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marine.copernicus.eu

mercator-ocean.eu

General Assembly May 20-22 2019

Meeting Report

Copernicus Marine

Service

2 Copernicus Marine Service General Assembly

SOMMAIRE

INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 3

DAY 1 SUMMARY ....................................................................................................... 4

1) Introduction and CMEMS overview ...................................................................... 4

2) Day 1 round Table – CMEMS and Copernicus Services and EMODnet ............. 6

DAY 2 SUMMARY ....................................................................................................... 9

1) CMEMS main achievements, evolution and impact on applications and users 9

a) Blue Session .............................................................................................................. 9

b) White Session .......................................................................................................... 10

c) Green Session ......................................................................................................... 11

2) Day 2 round table - CMEMS producers and users: discussion and feedback 13

DAY 3 SUMMARY ..................................................................................................... 15

1) Impact of observations on CMEMS products and applications ..................... 15

2) Future of CMEMS ............................................................................................... 16

3) Day 3 final round table – CMEMS and the future ............................................ 19

ANNEX : AGENDA .................................................................................................... 23


Introduction

The Copernicus Marine Service (CMEMS) General Assembly was organized in Brussels

from May 20 to May 22, 2019. The General Assembly was very valuable to gather all

CMEMS contractors (producers, users, R&D and service evolution), share results on main

achievements and discuss future evolutions of the Copernicus Marine Service. About 200

participants joined the meeting. The General Assembly was structured into a series of

sessions (see agenda in annex) and three round tables. A summary of the different sessions

is given below. All presentations given during the meeting are available at the following link.

Photos are also available here.

https://atlas.mercator-ocean.fr/s/3GmczTwbj2ArCrE?path=%2FCMEMS_GA_presentations_plenary_session

http://marine.copernicus.eu/copernicus-marine-general-assembly-summary/


DAY 1 Summary

1) Introduction and CMEMS overview

Pierre-Yves Le Traon (Mercator Ocean International) opened the meeting and explained its

objectives and organization. He then leaved the floor to Kamil Kiljanski, Head of Unit

“Space Data for Societal Challenges and Growth” unit at EC DG GROW. Kamil Kiljanski

emphasized the excellent achievements and recognition of the Copernicus Marine

Service. A key aspect of the service is that it answers both commercial needs and the need to

better understand the Earth system. This is the essence of the blue economy. He positively

noted the development of the interaction with the other Copernicus services and the

cooperation with the DIAS component.

Kamil Kiljanski, Head of Unit “Space Data for Societal Challenges and Growth” unit at EC DG

GROW

Pierre Bahurel (Mercator Ocean International) gave then highlights of the Copernicus Marine

Service, which is in its 5th year of implementation. The Copernicus Marine Service is doing

very well with a very good performance in service availability, product quality and user

satisfaction, and which is maintained including a constant growth in user uptake, and

regular updates of the service offer.

CMEMS products and services were detailed by Dominique Obaton (Mercator Ocean

International). Marie Drevillon (Mercator Ocean International) summarized the activities

carried out to monitor and inform users on the CMEMS product quality. Laurence Crosnier

and Anne Delamarche (Mercator Ocean International) gave a presentation about the ongoing

marketing activities in order to strengthen user uptake along with the process in place to

gather user feedback in order to influence the service evolution. Lorinc Meszaros

(DELTARES) gave the perspective of Deltares as a Copernicus Marine Service Champion


user (see here: http://marine.copernicus.eu/markets/champion-user-group-copernicus-

marine/). CMEMS provides essential services not only to business but also for research and

development activities. CMEMS provides excellent data products and services that are

important for international development of European downstream service providers.

Karina von Schuckmann (Mercator Ocean International) presented the Copernicus Marine

Service Ocean State Report and Ocean Monitoring Indicators as part of the added value

chain going from data to information and assessment. Peered review of marine information is

issued each year for the blue, white and green ocean. Ocean heat content, sea level, ocean

acidification and sea ice monitoring indicators are already implemented in the CMEMS

catalogue; as the next step the catalogue will include among other ocean circulation, ocean

health (e.g. ocean deoxygenation) and ocean climate variability monitoring (see

http://marine.copernicus.eu/science-learning/ocean-state-report/ and

http://marine.copernicus.eu/science-learning/ocean-monitoring-indicators/ ).

Monika Peterlin (EEA) explained how EEA is a user of the report and indicators for their

water and marine environment activities in the frame of EU policies. Eleven EEA

indicators and assessments were published in 2018/2019, 7 are planned for 2019/2020 and

among them 5 climate indicators will use CMEMS products. These are reduced oxygen

content, ocean acidification, ocean heat content, sea surface temperature and Arctic and

Baltic Sea ice.

Fabrice Messal (Mercator Ocean International) introduced the user training activities

designed to foster CMEMS products use and to collect user requirements. Already 11 EU

Members States have benefited from workshops which concerned 1500 attendees with more

than 5000 visitors of the lecturer talks and tutorials available online. 2019 training calendar

includes 6 regional workshops of different European seas and 5 other events with various

thematic areas.

Edmée Durand (Mercator Ocean International) explained the general objectives of the user

uptake program which is to expand CMEMS to new communities and to increase CMEMS

user loyalty and visibility, to facilitate the access and the use of products and to promote the

development of downstream services demonstrations in all Member States. Up to now 39

demonstrations of operational services have been developed or are under development

covering the 7 CMEMS geographical areas and CMEMS different markets. 48 different

organisations are involved in this program, 63% for the private sector (see

http://marine.copernicus.eu/markets/use-case-demos/).

