The use of Copernicus Marine Service products to describe the state of the Tropical Western Pacific Ocean around the Islands: a case study

Fiji served as President of the UN General Assembly in 2017, linking climate (SDG13) and ocean (SDG14) as the foundation of blue economies for island and coastal states around the world. The resulting United Nations Oceans outcome statement stressed “the importance of enhancing understanding of the health and role of our ocean and the stressors on its ecosystems, including through assessments on the state of the ocean, based on science and on traditional knowledge systems. We also stress the need to further increase marine scientific research to inform and support decision-making, and to promote knowledge hubs and networks to enhance the sharing of scientific data, best practices and ‘know-how.’” (UN, 2017). The Copernicus Marine Service Atlas for the Pacific Ocean States goes beyond the unique compilation of CMIP3 climate model projections and data tools compiled by the Pacific Climate Change Science Program (PCCSP, 2011, 2014). A complete overview of tropical Pacific observing network is available in the WMO publication library (GCOS, 2014a, 2014b). Our study focuses on the application of the available CMEMS products to the Pacific domain defined by PCCSP. As president of COP23, Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has emphasized the importance of the climate and ocean connection and the need to protect ocean health to protect the planet: ‘We are all in the same canoe’ (https://cop23.com.fj/fijian-prime-minister-cop23-president-remarks-assuming-presidency-cop23/). The Copernicus Marine Service Atlas for Pacific Ocean States compiled by the author team responds directly to Fiji’s requests at the 2017 United Nation Oceans for SDG 14, life below water and the 2017 COP23 for SDG13, climate action which goes beyond the Pacific

Copernicus Marine Sea Surface Temperature and chlorophyll-a indicators for two Pacific Islands: a co-construction monitoring framework for an integrated, transdisciplinary, multi-scale approach

International audienceOcean case studies with socio-economic relevance. Statement of main outcome: The ocean is an integral part for the three pillars of sustainable development: environment, society and economy. Pressures on the ocean from climate change, pollution, and over exploitation have increased over the past decades, posing unprecedented challenges, particularly for vulnerable communities such as the Large Ocean Island States, and these pressures need to be monitored. This study analyses the time series of Essential Ocean Variables sea surface temperature and chlorophyll-a in coastal reefs of two pilot regions in Fiji and New Caledonia. In situ measurements represent true local conditions, with a necessarily limited coverage in time and space. Remote sensing data have a broad coverage but are necessarily limited in terms of resolution and accuracy in the coastal zone. Our analysis points to the advantage in using these complementary data types for the same geographical areas at small spatial scales close to the coast, and in particular, for high frequencies and extreme events. We discuss the way forward for a co-coconstructed monitoring framework, drawing on ongoing initiatives in Oceania, and advocate a methodology for the use of ocean data to support society and economy. Co-construction with stakeholder involvement is paramount for this framework, including policy- and decision-makers, industry, scientists, local and indigenous, governmental and non-governmental organisations, all of whom need sound, multi-disciplinary science advice, targeted expertise, and reliable evidence-based information to make informed timely decisions for the right timescale. Such transdisciplinarity combines scientific, traditional, administrative, technical, and legal knowledge repertories

Copernicus Marine Sea Surface Temperature and chlorophyll-a indicators for two Pacific Islands: a co-construction monitoring framework for an integrated, transdisciplinary, multi-scale approach

International audienceOcean case studies with socio-economic relevance. Statement of main outcome: The ocean is an integral part for the three pillars of sustainable development: environment, society and economy. Pressures on the ocean from climate change, pollution, and over exploitation have increased over the past decades, posing unprecedented challenges, particularly for vulnerable communities such as the Large Ocean Island States, and these pressures need to be monitored. This study analyses the time series of Essential Ocean Variables sea surface temperature and chlorophyll-a in coastal reefs of two pilot regions in Fiji and New Caledonia. In situ measurements represent true local conditions, with a necessarily limited coverage in time and space. Remote sensing data have a broad coverage but are necessarily limited in terms of resolution and accuracy in the coastal zone. Our analysis points to the advantage in using these complementary data types for the same geographical areas at small spatial scales close to the coast, and in particular, for high frequencies and extreme events. We discuss the way forward for a co-coconstructed monitoring framework, drawing on ongoing initiatives in Oceania, and advocate a methodology for the use of ocean data to support society and economy. Co-construction with stakeholder involvement is paramount for this framework, including policy- and decision-makers, industry, scientists, local and indigenous, governmental and non-governmental organisations, all of whom need sound, multi-disciplinary science advice, targeted expertise, and reliable evidence-based information to make informed timely decisions for the right timescale. Such transdisciplinarity combines scientific, traditional, administrative, technical, and legal knowledge repertories

