ObsSea4Clim aims to deliver an improved framework for nations’ contributions to European ocean observations of EOVs/ECVs in support of regional and global climate assessments, projections and actionable indicators for sustainable development.

CMCC role:
CMCC leads WP5 – EOVs and ECVs in support of climate modelling. This WP aims to advance the use of EOV and ECVs in developing the next generation of Earth System Models (ESMs) in preparation for CMIP7, constraining the uncertainty in climate predictions and improving projections at global and regional scale. Improved process understanding in combination with advanced statistical methods for ensemble screening and AI optimization of model parameters will be applied to reduce model biases with focus on processes of both physical and biogeochemical importance including ocean stratification, Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), sea ice loss, ice sheet interaction, and extremes such as marine heat waves (MHWs). 

CMCC leads also Task 3.2 – Marine extremes in Europe and in the Arctic area. Here extreme event representation in a range of EOV records (regional ocean reanalyses, satellite-derived products & observation-based estimates) will be inter-compared to understand variability and the products usefulness to capture extremes. 

CMCC leads also Task 4.5 – Marine Heat Waves. Here the observing requirements for MHWs will be identified through stakeholder engagement and partners established contacts, and furthermore considering Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and fisheries. Stakeholder-based requirements will feed into development of extreme event indicators in Task 3.2, ensuring indicators are of relevance to scientific studies (e.g. responses to changing climate, ESM studies in WP5) and applications.

Activities:
The work program is organized around four building blocks:
1- the EOV/ECV concept,
2- the regional ocean indicator concepts,
3- the nations’ multi-purpose (climate, services, ocean health) ocean observing,
4- the integration with European and global initiatives. 

Making use of ocean climate application areas (sea ice loss, ocean transports, stratification, sea level, ocean warming and marine heat waves and ocean mesoscale) the regional observing is transformed into an EOV/ECVs framework, suitable for regional and global climate products, ESM development and indicators. New Artifical intenlligence (AI) methods will provide sea ice parameter estimation, data quality control and unlock EOV/ECVs from existing data repositories. 

Expected results:

ObsSea4Clim will develop ocean indicators, provide improved user-relevant ECVs and EOVs and evolve European ocean observing. 

ObsSea4Clim will advance the use of EOVs and ECVs for improved Earth System Models and reduced uncertainty in projections.

ObsSea4Clim will create an interoperable data ecosystem serving multidisciplinary needs.

ObsSea4Clim will develop best practices and standard for interoperable in-situ and satellite observations. 

Partners
2 GEOMAR (HELMHOLTZ-ZENTRUM FUR OZEANFORSCHUNG KIEL)
3 ENS (ECOLE NORMALE SUPERIEURE)
4 MOI (MERCATOR OCEAN)
5 CMCC (FONDAZIONE CENTRO EURO- MEDITERRANEOSUI CAMBIAMENTI CLIMATICI)
6 NERSC (STIFTELSEN NANSEN SENTER FOR MILJOOG FJERNMALING)
7 UNIBO (ALMA MATER STUDIORUM – UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA)
8 IEEE (IEEE FRANCE SECTION)
9 NUIM (NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND MAYNOOTH)
10 HAV (HAVSTOVAN)
11 EUROGOOS (EUROGOOS)
12 ETT (ETT SPA)
13 +ATL (+ATLANTIC ASSOCIACAO PARA UM LABORATORIO COLABORATIVO DO ATLANTICO)
14 FMI (ILMATIETEEN LAITOS)
15 CSIC (AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE ES INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS)
16 HCMR (HELLENIC CENTRE FOR MARINE RESEARCH)
17 UTOU (UNIVERSITE DE TOULOUSE)
18 NCPOR (NATIONAL CENTRE FOR POLAR AND OCEAN IN RESEARCH)
19 NERCI (NANSEN ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH IN CENTRE)

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