Angélique Melet (Mercator Ocean International) presented the overall objectives of the

service evolution program: to ensure CMEMS remains state-of-the-art, leading and

innovative by continuously improving its offer. 30 projects were or have been developed. Five

themes are covered: ocean circulation, interface with coastal ocean, cross-cutting

developments, biogeochemistry & ecosystems and climate & indicators. Completed projects

have allowed improving CMEMS with the addition of new products in the catalogue, an

upgrade of the systems, an analysis of the products and a better understanding of ocean

dynamics. New and ongoing ones prepare the next generation of products for the blue, white

and green ocean and include activities on data assimilation and validation, interfaces with

coastal ocean and regional climate projections (see http://marine.copernicus.eu/science-

learning/service-evolution/rd-projects-funded-cmems/ ).

http://marine.copernicus.eu/markets/champion-user-group-copernicus-marine/

http://marine.copernicus.eu/markets/champion-user-group-copernicus-marine/

http://marine.copernicus.eu/science-learning/ocean-state-report/

http://marine.copernicus.eu/science-learning/ocean-monitoring-indicators/

http://marine.copernicus.eu/markets/use-case-demos/

http://marine.copernicus.eu/science-learning/service-evolution/rd-projects-funded-cmems/

http://marine.copernicus.eu/science-learning/service-evolution/rd-projects-funded-cmems/


2) Day 1 round Table – CMEMS and Copernicus Services

and EMODnet

Closing the day 1, a round table entitled “CMEMS, Copernicus services and EMODnet:

collaboration and interaction” took place, where representatives of the Copernicus Services,

of EC DG GROW, EC DG MARE and EMODnet participated. Pierre-Yves Le Traon (Mercator

Ocean International) introduced the topic with a short overview of the on-going collaborations

between the Marine Service and the other services of the Copernicus program as well as with

EMODnet. Each of the participants had the opportunity to elaborate on the collaborations and

looking ahead for further collaboration.

Day 1 round table participants

⮚ Question 1: Status of interactions between your Copernicus service / EMODnet and

the Copernicus Marine Service

Hans Dufourmont (EEA – CLMS) after a brief introduction to the Copernicus Land

Monitoring Service (CLMS) highlighted the areas of convergence mostly around the Local

Component and the coastal area, especially following the publication of the Copernicus

Coastal Roadmap. The Coastal roadmap is from a CLMS perspective mainly based on VHR

imagery and other Land products like Urban Atlas, Riparian Zone and other. A Coastal LC/LU

project just kicked off during the CMEMS GA.

Jean-Noël Thepaut (ECMWF– C3S) presented the Copernicus Climate Change Service

(C3S) and its transversal nature, bringing the service in a natural position for collaboration with

the other Copernicus Services, benefiting of what is already produced. Specifically, the OMIs

(sea ice and sea level) are good examples as the indicators – fully developed under CMEMS –

are then used by the C3S service ensuring as well consistency of the messages. Another

interesting example is the State of the Climate produced by C3S and the Ocean State Report


produced by CMEMS: while the first one is fast-track the second is peered review so that both

are complementary.

Evaldas Kristopaitis (FRONTEX – CSS) introduced the audience with the mission of the

border surveillance service strongly linked with EUROSUR and mostly based on EO data.

The strongest interactions with CMEMS are around Met-Ocean conditions, for example

locating vessels which stop sending positions and using CMEMS currents as input for

detection.

Iain Shepherd (EC – DG MARE) insisted on the relevance and importance of In Situ data to

complement EO data; Jan-Bart Calewaert (EMODnet secretariat) stressed the several layers

of collaboration between the two marine data and information providers being at technical,

secretariat, EC Directorate-General level. As a concrete example: a hackathon will be

organized by EMODnet in September 2019 with the support of CMEMS and ICES data and

experts.

Closing the first round of interaction, Fabienne Jacq (EC – DG GROW) recalled the

importance of cooperation between services in order to avoid duplication, enhance

synergies and reach the full benefit of the program.

⮚ Question from the audience: what is the place of the local communities for Coastal

services?

Hans Dufourmont (CLMS) stressed the importance of Local Actors as fundamental for coastal

areas both at strategic and implementation level. This is one of the reasons why they hold a

special role in the latest Invitation to Tender for CLMS coastal services.

⮚ Question from the audience: How to best advertise the fruitful collaboration?

Overall the participants of the round table agree that a better and more structured

communication should benefit everyone: from providers to users. Also it was suggested to

have common set of slides which can present the full EU capabilities – especially when it

comes to EMODNet and CMEMS being very much complementary.

⮚ Question 2: Perspectives for the development of interactions between your

Copernicus service / EMODnet and the Copernicus Marine Service

10% of land mass is in contact with sea (coastal zone): this is a unique and vulnerable

ecosystem. Coastlines are also attractive to mankind and urban sprawl but they represent

threats from humankind on coastal ecosystems. In the future, from a CLMS point of view, it is

important to understand and characterize the coastal zone and ecosystem and threats,

interactions of land and sea in coastal zone in order to address them.

The C3S and CMEMS will work closely in order to have a common presentation of the

activities, cross references for communication, reporting, homogenous techniques etc. An

important point of collaboration could be the integration of C3S needs in the CMEMS

production and vice versa.

From FRONTEX point of view, the cooperation with CMEMS will be naturally reinforced in the

year to come. FRONTEX would be interested in adding other CMEMS data as input to their

product lines given the accuracy and quality of the dataset is improved.


From an EC DG MARE perspective, it would be beneficial for the community to integrate “fish-

related data, namely Common Fishery Policy CFP” in the EMODnet and CMEMS

catalogue in order to get closer to the fishery community to support sustainable best practice.

