Copernicus Marine Essentials Webinar Notes

Introduction

Host: Gail Asteric, Training and Capacity Development Officer at Mercator Ocean International.
Structure of the Webinar Series: 3 online webinars.
Objective: Introduction to the Copernicus Marine Service.

Q&A section located on the top bar of the webpage for technical questions.
Use the chat for small talk only.
Raise your hand feature on Zoom for speaking directly to speakers during the Q&A session.
Survey available for feedback on the webinar.

Gail Asteric (Mercator Ocean International)
Daria Andreka (Novelties)
Speakers:
- Aurora Bardo (Product Owner, Mercator Ocean)
- Cedric Gordon (User Support Manager, Mercator Ocean)
- Anna Matulka (Head of Division, Forecasting Systems, Portos Estado)
- Ricardo Marti (Researcher, National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics)

A European Union program for Earth observation.
Services include:
- Atmosphere Monitoring Service
- Marine Environment Monitoring Service
- Land Monitoring Service
- Climate Change Service
- Emergency Management Service
- Security Service
Managed by various entities, with Mercator Ocean overseeing the marine monitoring service.

Website provides free access to an extensive catalog of products.
Data types include:
- Blue Ocean: Physical components (currents, temperatures, waves, wind)
- White Ocean: Ice-related data (coverage, velocity, concentration)
- Green Ocean: Biogeochemical data (phytoplankton, nutrients)
Data available in real-time and historical formats (up to 30 years).
Forecast data available for up to 10 days into the future.

Ocean Products Catalog:
- Access to various data products.
- Filter by geographical area and other parameters.
Ocean State Report:
- Annual report summarizing ocean changes due to climate change.
Ocean Monitoring Indicators:
- Key variables for monitoring ocean trends.
Ocean Climate Portal:
- Interactive access to key variables and explanations.
Ocean Explainers:
- Information on various ocean-related topics with infographics.
Use Cases:
- Real-world applications of Copernicus marine data.
Ocean Visualization Tools:
- Tools for visualizing ocean data on maps.

Getting Started:
- Overview of services and how to access data.
Help Center:
- Articles and resources for data usage.
User Notifications:
- Information on operational events, incidents, and maintenance.
User Learning Services:
- List of training events and resources.
E-Learning Materials:
- Tutorials and notebooks sorted by level and subject.
Product Quality Information:
- Information on data quality and changes.

Discussed the importance of understanding the marine physical environment in Spanish ports.
Explained the operational oceanography systems used for port activities, including real-time data and modeling.

Shared insights from research on autonomous surface vehicles and data validation using Copernicus products.
Discussed challenges and methods in conducting oceanographic research.

Differences in Copernicus Data Usage:
- Anna: Focused on operational forecasts for public safety and environmental protection.
- Ricardo: Emphasized theoretical understanding and validation of ocean processes.
Challenges in Data Usage:
- Technical issues with data downloads; importance of support from Copernicus.
Advice for New Users:
- Understand the ocean dynamics and familiarize with the data and tools available.

Questions included topics on data accuracy, access limitations, using AI, and more.
Future sessions planned to address remaining inquiries and provide detailed insights into data access and tools.

Reminder about the next webinar on April 15th focusing on access to marine data.
Encouragement to complete feedback surveys and access additional resources on the webinar website.