Global sea-level budget 1993-present

Abstract. Global mean sea level is an integral of changes occurring in the climate system in response to unforced climate variability as well as natural and anthropogenic forcing factors. Its temporal evolution allows changes (e.g., acceleration) to be detected in one or more components. Study of the sea-level budget provides constraints on missing or poorly known contributions, such as the unsurveyed deep ocean or the still uncertain land water component. In the context of the World Climate Research Programme Grand Challenge entitled Regional Sea Level and Coastal Impacts, an international effort involving the sea-level community worldwide has been recently initiated with the objective of assessing the various datasets used to estimate components of the sea-level budget during the altimetry era (1993 to present). These datasets are based on the combination of a broad range of space-based and in situ observations, model estimates, and algorithms. Evaluating their quality, quantifying uncertainties and identifying sources of discrepancies between component estimates is extremely useful for various applications in climate research. This effort involves several tens of scientists from about 50 research teams/institutions worldwide (www.wcrp-climate.org/grand-challenges/gc-sea-level, last access: 22 August 2018). The results presented in this paper are a synthesis of the first assessment performed during 2017–2018. We present estimates of the altimetry-based global mean sea level (average rate of 3.1 ± 0.3 mm yr−1 and acceleration of 0.1 mm yr−2 over 1993–present), as well as of the different components of the sea-level budget (http://doi.org/10.17882/54854, last access: 22 August 2018). We further examine closure of the sea-level budget, comparing the observed global mean sea level with the sum of components. Ocean thermal expansion, glaciers, Greenland and Antarctica contribute 42 %, 21 %, 15 % and 8 % to the global mean sea level over the 1993–present period. We also study the sea-level budget over 2005–present, using GRACE-based ocean mass estimates instead of the sum of individual mass components. Our results demonstrate that the global mean sea level can be closed to within 0.3 mm yr−1 (1σ). Substantial uncertainty remains for the land water storage component, as shown when examining individual mass contributions to sea level. </jats:p

Copernicus marine service ocean state report

The oceans regulate our weather and climate from global to regional scales. They absorb over 90% of accumulated heat in the climate system (IPCC Citation2013) and over a quarter of the anthropogenic carbon dioxide (Le Quéré et al. Citation2016). They provide nearly half of the world’s oxygen. Most of our rain and drinking water is ultimately regulated by the sea. The oceans provide food and energy and are an important source of the planet's biodiversity and ecosystem services. They are vital conduits for trade and transportation and many economic activities depend on them (OECD Citation2016). Our oceans are, however, under threat due to climate change and other human induced activities and it is vital to develop much better, sustainable and science-based reporting and management approaches (UN Citation2017). Better management of our oceans requires long-term, continuous and state-of-the art monitoring of the oceans from physics to ecosystems and global to local scales. The Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS) has been set up to address these challenges at European level. Mercator Ocean was tasked in 2014 by the European Union under a delegation agreement to implement the operational phase of the service from 2015 to 2021 (CMEMS Citation2014). The CMEMS now provides regular and systematic reference information on the physical state, variability and dynamics of the ocean, ice and marine ecosystems for the global ocean and the European regional seas (Figure 0.1; CMEMS Citation2016). This capacity encompasses the description of the current situation (analysis), the prediction of the situation 10 days ahead (forecast), and the provision of consistent retrospective data records for recent years (reprocessing and reanalysis). CMEMS provides a sustainable response to European user needs in four areas of benefits: (i) maritime safety, (ii) marine resources, (iii) coastal and marine environment and (iv) weather, seasonal forecast and climate. Figure 0.1. CMEMS geographical areas on the map are for: 1 – Global Ocean; 2 – Arctic Ocean from 62°N to North Pole; 3 – Baltic Sea, which includes the whole Baltic Sea including Kattegat at 57.5°N from 10.5°E to 12.0°E; 4 – European North-West Shelf Sea, which includes part of the North East Atlantic Ocean from 48°N to 62°N and from 20°W to 13°E. The border with the Baltic Sea is situated in the Kattegat Strait at 57.5°N from 10.5°E.to 12.0°E; 5 – Iberia-Biscay-Ireland Regional Seas, which includes part of the North East Atlantic Ocean from 26 to 48°N and 20°W to the coast. The border with the Mediterranean Sea is situated in the Gibraltar Strait at 5.61°W; 6 – Mediterranean Sea, which includes the whole Mediterranean Sea until the Gibraltar Strait at 5.61°W and the Dardanelles Strait; 7 – Black Sea, which includes the whole Black Sea until the Bosporus Strait

Copernicus Marine Service Ocean State Report, Issue 5

International audienc

Copernicus Marine Service Ocean State Report, Issue 3 Introduction

International audienc

Copernicus Marine Service Ocean State Report

The Compernicus Marine Environmenta and Monitoring Servic