At a more service level, a lot has been done in the last years in terms of cooperation between

CMEMS and EMODnet and the communication should be reinforced.

Looking ahead – especially looking at the next budget/financial period, Fabienne Jacq (EC –

DG GROW) emphasized how ensuring continuity is the first priority of the entire program,

and if possible extend them. Strong focus will be put in matching policy and products: for

instance decarbonisation is a priority. Besides existing needs, the program will address

more and more cross cutting aspects like for instance Energy, Arctic and Coastal Zone.

Building on partnership will also be the main driver for the next budget period, fine tuning

synergies, avoiding duplication and expand support beyond the usual user communities. Last

but not least, future technologies and innovation will need to be studied and addressed

carefully: from Artificial Intelligence to Cloud Computing (DIAS).


DAY 2 Summary

1) CMEMS main achievements, evolution and impact on

applications and users

a) Blue Session

The Blue Ocean session presented the main achievements and evolution of the products

and services delivered by CMEMS Monitoring and Forecasting Centers (MFCs) and Thematic

Assembly Centers (TACs) for the physical parameters such as currents, temperature,

salinity, sea level and waves.

The seven Monitoring and Forecasting Centers (MFCs) deliver reanalyses and forecasts on

the global ocean and the six regional seas. Over the last 3 years, all the operated

modelling systems have largely evolved towards an increased horizontal resolution, the

implementation of new model parameterizations, the development of new product components

and the generalization of surface and profile data assimilation. The MFC’s also operate wave

model systems in analysis and forecast mode as well as in re-analysis mode. Most of

the systems take into account interactions between waves and currents and two of them

already assimilate satellite wave observations - an active R&D topic for the other MFC’s. The

short term developments at the MFCs’ level include an increased level of coupling between

the physical, biogeochemical and the wave model systems and the production of a high

quality homogeneous reanalysis with the current version of the model systems used in

forecast mode.

Marina Tonani, NWS MFC leader, UK Metoffice, UK


The in situ Thematic Assembly Centre aggregates in-situ observations collected by 37000+

platforms (7000+ in near real time) from 300+ providers and applies to consistent a consistent

quality control in order to supply MFC’s and downstream users with near-real-time products

suitable for model assimilation and with re-processed multi-years products suitable for model

validation or assimilation in ocean reanalysis and climate studies. Regularly enlarged to new

data types, sources and platforms, the in-situ TAC products catalogue currently includes

temperature and salinity, currents, sea level, waves, oxygen, chlorophyll a, nutrients and

carbon.

The satellite Thematic Assembly Centres (TACs) provide MFC’s and downstream users with

near-real time and reprocessed products of the wind stress, waves (significant wave-height

and waves spectra), sea level and sea surface temperature. They deliver multi-missions,

cross-calibrated global and regional products. Together with the ingestion of Earth

Observation data from more than 60 European, American, Chinese and Indian missions, the

progressive ingestion of the Sentinels data since 2017 have significantly improved the

TAC products quality. For instance, since April 2019, Sentinels 3A & B contribute to more

than 50% of the mesoscale restitution of the sea level gridded products.

A new multi-obs Thematic Assembly Centre started to be operated in 2018. It provides

users with Global Ocean multi-observation products based on observations (satellite & in-situ)

and data fusion techniques. The product catalogue delivered by the multi-obs TAC includes:

sea surface salinity, density and current as well as 3D temperature, salinity,

geostrophic velocities and mixed layer depth. Closer to the observation, the products

delivered by the multi-obs TAC should be considered as complementary to the model products

delivered by the MFCs.

All the Blue Ocean MFCs and TACs contribute to the CMEMS Ocean State Report and to the

CMEMS Ocean Monitoring Indicators.

Finally, two users presented how relevant and important are CMEMS products in their

respective applications.

b) White Session

This session was dedicated to the White ocean with presentations of the main achievements

in Arctic, Antarctic and Baltic Sea for the sea ice systems and products developed and

disseminated in the TACs, MFCs and in service evolution projects during the CMEMS period.

The user point of view was illustrated through operational downstream services.

CMEMS already provides sea ice observations thanks to several TACs based on in-situ and

satellite observations in the Arctic, Antarctic and Baltic sea as sea ice concentration, ice

edge extent, ice thickness, ice drift, ice types but also complementary observations as

temperature, salinity, sea level and more recently icebergs. The Arctic, Global and Baltic

MFCs provides reanalysis, analysis and forecast for the white ocean, assimilation of sea ice

observations in the models has improved analysis and forecast and next generation of sea

ice models are under development and will provide higher resolution products and better

representation of the sea ice physics. Interaction with other component as the waves and

the biogeochemistry under sea ice are the next step in the development phases. Evolution


and trend of sea ice extent are monitored thanks to the available products (combining model

and observations) and these indicators have been published in the Ocean State Report.

Extreme events such as the extreme low sea ice cover anomalies in 2016 in the Arctic Ocean

or the polynya formation in the Weddell Sea have also been recently published.

Needs for ship routing and for helping northern communities in Arctic is really important

and should be based on a long list of useful information and variables but also on an efficient

interface to access this information. Applications have been developed and provide

information on Ice imagery, ice drift forecasts even with a low bandwidth connection.

