Littoral 2010 International Conference, London (21-23 Sept.

2010) 1

Marine and Coastal Information Systems

for Europe and Africa

N. Hoepffner, M. Clerici, and A. Marelli

European Commission- Joint Research Centre

Institute for Environment & Sustainability
Ispra, Italy
 Environmental / African Marine Information Systems
( EMIS / AMIS )
Littoral 2010 International Conference, London (21-23 Sept. 2010) 2

• Open source web-based application that allows

the provision of scientific information, by way of
geo-referenced maps (created in real-time), and
supplies the users with :
- a browser/navigation mode to create maps
- a query mode for basic analysis on the data

• The bulk of environmental analysis in EMIS and

AMIS relies on models data outputs and satellite-
derived products, from optical and infrared
satellite sensors
 EMIS / AMIS Architecture
Littoral 2010 International Conference, London (21-23 Sept. 2010) 3

HTTP
Web browser Web server

html

Browse Query
PHP Interpreter Perl Parser (data)
(map)

Mapscript Map (.png)

PDL
netCDFPERL
PDL::IO::HDF
MapServer 4.0
C functions
GDAL DATASET

netcdf HDF
 Environmental Marine Information System (EMIS)
Littoral 2010 International Conference, London (21-23 Sept. 2010) 4

Satellite derived products

GIS website Maps
Navigation

Basic
Statistics

Numerical models data

Time-series

Other
marine variables Threshold
from Atlases / analysis
databases
Multivariate
http://emis.jrc.ec.europa.eu analysis

http://amis.jrc.ec.europa.eu
 EMIS / AMIS Toolbox
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 EMIS / AMIS Data description
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• Satellite-derived monthly products from CZCS (1979-86),

SeaWiFS and MODIS-A (1998-09), AVHRR Pathfinder (1985
-09)
Surface chlorophyll (mg.m-3), Diffuse attenuation Coefficient (K490, m-1), Depth
integrated primary production (gC.m-2.d-1), Sea surface temperature…
Absorption coefficient (CDOM), backscattering coefficient (TSM)

• Modeled Data from hydrodynamic simulations (European seas)

oPhysical variables as generated by 3D model (mixed layer depth, mixed layer
temperature and salinity,…)
oEcological , water quality indicators

• Other variables and layers

–Bathymetry (GEBCO Digital Atlas), catchment basins, rivers…
 Hydrodynamic modeling (EMIS)
Littoral 2010 International Conference, London (21-23 Sept. 2010) 7

General Estuarine Transport Model / GETM

http://www.getm.eu/

GETM features
 Flexible vertical and horizontal
coordinate system
 Coupled with advanced
turbulence parameterization from
GOTM (general ocean turbulence
model)
 Ability to simulate shallow
water processes in full baroclinic
mode
 Regular updates of source code
by dedicated ‘developers’
(Burchard and Bolding 2002; Stips et al. committee
2004; Miladinova and Stips 2010)
 Data quality assessment
Littoral 2010 International Conference, London (21-23 Sept. 2010) 8

Satellite products
• Processing data with most recent software SeaDAS v.6.1
• Extensive validation of OC products against field measurements
• Regional studies (northern Adriatic Sea)
• Global assessment using public databases (e.g. NODC,
SeaBASS, JODC)
• Participation to all phases of an international comparative exercise
of satellite-based Primary Productivity Algorithm (see Campbell et
al. 2002; Carr et al. 2006 ; Friedrichs et al. 2009; Saba et al. in press)

Hydrodynamic modelling
• Use of newest version of GETM (v. 1.8.x)
• Regional validation exercises of model output products (North Sea and Baltic
Sea, Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea)
 Modelling and Marine Indicators (EMIS)
Littoral 2010 International Conference, London (21-23 Sept. 2010) 9

Combining Satellite data (and/or in situ data) with modelling to derive Ecological
and Water Quality Indicators applicable to all European Seas (large scale) and
comparable for different region
Conceptual Model for Eutrophication Risk Assessment

 Physical Sensitive
Area Index (PSA)

 Oxygen Depletion
Risk Index (Oxyrisk)

(Druon et al. 2004)

 EMIS: Physical Sensitive Area (PSA) index
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 EMIS: OXYgen depletion RISK index (OXYRISK)
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 AMIS: Marine / coastal productivity around Africa
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Applications
 Ecosystem functioning
and regime shift
 Fisheries management
 Climate change impacts
 Carbon cycle monitoring
and carbon budget analysis
 Spatial Correlation
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 Temporal variability
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Chlorophyll May 2004

May 2006
 Concluding remarks
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Coastal /Marine Information Systems key attributes

 valuable role in the study of marine and coastal environments in the
context of database creation, monitoring, mapping, modeling and
visualization
 Good communication channel between science and management, and the
public at large (data integration and conversion into information of
societal benefits)
 the systems are easily accessible and simple to use with just a browser
and internet connection
 the information is of high-quality, based on accurate scientific research
and recent technology and optimized through collaborations and
networking with EEA, Marine Conventions, EU-funded projects
(SPICOSA, SESAME, PEGASO,....)
 rely on continuously updated database and regular revision of technical
content (new indicators, new layers….)