Mercator Ocean Sets Sail to Support the PIRATA Programme
With PhD candidate Ergane Fouchet on board, Mercator Ocean is participating in the 36th PIRATA cruise, contributing essential observations in the tropical Atlantic to support research and operational ocean forecasting. Mercator Ocean on the 36th PIRATA Cruise Ergane Fouchet, PhD candidate at Mercator Ocean, is currently taking part in the 36th Pilot Research Moored Array in […]
WMO 2025 Climate Report highlights Ocean Changes and Earth Energy Imbalance
The WMO marks World Meteorological Day by releasing its 2025 State of the Global Climate Report, with Mercator Ocean as a key contributor. The World Meteorological Organization has released its annual flagship report on the State of the Global Climate. Mercator Ocean is honoured to have contributed to this landmark global effort, driven by the expertise of the world’s leading climate scientists. The report […]
Mercator Ocean welcomes the launch of the European Commission’s initiative OceanEye at the European Ocean Days 2026
At this year’s European Ocean Days, Ursula von der Leyen unveiled the European Ocean observation initiative OceanEye, with the EU Digital Twin Ocean as a key component. The EU Digital Twin Ocean at the service of OceanEye The 3rd edition of the European Ocean Days brought together the European Ocean community in Brussels for a week-long event featuring high-level […]
Mercator Ocean launches new podcast “Decoding the Ocean”
Mercator Ocean International and the Copernicus Marine Service have launched a new podcast series, Decoding the Ocean, exploring how ocean science and digital innovation transform observations into free, open and reliable ocean intelligence with real-world impact. Through expert insights and real-world examples, the podcast highlights how ocean data supports science, policy and the blue economy, […]
Norway Becomes the First Member State of the Mercator International Centre for the Ocean
Norway has officially become the first Member State of the Mercator International Centre for the Ocean, following the unanimous ratification of the Convention by the Norwegian Parliament. This development represents a significant milestone in the ongoing establishment of the intergovernmental organization dedicated to the development of Digital Ocean systems and services. This ratification builds on […]
Mercator Ocean Advances Its Transition to an Intergovernmental Organisation
Over the past year, Mercator Ocean International has advanced its transformation into an intergovernmental organization (IGO) for digital Ocean systems and services. At the UN Ocean Conference in Nice (June 2025), 12 countries endorsed a declaration of continued commitment, led by France and Norway as the first signatories of its international Convention. The Convention is now open […]
Advancing International Cooperation on Global Ocean Observations in the G7
As the G7 enters a new cycle under the 2026 French Presidency, international cooperation on ocean observations and prediction systems remains critical to addressing critical Ocean issues. Mercator Ocean International, through its coordination role under the EU4OceanObs project, continues to support the G7 Future of the Seas and Ocean Initiative (FSOI) Working Group and its efforts to set priorities and strategic alignment among G7 members towards a sustained global ocean observing and forecasting system. Since 2016, the […]
Navigating COP30 with Mercator Ocean’s Special Envoy, Dr. Karina von Schuckmann
Following her previous engagement at earlier Conferences of Parties (COPs), Mercator Ocean International once again designated world-renowned oceanographer Dr. Karina von Schuckmann as its Special Envoy at COP30. Key agenda highlights of Karina von Schuckmann, Mercator Ocean International Special Envoy for COP30 Recognised globally for her leadership in Ocean climate monitoring and her role as […]
BG4Sea: Advancing AI-driven seasonal forecasting for marine ecosystems
From numerical models to AI-assisted seasonal forecasts, BG4Sea demonstrates Mercator Ocean’s cutting-edge approach to marine ecosystem prediction. Marine ecosystems are under increasing pressure from climate change, affecting the global carbon cycle, ocean productivity, biodiversity, and human livelihoods. Anticipating these changes is essential for monitoring, sustainable management, and climate-informed decision-making. At Mercator Ocean International, this challenge […]
AI Meets the Ocean: Next Generation of Forecasting with OceanBench and GLONET
Mercator Ocean International is intensifying its efforts to leverage the power of AI to deliver increasingly accurate ocean forecasting. At the Annual Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS2025) in San Diego, USA, our organization unveiled OceanBench, the first open benchmark designed to assess AI Ocean forecasting models. This represents a new major milestone after […]
Sentinel-6B Secures the Future of High-Accuracy Sea-Surface Height Data
On Monday 17 November, the Sentinel-6b satellite was successfully launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California (USA), finally taking its place in orbit. The advanced technology integrated into the Sentinel-6b satellite will support scientists and organizations across the world to extend the unique 30-year record of sea-surface […]
Progress Through Co-Design: Looking Back at the Digital Ocean Forum 2025
On 27 and 28 November, the European Ocean community gathered in Brussels at the Digital Ocean Forum 2025 to mark the launch of the second phase in the development of the European Digital Twin Ocean, EDITO2 (2025-2028). Alongside European Commission representatives and co-development partners, Mercator Ocean participated in the many panel discussions and breakout sessions […]