2023 was an unusual year for sea ice extent. What to expect from this season’s Arctic and Antarctic sea ice?
This time of year, maximum and minimum sea ice coverage is expected in the Arctic and in the Antarctic, respectively. At opposite seasonal cycles, the north and south poles reach their freezing and melting peaks every year between February and March. Scientists at Mercator Ocean International (MOi) have been monitoring seasonal sea ice changes using […]
Making Ocean knowledge accessible to all with revamped Ocean Explainers and a brand-new Ocean Climate Portal
In a bid to make ocean science accessible to all, Mercator Ocean has unveiled new digital features on the Copernicus Marine Service web platform. New elements include an upgrade of the Copernicus Marine’s Ocean Explainers, originally released in 2021, and the launch of the brand-new Ocean Climate Portal. These two initiatives aim to improve the […]
ACCIBERG: improving the quality of arctic forecasts
Navigating Arctic waters poses significant challenges due to the presence of sea ice and icebergs. While forecasts for sea ice are available through the Copernicus Marine and Climate Change Services, information about icebergs is limited, only derived-satellite observations are provided in specific regions. The ACCIBERG (Arctic Cross-Copernicus forecast products for sea Ice and iceBERGs) project, […]
Mercator Ocean becomes Observer of the OSPAR Convention
In July 2023, Mercator Ocean International (MOi) became Observer of the OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic. The OSPAR Convention, governed by the OSPAR Commission, works to address environmental issues affecting the North-East Atlantic region. OSPAR’s latest publication, the Quality Status Report 2023, provides a comprehensive assessment of […]
International Digital Twins of the Ocean Summit 2023
Digital twins of the ocean will enhance our capacity to make informed operations, management and policy decisions that influence the processes and systems they mirror, enabling impactful communication that brings data to life. Through complex integration of data, models, analytics, and rules, digital twins resort to cutting-edge cloud services, supercomputing, artificial intelligence, made accessible through […]
Following Mercator Ocean’s Special Envoy for COP28, Dr. Karina von Schuckmann
In order to follow and provide inputs and expertise in key Blue events at COP28, Mercator Ocean International (MOi) dispatched world-renown oceanographer Karina von Schuckmann as its Special Envoy at COP28. Known for her expertise in Ocean climate monitoring and contributions as a lead author of high-level reports including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change […]
Following Mercator Ocean’s Special Envoy for COP28, Dr. Karina von Schuckmann
In order to follow and provide inputs and expertise in key Blue events at COP28, Mercator Ocean International (MOi) dispatched world-renown oceanographer Karina von Schuckmann as its Special Envoy at COP28. Known for her expertise in Ocean climate monitoring and contributions as a lead author of high-level reports including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change […]
El Niño Update November 2023
An El Niño event has been underway since spring 2023. Conditions have been gaining strength, and as of mid-November, these are still observed in the tropical Pacific Ocean. The evolution of El Niño remains uncertain, but it is likely that it will shortly peak and end in the coming Northern Hemisphere spring. This bulletin details […]
The Arctic and Coastal Hubs join the Copernicus family
The Copernicus Arctic and Coastal Hubs have been launched at the occasion of the EU Space Week on 6-8 November 2023 in Seville, Spain. The two hubs will respectively represent open entry points aggregating Copernicus data on the Arctic Region and European coastal areas. The thematic hubs will help identify new user needs, foster digital […]
A new method combining biogeochemical-Argo floats and numerical models broadens our comprehension of the Ocean
Gauging the biochemistry of the Ocean is crucial to understanding how climate change affects the health of these precious resources. However, as the numerical models used for the task become more complex, evaluating their accuracy becomes increasingly challenging. A fruitful collaboration between Mercator Ocean International (MOi), the Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche sur Mer and the […]
One Planet Polar Summit: the Paris Call for Glaciers and Poles
The One Planet Polar Summit was held in Paris from November 8 to 10 as part of the Paris Peace Forum. It marks a decisive step towards protecting the polar and glacial regions, i.e. the cryosphere. Initiated by French President Emmanuel Macron and organised by Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, Ambassador for the Poles and Maritime Issues, […]
The Academy of Sciences Awards Karina von Schuckmann, Oceanographer at MOi
On October 17 and November 21, the Academy of Sciences presented all the awards and medals it had granted in 2023. Karina von Schuckmann, an oceanographer specialised in ocean-climate monitoring in the scientific direction of Mercator Ocean International, was honored with the prestigious 2023 Gérard Mégie Award from the Academy of Sciences. Quantifying Earth’s Energy […]