Application of multi-window maximum cross-correlation to the mediterranean sea circulation by using MODIS data

In a previous study an improved Maximum Cross-Correlation technique, called Multi-Window Maximum Cross-Correlation (MW-MCC), was proposed, and applied to noise-free synthetic images in order to show its potential and limits in oceanographic applications. In this work, instead, the application of MW-MCC to high resolution MODIS images, and its capability to provide useful and realistic results for ocean currents, is studied. When applied to real satellite images, the MW-MCC is subject to cloud cover and image quality problems. As a consequence the number of useful MODIS images is greatly reduced. However, for every MODIS image, multiple spec-tral bands are available, and it is possible to apply the MW-MCC algorithm to the same scene as many times as the number of these bands, increasing the possibility of finding valid current vectors. Moreover, the comparison among the results from different spectral bands allows to verify both the consistency of the computed current vectors and the validity of using a spectral band as a good tracer for the ocean circulation. Due to the lack of systematic current measurements in the area considered, it has been not possible to perform an ex-tensive error analysis of the MW-MCC results, although a case study of a comparison between HF radar measurements and MW-MCC data is shown. Moreover, some comparison between numerical ocean model simulations and MW-MCC results are also shown. The coherence of the resulting circulation flow, the high number of current vectors found, the agreement among different spectral bands, and conformity with the currents measured by the HF radars or simulated by hydrodynamic models show the validity of the technique

Monitoring and assessment guidelines for marine litter in Mediterranean MPAs

As part of the AMARE project, the main purpose of this report is to provide advice and practical guidance, for establishing programmes to monitor and assess the distribution and abundance of marine litter in MPAs. The present document build on relevant existing monitoring and assessment practices in the Mediterranean, such as the existing monitoring practices in UNEP/MAP and within the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. The proposed strategy (defining the sampling scheme, the environmental compartment to monitor and the protocols to be used) is also following the recommendations of the UN GESAMP report on monitoring marine litter (GESAMP, 2019). In addition, it is based on the experience of ongoing monitoring and assessment activities under various scientific projects in the Mediterranean Sea (CleanSea, Marelitt, Perseus, Marlisco, Ac4forlitter, INDICIT, MEDseaLitter, Plastic Buster MPA, PANACEA, Life projects, etc.), and also considers the available scientific literature.peer-reviewe

Coastal high-frequency radars in the Mediterranean ??? Part 2: Applications in support of science priorities and societal needs

International audienceThe Mediterranean Sea is a prominent climate-change hot spot, with many socioeconomically vital coastal areas being the most vulnerable targets for maritime safety, diverse met-ocean hazards and marine pollution. Providing an unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution at wide coastal areas, high-frequency radars (HFRs) have been steadily gaining recognition as an effective land-based remote sensing technology for continuous monitoring of the surface circulation, increasingly waves and occasionally winds. HFR measurements have boosted the thorough scientific knowledge of coastal processes, also fostering a broad range of applications, which has promoted their integration in coastal ocean observing systems worldwide, with more than half of the European sites located in the Mediterranean coastal areas. In this work, we present a review of existing HFR data multidisciplinary science-based applications in the Mediterranean Sea, primarily focused on meeting end-user and science-driven requirements, addressing regional challenges in three main topics: (i) maritime safety, (ii) extreme hazards and (iii) environmental transport process. Additionally, the HFR observing and monitoring regional capabilities in the Mediterranean coastal areas required to underpin the underlying science and the further development of applications are also analyzed. The outcome of this assessment has allowed us to provide a set of recommendations for future improvement prospects to maximize the contribution to extending science-based HFR products into societally relevant downstream services to support blue growth in the Mediterranean coastal areas, helping to meet the UN's Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the EU's Green Deal goals

Coastal high-frequency radars in the Mediterranean ??? Part 1: Status of operations and a framework for future development