Lasse Rabenstein, CEO Drift+Noise, Bremen, Germany; CMEMS user.

c) Green Session

This session summarized the ‘Green Ocean’ activities of the Copernicus Marine Service and

the main achievement as per the release of biogeochemical products like surface carbon

and 3D nutrients, Particulate Organic Carbon (POC) and Chl-a products and pH,

Alkalinity, fugacity and pCO2, nutrients, bio-optical proxy for POC in satellite data from

Ocean Colour. An overview of the current and future satellite missions was also given. The

operational products are the result of the consolidation of knowledge and efforts carried out in

the previous missions and processing developments. Improvements in Chl-a products in

shelf and coastal areas, as well as increased resolution in European seas, or the release of

new products for Phytoplankton Functional Types (PFTs) and primary production at global

scale, were made possible by the use of new sensors such as Sentinel 3 OLCI.


Marie-Laure Grégoire, ULG, Belgium, Research director and member of the CMEMS Scientific

& technical advisory committee (STAC)

A presentation from an intermediate champion user regarding maritime safety and harmful

noxious substances in the marine environment was also provided, highlighting the added

value of the Marine Service, as for instance during the follow up of the plumes from the recent

Grande America sinking, where they activated their system (fed by CMEMS) and provided

their expert knowledge. From a user perspective, some desired improvements were also

presented, such as advanced physical parameters for plume monitoring (e.g. vertical eddy

viscosity) and increased vertical resolution in deep waters.

The added value of the Marine Service for EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive

(MSFD) was presented in depth, stressing the complex links between the operational systems

outputs (e.g. model variables such as Oxygen, Primary Production, plankton and nutrients)

and the MSFD descriptors (e.g. eutrophication). Complementarily, the Marine Service

supports the implementation of other policies like Water Framework Directive (WFD), Bathing

Waters Directive (BWD), Common Fisheries Policy (CFP); this requires further processing and

tailoring of the existing products in order to better serve final end-users: Nutrients, Chlorophyll

a, Oxygen, temperature, salinity, Trophic Index.

As part of the Service Evolution program, a few projects focusing on the Green Ocean

presented their results which are expected to improve the representation of

biogeochemical processes and of the low-to-mid trophic levels (micronekton,

zooplankton). Finally, trends of the green ocean associated to human activity were

presented, such as: ocean acidification; changes in oxygen levels and primary

production; carbon sequestration; and links to ecosystem services.


2) Day 2 round table - CMEMS producers and users:

discussion and feedback

The round table at the end of day 2 gathered CMEMS producers and users. CMEMS being a

user-driven service, the continuous collection of feedbacks on CMEMS from users and

dialogue with CMEMS producers is essential to ensure that CMEMS responds to user needs.

The round table was introduced by Yann Drillet (Mercator Ocean International), with a

reminder of the top user feedback and requests for CMEMS. The participants were then asked

how the uptake of existing Copernicus Marine Service products could be improved.


According to intermediate user Sébastien Legrand (Rbins), the CMEMS’s offer responds to

users’ needs, although not every user request has been addressed. He highlighted the

importance of CMEMS being challenged by users, but also of users being challenged by

CMEMS and pushed outside their comfort zone to use and adapt to new products that

ultimately better serve them. To increase the number of CMEMS users, Lasse Rabenstein

suggested that CMEMS should invest more in marketing (such as with the User Uptake

Program), that it should advertise how useful products are for applications, and ease the

technical access to products (e.g. APIs). Regarding end-users, a dialogue is necessary to

understand and then translate their market sector needs, and for CMEMS products to be

easily integrated in their process chain.

As a CMEMS producer, Laurent Bertino (ARC MFC) reported that user needs are analyzed,

and the User Uptake program is useful as an intermediate layer between producers and end-

users. For producers, although answering users’ needs could be technically feasible,

ensuring the quality of the products delivered in CMEMS is essential. Marina Tonani


(NWS MFC) and Marie Laure Grégoire (BS MFC) also insisted on the need to better

communicate on all available products to users, and help users discover them.

Available documents accompanying products could be made more accessible to users

(access, update, harmonized, easy to understand). Communications through different

channels (e.g. session at EGU, training events…) are important to reach the wide range of

CMEMS users (academia, national agencies, PMEs…).

The discussion then moved to the most important evolutions of the Copernicus Marine

Service (products, services) envisioned to address new and/or pressing user needs.

Different possible evolutions were noted, such as ensemble forecasting, more frequent

analyses cycles, long-term forecasts (seasonal and longer term), Antarctic Ocean sea-ice

information (similar to information provided today in the Arctic).

Tradeoffs might need to be considered in terms of increase in resolution vs ensemble

forecasting, given constraints on limited increase in computer time. Ensembles would be

especially interesting to better quantify uncertainties, while high-resolution is especially

needed for other applications.

Sébastien Legrand (Rbins) mentioned the need for L2 satellite products for some applications.

Currently, L2 products are provided by space agencies, while CMEMS provides cross-

validated, added-value products for users. L2 products will be provided on DIAS platforms.

⮚ Question from the audience: what are the main challenges regarding new

observations and their integration through data assimilation to improve products?

CMEMS producers mentioned mid-term evolution for data assimilation of new types of

observations such as high-frequency radars, sea-ice thickness, improve the assimilation

of sea-ice drift, etc. Assimilation of more types of biogeochemical data is also

envisioned. Evolutions regarding assimilated observations will be accompanied by

improvements in models, data assimilation schemes to make assimilation more effective.

Ensuring that the observations are of sufficient quality to be assimilated is another

challenge (e.g. ocean colour in complex optical water). The participants stressed on the value

of in-situ data to i) provide information where no satellite data are available, ii) support the

quality of data assimilated. The serious lack of biogeochemical observation was pointed out.

⮚ Question from the audience: How CMEMS systems could evolve to address the

challenge of long-term projections over the next 10 years?

