Marine ecosystems

Through the marine services we offer in the EU’s Earth observation program Copernicus, we contribute to increasing knowledge about the ocean, and we produce forecasts for how the biological and physical conditions in the ocean change over time and affect marine life. The most important tools are our ocean models, which we are constantly developing and improving so that they can provide the most precise information about the state of the ocean. The forecasts that are produced have several applications for users in both the public and private sectors. The data included in the forecasts is obtained from satellites and from instruments deployed in the ocean. Satellite data records surface conditions for large areas, while floating buoys and fixed installations in the sea provide local measurements. We use this data to research biological conditions, such as e.g., how the amount of nutrient salts develops over time, or which areas are exposed to harmful algal blooms. The research results are of great benefit to fisheries and seafood production.