450
YVES DESAUBIES
operational and global in their coverage, and issue weather forecasts
regularly. NWS are also responsible for observations, analysis and forecasts
in marine meteorology (wave forecasts, sea-ice conditions, storm surges),
and marine safety (oil spills and drifting objects, search and rescue). Global
ocean analyses and forecasts are also produced by some NWS for seasonal
or climate applications, or in support of naval operations.
However, improvements in the ocean components of those systems are
necessary and feasible. Progresses in high resolution numerical ocean
modeling and data assimilation techniques, together with the availability of
global data sets, allow more accurate representation of the three dimensional
currents distribution –in contrast to many models that consider only the
wind-driven component, for instance. Such advances have been
implemented in several global systems, described in this volume. In
particular, the FOAM, MERCATOR, and Mediterranean Forecasting systems
are key components of MERSEA, complemented by major regional alliances
around the North-West European shelves, the Baltic and North seas, and the
Arctic and northern basins.
Specific ocean analysis and forecasting systems are needed to extend the
range of services presently provided by NWS –and to improve them –as well
as to respond to increased demand in several sectors, most notably ocean
research, global ocean climate monitoring, ecosystem modelling, support for
commercial applications in the offshore industry and maritime transport, or
coastal management. These fields of application are the motivation for
several international programmes, e.g. GODAE, or the Global Ocean
Observing System (GOOS) and its regional alliances.
The four year MERSEA project started in April 2004, with the goal to
deliver a working pan-European ocean system by early 2008. Some thirty
eight agencies, institutes or universities in sixteen countries collaborate on
the research and development effort.
Development of operational oceanography in Europe has been conducted
under national programmes or research projects funded by the EU or the
ESA. Consequently, there is a wide range of practices, formats, technical
development, or institutional implementation. Some systems are fully
operational, others are research projects, while some regions are not covered.
It is one of the objectives of MERSEA to pool resources for the development
of a high resolution system, to integrate regional systems by implementing
standards and promoting best practices, and to fully validate the systems.
A preliminary project, MERSEA Strand 1, was conducted from January
2003 to June 2004, with participation of most of the partners of the present
project. The objective was to assess the strengths and weaknesses of present
systems, to conduct selected demonstrations (ecosystem modelling, and oil
spill drift predictions), and to report on the lessons learned and make
recommendations for future progress. The chapter by L. Crosnier and C. Le
Provost in this volume describes one aspect of the project. It has proven
YVES DESAUBIES
operational and global in their coverage, and issue weather forecasts
regularly. NWS are also responsible for observations, analysis and forecasts
in marine meteorology (wave forecasts, sea-ice conditions, storm surges),
and marine safety (oil spills and drifting objects, search and rescue). Global
ocean analyses and forecasts are also produced by some NWS for seasonal
or climate applications, or in support of naval operations.
However, improvements in the ocean components of those systems are
necessary and feasible. Progresses in high resolution numerical ocean
modeling and data assimilation techniques, together with the availability of
global data sets, allow more accurate representation of the three dimensional
currents distribution –in contrast to many models that consider only the
wind-driven component, for instance. Such advances have been
implemented in several global systems, described in this volume. In
particular, the FOAM, MERCATOR, and Mediterranean Forecasting systems
are key components of MERSEA, complemented by major regional alliances
around the North-West European shelves, the Baltic and North seas, and the
Arctic and northern basins.
Specific ocean analysis and forecasting systems are needed to extend the
range of services presently provided by NWS –and to improve them –as well
as to respond to increased demand in several sectors, most notably ocean
research, global ocean climate monitoring, ecosystem modelling, support for
commercial applications in the offshore industry and maritime transport, or
coastal management. These fields of application are the motivation for
several international programmes, e.g. GODAE, or the Global Ocean
Observing System (GOOS) and its regional alliances.
The four year MERSEA project started in April 2004, with the goal to
deliver a working pan-European ocean system by early 2008. Some thirty
eight agencies, institutes or universities in sixteen countries collaborate on
the research and development effort.
Development of operational oceanography in Europe has been conducted
under national programmes or research projects funded by the EU or the
ESA. Consequently, there is a wide range of practices, formats, technical
development, or institutional implementation. Some systems are fully
operational, others are research projects, while some regions are not covered.
It is one of the objectives of MERSEA to pool resources for the development
of a high resolution system, to integrate regional systems by implementing
standards and promoting best practices, and to fully validate the systems.
A preliminary project, MERSEA Strand 1, was conducted from January
2003 to June 2004, with participation of most of the partners of the present
project. The objective was to assess the strengths and weaknesses of present
systems, to conduct selected demonstrations (ecosystem modelling, and oil
spill drift predictions), and to report on the lessons learned and make
recommendations for future progress. The chapter by L. Crosnier and C. Le
Provost in this volume describes one aspect of the project. It has proven