CMEMS producers agreed that leveraging existing CMEMS systems to produce downscaled

long-term projections from global climate models is doable and would be an interesting

exercise. A diversity of models would be needed to provide uncertainty ranges, and data

assimilation would need to be well in place to ensure a correct initialization of the predictions,

depending on the horizon of predictions, providing an assessment of the quality of products

and benefit of regional projections.


DAY 3 Summary

1) Impact of observations on CMEMS products and

applications

This session provided an overview of the current status of Copernicus Space and In-situ

Component, and illustrated the major impact of Copernicus satellites on CMEMS products

and services. Specific outcomes for the different satellite observations are given below.

Copernicus Space Component: Daily operations and evolutions of CMEMS are tightly linked

to the supply of upstream data, from the Copernicus Space Component operated by ESA and

EUMETSAT. The presentations showed the quality level and readiness for operations of

Sentinel data; while Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, Sentinel-3 altimetry and SLSTR are well on the

track providing data of good quality, for Sentinel-3 OLCI (multispectral data) there is room to

improve Ocean Color data. EUMETSAT in collaboration with CMEMS production centers are

actively working to ensure the best data and product quality.

Hilary Wilson, Eumetsat Sentinel-3 project manager

Copernicus In-situ Component: Compared to other Copernicus services, the marine service

depends, to a large extent, on in-situ observations as satellites do not observe below the sea

surface. Thanks to the internal organisation and the collaboration with EEA, CMEMS has

reached today a powerful capacity to collect and prepare in situ data from European

(EuroGOOS ROOS) and international networks. However, it was shown that there are critical

gaps in sampling for physical and biogeochemical observations, and sustainability of the in

situ observing systems remains a strong concern. This calls for improved coordination (EU


delegated entities, member states, in situ infrastructures, EuroGOOS, etc), and the

establishment of a co-funding to complement national activities.

Impact of Sentinel observations on CMEMS Thematic Assembly Centers: All CMEMS

Thematic Assembly Centers have made a special effort to integrate Sentinels data in their

portfolio. For altimetry (Sea Level and Waves) the use of S3A/B allows better mesoscale

retrieval in the CMEMS products, especially thanks to the 140° phasing, the SAR global

coverage, and local MSS upgrade. Swell products, available on CMEMS catalogue since July

2018, are relying today 100% on S1A/B. SLSTR observations are of primary importance for

the SST-TAC; all production units are working to ingest Sentinel data in the processing chains

soon after operational data release. Sentinel-1 has been qualified as a “game changer” for

sea-ice operational monitoring, while Sentinel-3 and Sentinel-2 are being more and more used

to complement SAR data.

Impact of Sentinel observations on CMEMS Monitoring and Forecasting Centers: Ocean

forecasting systems have a high dependency on observation availability and quality.

Observations are used by CMEMS Monitoring and Forecasting Centers to validate and

constrain their global and regional ocean analysis and forecasting systems. For the global

system, several observation impact assessment have been conducted allowing to better

understand how the different components of the Ocean Observing System are constraining

the ocean circulation, improving data assimilation components, and testing the efficiency of

different scenarii to reduce the forecast errors. Moving to operational assimilation of

observations, Sentinel 1 and 3 helps efficiently to improve the wave forecast during extreme

events (storms and cyclones), while BGC-Argo floats are perceived as having a big impact in

many systems (both for validation and assimilation), and complementarity with Sentinels.

2) Future of CMEMS

The session started with a keynote presentation by Vladimir Ryabinin, the IOC/UNESCO

Executive Secretary. The presentation gave an international perspective on future ocean

challenges and sustainable development. After an overview of the major ocean challenges

(climate change, pollution, food, biodiversity), Vladimir Ryabinin presented the United Nation

decade of ocean science for sustainable development (2021-2030). The decade is a once

in a lifetime opportunity to develop scientific knowledge, build infrastructure and foster

partnerships for a sustainable and healthy ocean. A key aspect is to develop scientific

knowledge that leads to solutions and actions. Observations, predictions and societal

applications and economy are major pillars of the decade where CMEMS plays a

leading role.


Vladimir Ryabinin, IOC/UNESCO Executive Secretary

Hugo Zunker from DG GROW then gave an overview of the development of the Copernicus

satellite component. A status of the six Sentinel missions that now provide unique Earth

monitoring capabilities was first given. The six High Priority Candidate Missions that are

planned (Sentinel expansion) to complement the Sentinel constellations in Copernicus 2.0

were then detailed. Hugo Zunker outlined how these new missions will address EU policy and

user needs: CO2 emission monitoring supporting the objectives of the COP 21 Paris

agreement, land use including support to agriculture, observations of the polar areas and

security needs.

Hugo Zunker, DG GROW

Georges Petithakis, chair of EuroGOOS, gave a status of the in situ observing system. He

reminded the fundamental role of in-situ observations in the value chain that goes from

observations to users and reviewed the main challenges ahead of us: data gaps, data sharing,


technology, new EOVs in particular for biology. The European Ocean Observing System

(EOOS) jointly led by EuroGOOS and the Marine Board will align European activities

with the GOOS 2030 strategy and should allow addressing these challenges.

Pierre-Yves Le Traon (Mercator Ocean International) summarized the major achievements

made by CMEMS over the past 4 years and presented the main ideas for the development of

CMEMS in Copernicus 2.0: implement the next generation of ocean monitoring and

forecasting (higher resolution, coupling, ensemble approaches), unlock current service

bottlenecks with respect to users feedbacks for Coastal, CO2, Biology, Ocean &

Climate assessment, develop sectoral approaches with the other Copernicus Services

(e.g. coastal, Arctic, CO2). With respect to upstream observing infrastructure, the

objective is to strengthen marine in situ coordination, prepare the uptake of future

Sentinel missions and develop assessment and design activities.

