Modelling the effect of behavior on the distribution of the jellyfish Mauve stinger (Pelagianoctiluca) in the Balearic Sea using an individual-based model

Jellyfish behavior and physiology significantly influence spatial distribution and aggregations in the marine environment. However, current models used to study these transport patterns have a limited incorporation of these physiological and behavioral variables. In this paper, the life cycle and movement of the mauve stinger, Pelagia noctiluca, is simulated from fertilized egg up to the adult stage using an individual-based model (IBM). Our model combines available knowledge on the mauve stinger with inputs of ocean currents and temperature from the CMEMS hydrodynamic model. Horizontal transport is solely governed by ocean currents, but vertical distribution is controlled by diel vertical migration, motility and stage of development. Particle agents are released along the submarine canyons in the Spanish Mediterranean waters during the spring reproduction period, to later disperse and develop through an interplay between physical and biological processes. When compared with a simpler model, that omits behavior and physiology, the biophysical model is able to qualitatively better predict stranding events in the Balearic Sea. Our results expose the potential for operational life stage and distribution modelling of jellyfish

Historical and future naturalization of Magallana gigas in the Galician coast in a context of climate change

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade de Vigo/CISUGMagallana gigas is a naturalized species on the north coast of Galicia (Rías Altas, Northwest Iberian Peninsula), where it was unintentionally introduced. In recent decades, a greater abundance of M. gigas has been observed on the Galician coast, expanding towards the south, reaching the Artabro Gulf (Rías Centrales, NW Galician coast), probably due to ocean warming. Although this species has been cultivated in the Rías Baixas since the early 1990s and spawning has been reported, recruitment was never observed, which is likely due to the cold water upwelled during the spawning months. The future rise in seawater temperature may favor the naturalization of the non-indigenous species M. gigas southwards, in the Rías Baixas. Thermally, the Ría de Arousa seems to be the most favorable estuary for the future settlement of M. gigas, which may occur in the next decades. The extent of thermally favorable zones within estuaries is projected to increase rapidly by mid-century, and reaching 100 % of the estuarine area by the end of the century. As has already happened in other areas of the world, the expansion and naturalization of the Pacific oyster on the Galician coast will likely affect the native communities and economic activities, making it necessary to implement monitoring and management strategies to mitigate its effect.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481B-2021-103Xunta de Galicia-FEDER | Ref. ED431C 2021/44Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. UIDP/50017/2020Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. UIDB/50017/2020Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. LA/ P/0094/202

EuroGOOS roadmap for operational coastal downstream services

The EuroGOOS Coastal working group examines the entire coastal value chain from coastal observations to services for coastal users. The main objective of the working group is to review the status quo, identify gaps and future steps needed to secure and improve the sustainability of the European coastal service provision. Within this framework, our white paper defines a EuroGOOS roadmap for sustained “community coastal downstream service” provision, provided by a broad EuroGOOS community with focus on the national and local scale services. After defining the coastal services in this context, we describe the main components of coastal service provision and explore community benefits and requirements through sectoral examples (aquaculture, coastal tourism, renewable energy, port, cross-sectoral) together with the main challenges and barriers to user uptake. Technology integration challenges are outlined with respect to multiparameter observations, multi-platform observations, the land-coast-ocean continuum, and multidisciplinary data integration. Finally, the technological, financial, and institutional sustainability of coastal observing and coastal service provision are discussed. The paper gives special attention to the delineation of upstream and downstream services, public-private partnerships and the important role of Copernicus in better covering the coastal zone. Therefore, our white paper is a policy and practice review providing a comprehensive overview, in-depth discussion and actionable recommendations (according to key short-term or medium-term priorities) on the envisaged elements of a roadmap for sustained coastal service provision. EuroGOOS, as an entity that unites European national operational oceanography centres, research institutes and scientists across various domains within the broader field of operational oceanography, offers to be the engine and intermediary for the knowledge transfer and communication of experiences, best practices and information, not only amongst its members, but also amongst the different (research) infrastructures, institutes and agencies that have interests in coastal oceanography in Europe

Integrating inland and coastal water quality data for actionable knowledge

Water quality measures for inland and coastal waters are available as discrete samples from professional and volunteer water quality monitoring programs and higher-frequency, near-continuous data from automated in situ sensors. Water quality parameters also are estimated from model outputs and remote sensing. The integration of these data, via data assimilation, can result in a more holistic characterization of these highly dynamic ecosystems, and consequently improve water resource management. It is becoming common to see combinations of these data applied to answer relevant scientific questions. Yet, methods for scaling water quality data across regions and beyond, to provide actionable knowledge for stakeholders, have emerged only recently, particularly with the availability of satellite data now providing global coverage at high spatial resolution. In this paper, data sources and existing data integration frameworks are reviewed to give an overview of the present status and identify the gaps in existing frameworks. We propose an integration framework to provide information to user communities through the the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) AquaWatch Initiative. This aims to develop and build the global capacity and utility of water quality data, products, and information to support equitable and inclusive access for water resource management, policy and decision making.Additional co-authors: Anders Knudby, Camille Minaudo, Nima Pahlevan, Ils Reusen, Kevin C. Rose, John Schalles and Maria Tzortzio

Evaluation of operational ocean forecasting systems from the perspective of the users and the experts

The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) has an Ocean Decade Implementation Plan (UNESCO-IOC, 2021) that states seven outcomes required for the ocean we want, with the fourth outcome being “A predicted ocean where society understands and can respond to changing ocean conditions.” To facilitate the achievement of this goal, the IOC has endorsed Mercator Ocean International to implement the Decade Collaborative Center (DCC) for OceanPrediction (https://www.mercator-ocean.eu/oceanprediction/, last access: 21 August 2023), which is a cross-cutting structure that will work to develop global-scale collaboration between Decade Actions related to ocean prediction

Improving the operational forecasting system of the stratified flow in Osaka Bay using an ensemble Kalman filter–based steady state Kalman filter

Numerical models of a water system are always based on assumptions and simplifications that may result in errors in the model's predictions. Such errors can be reduced through the use of data assimilation and thus can significantly improve the success rate of the predictions and operational forecasts. The ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) is a generic data assimilation method which is suited for highly nonlinear models. However, for three-dimensional operational systems such as in the case of Osaka Bay, Japan, a full EnKF would be computationally too demanding. In the present paper, a steady state Kalman filter (SSKF) simplification based on the correlation scales derived from the EnKF is proposed. This EnKF-based SSKF (EnSSKF) as presented in this paper is applied in combination with the three-dimensional Delft3D-FLOW system, modeling the stratified circulation system of Osaka Bay in Japan. The aim of the application of the EnSSKF is to improve the daily operational forecasts of salinity and current profiles for engineering activities within the basin. Salinity and velocity components were assimilated on an hourly basis for the period 13–28 February 2002. The results of the filter performance and its forecasting ability are presented. The performance of the EnSSKF for improving the profiles of salinity and velocity components forecast during the first 24 h forecast is illustrated.Delft Institute of Applied MathematicsElectrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Scienc

Automatic extraction of shoreline from satellite images: A new approach

Remote sensing and satellite imagery have become commonplace in efforts to monitor and model various biological and physical characteristics of the Earth. The land water interface is a continually evolving landscape of high scientific and societal interest, making the mapping and monitoring thereof particularly important. This paper aims at describe a new automated method of shoreline position detection through the utilization of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images derived from European Space Agency (ESA) satellites. The resultant delineated shorelines are validated against those derived from video-monitoring systems extracted and in-situ monitoring; a mean distance of 1 to 3.51 pixels is found