About

The ESA Ocean Science Cluster Research Opportunity: "Upper Ocean Dynamics" project will deliver new capabilities for assessing variability and uncertainty in upper ocean dynamics. It will provide scientist a better characterisation of the Mixed Layer Depth (MLD) and upper ocean currents spatio-temporal variability. It will provide decision makers a means of quantifying the effects of local patterns of sea level rise, heat uptake, carbon storage and change of oxygen content and pH in the ocean. Its multimodal monitoring will enhance the scientific understanding of these complex questions but also to refine more direct applications, marine debris transport, tracking of oil spills and accumulation of plastic in the sea. The approach will account for transport on scales that are currently not always well represented in computer simulations, yet are observable by satellites, drifters and floats and expected to significantly contribute to the ESA Digital Twin Components for the Ocean. Upper ocean dynamics is influenced by many external factors. This includes variable atmospheric fluxes, rain, snow, sea ice, river runoff, surface and internal waves, Langmuir circulation, Ekman currents, eddies, mesoscale dynamics, mixing and biological processes.

The integrated observing and monitoring system (e.g. sea level anomaly, sea surface winds, temperature and salinity, drifters and Argo profilers, TAO moorings) have reached maturity for modern data-driven methodologies in support to operational oceanography and marine and climate services. The is clearly evidenced in the EU Copernicus programme. However, the quantitative understanding of upper ocean dynamics is still fragmented mostly due to lack of process understanding across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. In turn, proper validation of model fields remains insufficient.

In compliance with this, the UpperDyn project is therefore aiming to advance process understanding and fill knowledge gaps related to a subset of key scientific and technical objectives including:

Development of Innovative Methods: Utilizing the extensive data from European Earth Observation (EO) satellites, particularly the Sentinel missions, along with in-situ observations and advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies, to enhance the data-driven reconstruction of the upper ocean dynamics in the North Atlantic Ocean, and in particular to tackle an improved understanding of the upper ocean transports and mixed layer depth (MLD) dynamics.
Product Validation and Uncertainty Estimates : Validating the newly developed products and providing reliable uncertainty estimates to ensure their usefulness for scientific applications.
Scientific Exploration and Multidisciplinary Approach : Using these innovative products, along with additional information and tools, to address significant scientific questions and fill major knowledge gaps regarding the North Atlantic Ocean (from equatorial and tropical seas to the polar seas, via the mid latitude) and its influence on the Earth's climate system.

About

Partners

Your browser is out-of-date!