An overview of the development of the WEkEO DIAS platform implemented by EUMETSAT,

ECMWF and MERCATOR OCEAN INTERNATIONAL was given by Alain Arnaud (Mercator

Ocean International). WEkEO strength relies on its distributed infrastructure built thanks to the

Copernicus organization already in place in the three centers. This gives users direct access

to work with the most up-to-date Copernicus data. This federative approach can be extended

to other selected external partners, so the system has the potential to continually grow and

expand in the future. WEkEO is a major asset for the marine community to access ready to

use data and infrastructure to generate information without bandwidth and infrastructure

limitations.

Felipe Fernández from IHCantabria gave the CMEMS Champion User perspective. He

summarized the numerous downstream services and applications that are relying on CMEMS.

These downstream services need to interact closely with end users to understand their needs

and propose new service solutions. In return they provide feedback to CMEMS for the

evolution of its core service. With respect to the present service, main evolutions required for

day to day operational activities include the access to short term wind forecasts, river

discharges forecasts and longer lead time (15 day) wave forecasts. For strategic planning

activities, wave reanalyses, seasonal forecasts and climate scenarios for the ocean are

required.

Ananda Pascual co-chair of the CMEMS Science and Technological Advisory Committee

(STAC) presented the CMEMS long term R&D roadmap and its main areas of research

and innovation. For future activities, the STAC believes that CMEMS should lead the

development for coastal systems through networking with highly-skilled providers and users,

develop a next generation modelling and data assimilation system with significantly enhanced

spatial resolution globally and regionally, reduced errors and across all Essential Ocean

Variables, especially biogeochemistry and reaching high-latitudes, augment and expand

CMEMS catalogue from re-processing and reanalysis for detection of change and data-driven

modelling. The architecture of CMEMS should evolve to meet CMEMS objectives, while at the

same time optimising efficiency, effectiveness and quality. This should include DIAS

capabilities and WEkEO specifically. Through engagement under the EU Space Policy,

with EuroGOOS and EMODNet, with Copernicus Service partners, and with European


research and observation communities more generally, CMEMS should articulate and

advocate for the space and in situ observations needed by CMEMS, with special focus on

sustainability and reliability.

3) Day 3 final round table – CMEMS and the future

The final round table was structured around a series of questions and moderated by Pierre

Bahurel (Mercator Ocean International).


⮚ What are the 3 main challenges that CMEMS should address in the coming decade?

Georges Petihakis (EuroGOOS) focused on need of sustainability of the in situ systems,

upgrade of systems, and more biology while Nadia Pinardi (University of Bologna) reinforced

the idea of better predicted ocean, safe ocean, ocean literacy and equity in knowledge.

Neville Smith (CMEMS STAC) insisted on biogeochemistry and Arctic, as well as

establishing CMEMS as an authoritative reference for the ocean.

From the European Commission point of view, Elisabeth Hamdouch stressed the need of

addressing coastal zone, Arctic, marine environmental and climate change policies.

According to Vladimir Ryabinin (IOC UNESCO), CMEMS should open up to the whole world

as a global leader, develop global standard of ocean services, and create links with the

final users.

Finally from a user perspective, Felipe Fernández (CMEMS Champion Users) opened to the

big data challenges, the communication with end users / outreach and finally to

transform big data into tailored products.


⮚ Do you foresee new user needs for the next decade that should be addressed by

CMEMS, new sectors, new ways of serving them?

Felipe Fernández (CMEMS Champion Users) wished to see more products related to

bathymetry and its evolution, human activity, technology evolution, big data to serve

users.

Elisabeth Hamdouch (EC) noted that fishery and aquaculture sectors are critical to ensure

food security and that CMEMS should develop improved services for these sectors. Climate

change and changes in the Arctic are also important priorities. Development of big data,

artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure are important evolutions to serve users.

⮚ CMEMS delivers jointly ocean service to users & ocean knowledge to society. How

can we define the society expectation with respect to the ocean for the coming

decade?

According to Vladimir Ryabinin (IOC UNESCO), there is a lack of big expectation from the

society for the ocean (compared to land). Efforts should be focused on ocean literacy. It is

essential to generate expectation from the society and to develop the knowledge but also a

sense of ownership.

Nadia Pinardi (University of Bologna) insisted then that there is a need to make an effort to

state that the ocean is very close to us. The communication and marketing messages around

the role of the ocean in our daily life have to be strong in the next phase, protecting the ocean

is key as well as a sustainable use of the resources is key too: ocean is equity.

⮚ What are the most important scientific and technological advances relevant to

CMEMS that can be expected over the next decade?

Neville Smith noted that this is a difficult task. Firstly, long time is needed, 10 years. For 2030,

ideas are already here. Major advances for biogeochemistry can be expected both for

modeling and observations. The development of biogeochemistry (BGC) Argo is also

considered a game changer. Computing facilities will limit our ambition (ensemble, high

resolution). It is not only important that all marine community works together about also to

work across the communities.

⮚ Coastal zone and CMEMS – how should CMEMS develop stronger partnerships with

Member States? What could mean co-production?

Coastal zone is complex and poses huge challenges, it has an essential role for economy

(40% of EU GDP comes from the ocean) but it is also very much impacted by human

activities. According to George Petihakis (EuroGOOS) in situ observations, developed by

national institutions, suffer in terms of sustainability. Copernicus needs to work more

closely with national authorities and need to help them. An important step would be to

extend the user forum to national authorities in charge of marine environment monitoring.

Elisabeth Hamdouch (EC) suggested that the Copernicus User Forum is a good mechanism to

interact with local players. Development of thematic workshops and sharing best

practices between Member States can also help.

