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Poster
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY-4.0)

  • 18:15 – 19:00
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Forecasting and Observing the Open-to-Coastal Ocean for Copernicus Users (FOCCUS): Advancing the Digital Ocean for Coastal Monitoring and Forecasting

Poster
In session Postersession No. 2 , Sept. 3, 2025, 18:15 – 19:00
Exact timing: 18:15 – 19:00

Staneva, Joanna1 , Johnson, K.1 , Reyes, E.2 , Tintore, J.2 , Bonaduce, A.3 , Verri, G.4 , Federico, I.4 , Bartosova, A.5 , Terskii, P.5 , Christensen, K. H.6 , Jamet, Q.7 , Melet, A.8 , Hermosa, I. G.8 , Meszaros, L.9 , El Serafy, G.9
  1. Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon
  2. Balearic Islands Coastal Observing And Forecasting System
  3. Stiftelsen Nansen Senter For Miljoog Fjernmaling
  4. Fondazione Centro Euro-Mediterraneosui Cambiamenti Climatici
  5. Swedish Meteorological And Hydrological Institute
  6. Meteorologisk Institutt
  7. Service Hydrographique Et Oceanographique De La Marine
  8. Mercator Ocean International
  9. Stichting Deltares

Confronting the escalating impacts of climate change on our coastlines demands a revolution in how we monitor, predict, and protect these vital zones. The rapid advancement of the Digital Ocean, powered by AI-enhanced and data fusion high-resolution coastal observations, and sophisticated AI-driven numerical models, offers this crucial leap forward. Building on this technology and the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS), the Horizon Europe programme of the European Commission launched the Forecasting and Observing the Open-to-Coastal Ocean for Copernicus Users (FOCCUS) project (foccus-project.eu), consisting of 19 partners from 11 countries. Member State Coastal Systems (MSCS) and users will collaborate to advance the coastal dimension of CMEMS by improving existing capability and developing innovative coastal products.

FOCCUS enhances CMEMS’s coastal capabilities through three key pillars: i) developing novel high-resolution coastal data products by integrating multi-platform observations (remote sensing and in-situ), Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms, and advanced data fusion techniques for improved monitoring; ii) developing advanced hydrology and coastal models including a pan-European hydrological ensemble for improved river discharge predictions, and improving member state coastal systems by testing new methodologies in MSCS production chains while taking advantage of stochastic simulation, ensemble approaches, and AI technology; and iii) demonstrating innovative products and improved co-produced services that address both Environmental and Societal Challenges, enhancing the performance and societal relevance of coastal ocean forecasting systems in and downstream of CMEMS.

As an endorsed action under the UN Ocean Decade’s CoastPredict program, FOCCUS aligns its efforts with international initiatives, fostering collaboration to address the complex challenges of coastal regions worldwide. FOCCUS collaborates with relevant international initiatives, such as the COSS-TT (Coastal Ocean and Shelf Seas Task Team under OceanPredict) and UN Decade programmes (such as CoastPredict, DITTO, and the Decadal Collaborative Center on Coastal Resilience (DCC-CR)). The project emphasizes co-production and collaboration with end-users, policy-makers, and local communities. This enhances the societal relevance of coastal forecasting systems and Digital Twin technologies, supporting decision-making processes for sustainable coastal management and climate adaptation strategies in a changing world.

FOCCUS is funded by the European Union (Grant Agreement No. 101133911). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.