How can science help coastal communities anticipate climate-related hazards before they happen? The latest episode of Green Tides, the podcast dedicated to coastal resilience and produced by the DCC-CR (Decade Collaborative Centre for Coastal Resilience), explores one of the most innovative developments in ocean science: the Digital Twin of the Ocean.

By combining satellite observations, coastal sensors, ocean models, artificial intelligence and high-performance computing, digital twins create virtual replica of the ocean. These tools allow scientists and decision-makers to better understand, simulate and anticipate coastal change, supporting more informed choices in the face of increasing risks.

From coastal flooding and erosion to wave overtopping and other climate-related hazards, the episode looks at how digital technologies are opening new possibilities for forecasting, preparedness and evidence-based decision-making.

Featuring Giovanni Coppini, Director of the Strategic Program Global Coast as a New Frontier at CMCC, together with Megi Hoxhaj, Telecommunications Engineer and Technical Lead, and Salvatore Causio, Coastal Ocean Modeler, the episode takes listeners behind the scenes of the scientific, technological and operational systems that are helping shape the future of coastal resilience.

“The Digital Twin is essential to shift from a reactive approach to an anticipatory one,” says Giovanni Coppini. “It brings together the most advanced technologies for coastal observation, from satellites to coastal sensors, the most up-to-date coastal models and a solid infrastructure that supports the production of practical tools for coastal risk management. In other words, the Digital Twin of the Coastal Ocean provides ‘what-if scenarios’ that allow us to explore the potential impacts of extreme events, such as storm surges or marine heatwaves, as well as sea-level rise and coastal erosion, before they occur.”

The episode also highlights the importance of partnerships across different geographical areas and stakeholder communities. Co-designing the Digital Twin of the Coastal Ocean with diverse actors is key to connecting scientific excellence with real societal needs and turning knowledge into practical support for coastal resilience.

Listen Green Tides on:

Spotify |  Apple Podcast | Amazon Music | You Tube | DCC-CR Website

Green Tides is a science podcast about coastal resilience, climate change and the future of the world’s coasts.

Across five episodes, we follow science, people and ideas shaping more resilient coastlines. We look at how sea-level rise, stronger storms, coastal erosion, pollution and environmental pressure are reshaping coastal areas worldwide and how communities, researchers and institutions are learning to respond.

From ocean literacy and the Digital Twin of the Ocean to island communities, environmental justice and co-designed solutions, each episode turns complex ocean science into stories you can understand and act on.

Because protecting the coast doesn’t mean freezing it in time. It means understanding change, building resilience and learning to live with the ocean more responsibly.

Green Tides is a podcast by the DCC-CR (Decade Collaborative Centre for Coastal Resilience), produced by Podstar.