Vladimir Ryabinin (IOC UNESCO) stated that the coastal module of GOOS was designed in

the 1990s. However, this is a very difficult issue: sharing data is essential, but also there is


the value added aspect of coastal observations that should allow governments to exchange

data.

⮚ How could CMEMS better contribute to structuring partnerships with scientific and

technical communities? What should we continue or change, create?

From a user perspective, Felipe Fernandez (CMEMS Champion user) emphasized that

interoperability protocols should be improved and bridges between different protocols

should be developed. Partnership with end-users is essential, as well as communication.

From a scientific point of view, Neville Smith (CMEMS STAC) stresses how CMEMS is doing

very well but partnerships need to be enlarged at an international scale. Green ocean needs

a strong partnership at global scale. The economic model behind in situ observing has to

change and there is a need to find a new way of partnerships.

Finally, George Petihakis (EuroGOOS) recalled how monitoring user requirements,

adapting services and training are essential activities. There is a need to bring national

operators together and for in-situ observations, partnership with EOOS is an important

opportunity.

⮚ Same question at the international level with institutions and programs?

Vladimir Ryabinin (IOC UNESCO) pointed out how in the international landscape and for

provision of data and information, CMEMS has no rival. As a world leader, CMEMS has the

responsibility to serve as a prototype for the world. However, interfaces between ocean

forecasting centers and users are still too weak as well as the business component of ocean

“users”. CMEMS has huge potential and intellectual strengths: it is essential to work together

on how we can bring your leadership in the decade of ocean science.

Nadia Pinardi (University of Bologna) recalled that the decade is a wonderful opportunity to

enlarge the community (from policy makers to science community) and contacting other

communities that do not know about CMEMS. A massive decade project on ocean

predictions will be a major opportunity; CMEMS is an authoritative voice and should be

strongly involved in the design phase of this project.

⮚ CMEMS is an operational service of the Copernicus Program supporting the EC in

its governance actions. How can it be more efficient?

Developing stronger partnership with others (e.g. EMODnet), being more efficient, taking

full advantage of the lessons learned during the last 5 years are essential are the key step

ahead, according to Elisabeth Hamdouch (EC). Developing cooperation agreement

between different policy areas such as marine policy, energy and climate is as well very

important. To this extent, it is necessary to involve the different services as well as to provide

integrated solution to users. Finally, CMEMS is recognized at international level and has an

important role to play to help the EU in its external actions and its scientific diplomacy related

to the ocean (e.g G7/Ocean).

⮚ What could be the future role of CMEMS with respect to education, training and

developing societal awareness?

Nadia Pinardi (University of Bologna) strongly called for strengthening the last level of

education (Phd and professional level): new generation must dream of future solutions. More


training, more knowledge on oceanography, more work with the international

community (IOC, WMO training, global ocean academy) is required.

As a round table and meeting conclusion, all participants were asked to give their final words.

Neville Smith (CMEMS STAC) emphasized the need to communicate better at high level

(e.g. WCRP) CMEMS activities and achievements. At the last WCRP review, people were

unaware on ocean prediction. The CLIVAR Atlantic panel did not know how CMEMS is good

with users. CMEMS connection to users is real, solid and mature and this should be better

known.

Felipe Fernandez (CMEMS Champion user) expressed the need to exchange on the future

roadmap of CMEMS and work with CMEMS to develop solutions for users. User uptake

meetings and the setting up of the CMEMS champion user group is a very important step.

Vladimir Ryabinin (IOC UNESCO) stated that this day was one of the best days of his last

year. There is huge talent in the room and CMEMS provides a service to humanity. Role of

science will be more important in the future. More transparency will be needed. CMEMS

must continue in the same way.

Elisabeth Hamdouch (EC) gave a big thank to CMEMS and noted that Copernicus is a hidden

treasure. We need to reach new community and young generations.

George Petihakis (EuroGOOS) stated that the coastal area is a challenge to be taken by

CMEMS and CMEMS has to be ambitious.

Nadia Pinardi (Uni Bo) was impressed by the meeting and the high level of discussion and

emphasized the need to be ambitious in the future with the young generation.

Pierre Bahurel and Pierre-Yves Le Traon finally closed the general assembly. They

thanked all speakers and panelists for excellent presentations, overviews and high

level of discussion that made this meeting a highly interesting & stimulating event. A

big thank was also given to the Mercator Ocean International organizing committee that

made the event a highly successful one.


ANNEX : Agenda

Day 2 Tuesday, May 21st

CMEMS main achievements, evolution and impact on applications and users

09:00-09:10 Introduction : Objectives of the day - Meeting user needs for the Blue, White and Green ocean M. Drevillon (MOI)

09:10-11:30 Blue Ocean

09:10 Monitoring and Forecasting Centers (MFCs) achievements / 1 M. Tonani (Met Office)

09:30 Ocean noise mapping services to address the Marine Strategy Framework Directive T. Folegot (Quiet Oceans)

09:40 Space Thematic Assembly Centers (TACs) achievements Y. Faugère (CLS)

10:00 In-situ Thematic Assembly Center (TAC) achievements S. Pouliquen (Ifremer)

10:15 High resolution Copernicus based information services at sea A. Silva (Hidromod)

10:25-10:55 Coffee Break

10:55 Monitoring and Forecasting Centers (MFCs) achievements / 2 G. Korres (HCMR)

11:10 Achievements from service Evolution R&D projects J. Le Sommer (IGE)

11:25 Ocean State Report / Ocean Monitoring Indicators for the Blue Ocean K. von Schuckmann (MOI)