Due to the semi-enclosed nature of the Mediterranean Sea, natural disasters and anthropogenic activities impose stronger pressures on its coastal ecosystems than in any other sea of the world.With the aim of responding adequately to science priorities and societal challenges, littoral waters must be effectively monitored with high-frequency radar (HFR) systems. This land-based remote sensing technology can provide, in near-real time, fine-resolution maps of the surface circulation over broad coastal areas, along with reliable directional wave and wind information. The main goal of this work is to showcase the current status of the Mediterranean HFR network and the future roadmap for orchestrated actions. Ongoing collaborative efforts and recent progress of this regional alliance are not only described but also connected with other European initiatives and global frameworks, highlighting the advantages of this cost-effective instrument for the multi-parameter monitoring of the sea state. Coordinated endeavors between HFR operators from different multi-disciplinary institutions are mandatory to reach a mature stage at both national and regional levels, striving to do the following: (i) harmonize deployment and maintenance practices; (ii) standardize data, metadata, and quality control procedures; (iii) centralize data management, visualization, and access platforms; and (iv) develop practical applications of societal benefit that can be used for strategic planning and informed decision-making in the Mediterranean marine environment. Such fit-for-purpose applications can serve for search and rescue operations, safe vessel navigation, tracking of marine pollutants, the monitoring of extreme events, the investigation of transport processes, and the connectivity between offshore waters and coastal ecosystems. Finally, future prospects within the Mediterranean framework are discussed along with a wealth of socioeconomic, technical, and scientific challenges to be faced during the implementatio

Coastal HF radars in the Mediterranean: status of operations and a framework for future development

Abstract. Due to the semi-enclosed nature of the Mediterranean Sea, natural disasters and anthropogenic activities impose stronger pressures on its coastal ecosystems than in any other sea of the world. With the aim of responding adequately to science priorities and societal challenges, littoral waters must be effectively monitored with High-Frequency radar (HFR) systems. This land-based remote sensing technology can provide, in near real-time, fine-resolution maps of the surface circulation over broad coastal areas, along with reliable directional wave and wind information. The main goal of this work is to showcase the current status of the Mediterranean HFR network and the future roadmap for orchestrated actions. Ongoing collaborative efforts and recent progress of this regional alliance are not only described but also connected with other European initiatives and global frameworks, highlighting the advantages of this cost-effective instrument for the multi-parameter monitoring of the sea state. Coordinated endeavours between HFR operators from different multi-disciplinary institutions are mandatory to reach a mature stage at both national and regional levels, striving to: i) harmonize deployment and maintenance practices; ii) standardize data, metadata and quality control procedures; iii) centralize data management, visualization and access platforms; iv) develop practical applications of societal benefit, that can be used for strategic planning and informed decision-making in the Mediterranean marine environment. Such fit-for-purpose applications can serve for search and rescue operations, safe vessel navigation, tracking of marine pollutants, the monitoring of extreme events or the investigation of transport processes and the connectivity between offshore waters and coastal ecosystems. Finally, future prospects within the Mediterranean framework are discussed along with a wealth of socio-economic, technical and scientific challenges to be faced during the implementation of this integrated HFR regional network

Coastal high-frequency radars in the Mediterranean - Part 1: Status of operations and a framework for future development

none42Due to the semi-enclosed nature of the Mediterranean Sea, natural disasters and anthropogenic activities impose stronger pressures on its coastal ecosystems than in any other sea of the world. With the aim of responding adequately to science priorities and societal challenges, littoral waters must be effectively monitored with high-frequency radar (HFR) systems. This land-based remote sensing technology can provide, in near-real time, fine-resolution maps of the surface circulation over broad coastal areas, along with reliable directional wave and wind information. The main goal of this work is to showcase the current status of the Mediterranean HFR network and the future roadmap for orchestrated actions. Ongoing collaborative efforts and recent progress of this regional alliance are not only described but also connected with other European initiatives and global frameworks, highlighting the advantages of this cost-effective instrument for the multi-parameter monitoring of the sea state. Coordinated endeavors between HFR operators from different multi-disciplinary institutions are mandatory to reach a mature stage at both national and regional levels, striving to do the following: (i) harmonize deployment and maintenance practices; (ii) standardize data, metadata, and quality control procedures; (iii) centralize data management, visualization, and access platforms; and (iv) develop practical applications of societal benefit that can be used for strategic planning and informed decision-making in the Mediterranean marine environment. Such fit-for-purpose applications can serve for search and rescue operations, safe vessel navigation, tracking of marine pollutants, the monitoring of extreme events, the investigation of transport processes, and the connectivity between offshore waters and coastal ecosystems. Finally, future prospects within the Mediterranean framework are discussed along with a wealth of socioeconomic, technical, and scientific challenges to be faced during the implementation of this integrated HFR regional network.Lorente, P; Aguiar, E; Bendoni, M; Berta, M; Brandini, C; Caceres-Euse, A; Capodici, F; Cianelli, D; Ciraolo, G; Corgnati, L; Dadic, V; Doronzo, B; Drago, A; Dumas, D; Falco, P; Fattorini, M; Gauci, A; Gomez, R; Griffa, A; Guerin, CA; Hernandez-Carrasco, I; Hernandez-Lasheras, J; Licer, M; Magaldi, MG; Mantovani, C; Mihanovic, H; Molcard, A; Mourre, B; Orfila, A; Revelard, A; Reyes, E; Sanchez, J; Saviano, S; Sciascia, R; Taddei, S; Tintore, J; Toledo, Y; Ursella, L; Uttieri, M; Vilibic, I; Zambianchi, E; Cardin, VLorente, P; Aguiar, E; Bendoni, M; Berta, M; Brandini, C; Caceres-Euse, A; Capodici, F; Cianelli, D; Ciraolo, G; Corgnati, L; Dadic, V; Doronzo, B; Drago, A; Dumas, D; Falco, P; Fattorini, M; Gauci, A; Gomez, R; Griffa, A; Guerin, Ca; Hernandez-Carrasco, I; Hernandez-Lasheras, J; Licer, M; Magaldi, Mg; Mantovani, C; Mihanovic, H; Molcard, A; Mourre, B; Orfila, A; Revelard, A; Reyes, E; Sanchez, J; Saviano, S; Sciascia, R; Taddei, S; Tintore, J; Toledo, Y; Ursella, L; Uttieri, M; Vilibic, I; Zambianchi, E; Cardin,

