The Nansen Center has been successful in securing funding for five new EU projects in the last few weeks. The projects focus on Arctic ocean observations, data assimilation, climate dynamics, and ocean modelling, and will contribute to increased knowledge and improved environmental and climate services that will be of significant benefit to society.
The numerous grants awarded by the European Commission send a clear signal that our research areas and the services and products we wish to develop further are considered both important and useful. The projects are based on extensive experience and strong expertise, and will give an additional boost to the academic communities. Taken together, the grants give us new opportunities to develop methods, models, and technology that will benefit society through new knowledge and new services. Such European collaborative projects are particularly important in the Arctic, where no single country or institution can meet the major research needs on its own.
Two of the new projects are led by the Nansen Center, while we are partners in the other three.
HiAOOS-2 – new ways of observing the Arctic Ocean
HiAOOS-2 will develop technologies that enable established European research infrastructures to operate in the ice-covered Arctic Ocean and support autonomous data collection under the ice. This will provide important new knowledge on a rapidly changing ocean region due to global warming. Hanne Sagen at the Nansen Center is leading the work.
“With HiAOOS-2, we are taking an important step towards an autonomous and comprehensive European observation system in the Arctic. We are enabling existing infrastructures to operate in a ocean region that has until now been almost inaccessible, and laying the foundation for a better understanding of the climate and environment in the Arctic Ocean. This project is both a technological leap forward and a strategic initiative – developed in close collaboration between outstanding European research communities and industry,” says Hanne Sagen about the significance of the project.
COMEDI – a common basis for better marine forecasting
COMEDI brings together Europe’s leading data assimilation communities to modernize and harmonize the methods used for marine forecasting in the Copernicus Marine Service. The aim is to make it easier to incorporate new observations and develop common tools that can be used across the Copernicus Marine Service. The project is led by the Nansen Center, with Yue Ying as project manager.
“We will use new methods such as AI and multiscale modeling to unlock the potential of new satellite data for more reliable forecasts. This transition to joint development and shared tools allows scientific innovations to move rapidly into operation, maximizing their impact and ensuring a broader reach to users who rely on our forecasts,” says Yue Ying about COMEDI.
RAZOREGE – better models for climate extremes
RAZOREGE will develop the next generation of detailed Earth system models that can handle regional climate phenomena and at the same time be computationally efficient enough to perform model simulations over several centuries. This is crucial for understanding regional extreme events and their long-term consequences. François Counillon is leading the Nansen Center’s work on the project, which is coordinated by the UK Met Office.
OCEANITY – new applications for decisions concerning the ocean
The OCEANITY project is developing three new applications for the European Digital Twin Ocean initiative, related to coastal and urban climate adaptation, marine spatial planning, and sustainable marine operations. The researchers in the project are using advanced models and data sources to test different scenarios for authorities, industry, and society. Antonio Bonaduce is leading the Nansen Center’s work in the project, which is coordinated by the Fondazione Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici (CMCC).
Beyond Arctic PASSION – a comprehensive observation system for the Arctic
The project will develop an “Arctic Observing System of Systems” that connects existing infrastructure, data streams, and knowledge across research, management, and society. Great emphasis is placed on seamless data exchange, good data coverage, and the inclusion of the various indigenous peoples of the Arctic. Annette Samuelsen leads the Nansen Center’s work in the project, which is coordinated by the British Antarctic Survey.