11:35-14:35 White Ocean

11:35 Thematic Assembly Centers (TACs) achievements C. De Wettre (Met No)

11:50 CMEMS in support to automated sea ice maps for cargo ships safety L. Rabenstein (drift&noise polar services)

12:00 Monitoring and Forecasting Centers (MFCs) achievements L. Bertino (NERSC)

12:20-12:45 Questions&Answers

12:45-14:00 Lunch

14:00 The Greenland community ice service T. Rasmussen (DMI)

14:10 Achievements from service Evolution R&D projects C. Lique (Ifremer)

14:25 Ocean State Report / Ocean Monitoring Indicators for the White Ocean K. Von Schuckmann (MOI)

14:35-16:00 Green Ocean

14:35 Thematic Assembly Centers (TACs) achievements V. Brando (CNR)

14:55 CMEMS in Support to Harmful Noxious Substances Monitoring S. Legrand (Rbins)

15:05 Monitoring and Forecasting Centers (MFCs) achievements M.L. Gregoire (ULG)

15:25 Marine Directives oriented CMEMS demonstration in the area of the North Adriatic Sea A. Bruschi (ISPRA)

15:35 Achievements from service Evolution R&D projects S. Ciavatta (PML)

15:50 Ocean State Report / Ocean Monitoring Indicators for the Green Ocean A. Samuelsen (NERSC)


16:30-17:30 Round table: CMEMS producers and users: discussion and feedback

S. Legrand (Rbins), L. Rabenstein (drift&noise), L. Bertino (NERSC), M. Tonani (Met Office),

M.L. Gregoire (ULG), Y. Drillet (MOI)

17:30-18:30 Poster session

18:30-20:00 Social event

Day 1 Monday, May 20th 14:00-15:30 Introduction and CMEMS overview

14:00 Welcome, meeting objectives and meeting structure P.Y. Le Traon (MOI)

14:10 Welcome and status from European Commission K. Kiljański (DG GROW)

14:25 CMEMS Status & Highlights P. Bahurel (MOI)

14:40 CMEMS products and services D. Obaton, M. Fabardines (MOI)

15:00 Assessing the Product Quality M. Drevillon (MOI), I. Garcia Hermosa (MOI)

& M. Garcia Sotillo (Puertos del Estado)15:15 CMEMS Markets and Users L. Crosnier, A. Delamarche (MOI)

15:30 A champion user perspective: overview of the Copernicus Marine Market Sectors G. El Serafy (Deltares)


16:15 OSR and OMI activities K. von Schuckmann (MOI)

16:30 Contribution of CMEMS OSRs and OMIs for EEA Ocean and Climate reporting activities M. Peterlin (EEA)

16:45 User Training Activities F. Messal (MOI)

16:55 User Uptake Programme E. Durand (MOI)

17:10 Service Evolution Programme A. Melet (MOI)

17:30-18:30Round table: CMEMS, Copernicus services and EMODnet: collaboration and

interaction

J.N. Thepault (ECMWF), H. Dufourmont (EEA), E. Kristopaitis (Frontex), I. Shepherd (DG

MARE), J.B. Calewaert (EMODnet), F.Jacq (DG GROW), P.Y. Le Traon (MOI)


Day 3 Wednesday, May 22nd

09:00-12:30 Impact of observations on CMEMS products and applications

09:00 The role of observations within CMEMS A. Reppucci (MOI)

09:10 Status of current Sentinel-1, 2 and 3 F. Gascon (ESA), H. Wilson (Eumetsat)

09:40 Status of global and regional In-situ observing systems E. Buch (EuroGOOS),

H. Andersen (EEA)

09:55 Impact of Sentinel in Sea Level & Wave Thematic Assembly Center Y. Faugère (CLS)

10:10 Impact of Sentinel in Sea Surface Temperature Thematic Assembly Center B. Buongiorno (CNR)

10:25 Impact of Sentinel in Ocean Color Thematic Assembly Center V. Brando (CNR)

10:40 Impact of Sentinel in Sea Ice Thematic Assembly Center C. De Wettre (Met.No)


11:25 Impact of Sentinel and in-situ data for global analysis and forecasting (physics) E. Remy (MOI)

11:45 Impact of Sentinel and in-situ data for regional analysis and forecasting (biogeochemistry) S. Salon (OGS)

12:05 Impact of Sentinel for wave forecasting L. Aouf (Meteo France)

12:25 Impact of Sentinel and in-situ data for Arctic ocean analysis and forecasting L. Bertino (NERSC)

12:45-14:00 Lunch

14:00-17:30 Future of CMEMS

14:00 International perspective on future ocean challenges including SDGs V. Ryabinin (IOC)

14:15 Evolution of Sentinel missions H. Zunker (DG GROW)

14:30 Evolution of In-situ observing system G. Nolan (EuroGOOS)

14:45 Copernicus Marine Service evolution : drivers and plans P.Y. Le Traon (MOI)

15:00 Evolution of DIAS platforms: the WEkEO perspective A. Arnaud (MOI)

15:15 CMEMS Champion users perpective F. Fernandez (IH Cantabria)

15:30 CMEMS Scientific Committee perspective A. Pascual (IMEDEA)


16:15-17:15 Round table: CMEMS and the future

V. Ryabinin (IOC), N. Pinardi (Uni-Bo), G. Petihakis (EuroGOOS), E. Hamdouch (DG GROW), N.

Smith (CMEMS STAC), F. Fernandez (CMEMS Champion User), P. Bahurel (MOI)

17:15-17:30 Closing P. Bahurel (MOI)

copernicus marine service...between the marine service and the other services of the copernicus...

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