Coastal high-frequency radars in the Mediterranean - Part 2: Applications in support of science priorities and societal needs

none42The Mediterranean Sea is a prominent climate-change hot spot, with many socioeconomically vital coastal areas being the most vulnerable targets for maritime safety, diverse met-ocean hazards and marine pollution. Providing an unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution at wide coastal areas, high-frequency radars (HFRs) have been steadily gaining recognition as an effective land-based remote sensing technology for continuous monitoring of the surface circulation, increasingly waves and occasionally winds. HFR measurements have boosted the thorough scientific knowledge of coastal processes, also fostering a broad range of applications, which has promoted their integration in coastal ocean observing systems worldwide, with more than half of the European sites located in the Mediterranean coastal areas. In this work, we present a review of existing HFR data multidisciplinary science-based applications in the Mediterranean Sea, primarily focused on meeting end-user and science-driven requirements, addressing regional challenges in three main topics: (i) maritime safety, (ii) extreme hazards and (iii) environmental transport process. Additionally, the HFR observing and monitoring regional capabilities in the Mediterranean coastal areas required to underpin the underlying science and the further development of applications are also analyzed. The outcome of this assessment has allowed us to provide a set of recommendations for future improvement prospects to maximize the contribution to extending science-based HFR products into societally relevant downstream services to support blue growth in the Mediterranean coastal areas, helping to meet the UN's Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the EU's Green Deal goals.Reyes, E; Aguiar, E; Bendoni, M; Berta, M; Brandini, C; Caceres-Euse, A; Capodici, F; Cardin, V; Cianelli, D; Ciraolo, G; Corgnati, L; Dadic, V; Doronzo, B; Drago, A; Dumas, D; Falco, P; Fattorini, M; Fernandes, MJ; Gauci, A; Gomez, R; Griffa, A; Guerin, CA; Hernandez-Carrasco, I; Hernandez-Lasheras, J; Licer, M; Lorente, P; Magaldi, MG; Mantovani, C; Mihanovic, H; Molcard, A; Mourre, B; Revelard, A; Reyes-Suarez, C; Saviano, S; Sciascia, R; Taddei, S; Tintore, J; Toledo, Y; Uttieri, M; Vilibic, I; Zambianchi, E; Orfila, AReyes, E; Aguiar, E; Bendoni, M; Berta, M; Brandini, C; Caceres-Euse, A; Capodici, F; Cardin, V; Cianelli, D; Ciraolo, G; Corgnati, L; Dadic, V; Doronzo, B; Drago, A; Dumas, D; Falco, P; Fattorini, M; Fernandes, Mj; Gauci, A; Gomez, R; Griffa, A; Guerin, Ca; Hernandez-Carrasco, I; Hernandez-Lasheras, J; Licer, M; Lorente, P; Magaldi, Mg; Mantovani, C; Mihanovic, H; Molcard, A; Mourre, B; Revelard, A; Reyes-Suarez, C; Saviano, S; Sciascia, R; Taddei, S; Tintore, J; Toledo, Y; Uttieri, M; Vilibic, I; Zambianchi, E; Orfila,