves the acquisition of real time data to be used for assimilation into
forecast models and provides information with a short delay to interested
users.Thus operational oceanography introduces the concept of timelinees in the
data acquisition part ofthe data management system. In the following sections data
management is described for its usage in operational oceanographic systems.
3.4 Near-Real time data collection and management for
Operational Oceanography
Data and products requirements for an operational system vary from area to area
and the range oftime and space scales. These include seasonal climate analysis and
prediction, near-surface condition for the open sea (for transports, safety, fishery,
etc.), boundary conditions for regional and coastal forecast systems. The operational data are also the base for the assessment oflong-term variability.
Operational Oceanography requires quality-controlled data in near real time to
be used for (e.g.) forecasting and alert. The provision of data includes the following
steps:
• Data collection by automatic instruments
• Data control and sub-sampling
• Data transmission to collecting centre
• Quality check based on statistics
• Data dissemination for analysis, assimilation and forecast.
We concentrate here on in situ data sets leaving the problems of data management of satellite data to another section of this book. In situ data are necessary in
order to provide information on the internal structure of the ocean, such as temperature profiles, upper thermocline depth, etc. The main problems related to in situ
data collection are related to available technology and instrument suitability. Data
collection is a service that must be performed in an 'operational way', which means
that observing systems must assure data collection with regular timing and spacing
in a cost effective way. The instrumentation installed on board these operational
ships must assure the minimum use of personnel.
43
The 'scientific monitoring' is different from the previous example, since it
involves more complex post-processing work for the purpose of identifying causes
of environmental changes and relationships among the physical, chemical and biological processes. This means that new hypothesis are tested, and complex models
are used for simulation and understanding of processes.
In general the monitoring for management addresses specific, limited objectives
and selected areas, parameters and/or indicators are sampled. The scientific assessment (research project) is usually regional or local in scope (UNESCO, 1997). In
the past twenty years monitoring has become also the method to obtain observations for operational oceanography. The monitoring activity for operational oceanography serves the acquisition of real time data to be used for assimilation into
forecast models and provides information with a short delay to interested
users.Thus operational oceanography introduces the concept of timelinees in the
data acquisition part ofthe data management system. In the following sections data
management is described for its usage in operational oceanographic systems.
3.4 Near-Real time data collection and management for
Operational Oceanography
Data and products requirements for an operational system vary from area to area
and the range oftime and space scales. These include seasonal climate analysis and
prediction, near-surface condition for the open sea (for transports, safety, fishery,
etc.), boundary conditions for regional and coastal forecast systems. The operational data are also the base for the assessment oflong-term variability.
Operational Oceanography requires quality-controlled data in near real time to
be used for (e.g.) forecasting and alert. The provision of data includes the following
steps:
• Data collection by automatic instruments
• Data control and sub-sampling
• Data transmission to collecting centre
• Quality check based on statistics
• Data dissemination for analysis, assimilation and forecast.
We concentrate here on in situ data sets leaving the problems of data management of satellite data to another section of this book. In situ data are necessary in
order to provide information on the internal structure of the ocean, such as temperature profiles, upper thermocline depth, etc. The main problems related to in situ
data collection are related to available technology and instrument suitability. Data
collection is a service that must be performed in an 'operational way', which means
that observing systems must assure data collection with regular timing and spacing
in a cost effective way. The instrumentation installed on board these operational
ships must assure the minimum use of personnel.