Operational oceanography can be defined as the activity of systematic and long-term routine measurements of the ocean and atmosphere, and their rapid interpretation and dissemination.

Important products derived from operational oceanography are:

• Nowcasts providing the most usefully accurate description of the present state of the sea, including living resources.
• Forecasts providing continuous forecasts of the future condition of the sea for as far ahead as possible.
• Hindcasts assembling long term data sets which will provide data for description of past states, and time series showing trends and changes.

Operational Oceanography usually proceeds by the rapid transmission of observational data to data assimilation centres. There, powerful computers using numerical forecasting models process the data. The outputs from the models are used to generate data products, often through intermediary value-adding organisations. Examples of final products include warnings (of coastal floods, ice and storm damage, harmful algal blooms and contaminants, etc.), electronic charts, optimum routes for ships, prediction of seasonal or annual primary productivity, ocean currents, ocean climate variability, etc. The final products and forecasts must be distributed rapidly to industrial users, government agencies, and regulatory authorities.

 
Today, as the ocean is undergoing dramatic changes, it is imperative that we have the relevant information across all scales to adapt, build resilience, and protect the ocean, its ecosystems, and us – humans depending on the ocean services.
 

To predict, monitor, and manage our ocean, we require operational oceanography. EuroGOOS is the voice of European operational oceanography and has played an important role in establishing Europe’s capacity and competitiveness in this field since its foundation in 1994. Our main goal is to help European operational oceanography respond to the needs of users and policy and integrate activities across various sea basins, nations, and organisations.

Operational oceanography value chain comprises all activities required to link ocean observations to decision-support tools and applications for the users. At the basis of the value chain are sustained and coordinated observations – paramount for accurate ocean forecasts and decision support and applications for blue economy, health, or security.

Through EuroGOOS regional systems (ROOS), working groups, task teams, and numerous other activities, we collectively improve the European ocean observing and forecasting systems and engage in dialogue with decision and policy makers and stakeholders.

Value chain of EuroGOOS

EuroGOOS is a collaborative network of organisations collectively enhancing the European ocean observing and forecasting systems. Through the EuroGOOS association, we bring together 48 oceanographic, hydrographic, and meteorological agencies. In addition to the direct membership, EuroGOOS network attracts over a hundred experts contributing to our objectives through EuroGOOS working groups and task teams. Furthermore, the EuroGOOS regional operational oceanographic systems (ROOS), boost the communities of practice in observations and modelling across the European sea basins.

Activities

According to the EuroGOOS value chain approach, our activities consider all relevant thematic elements of the operational oceanography development:

• Data collection and management is studied by EuroGOOS DataMEQ Working Group
• Modelling and applications for coastal areas are considered by Coastal Working Group
• Emerging biological oceanography is developed through the Biology Working Group
• Technological advances and priorities are addressed by the Technology Plan Working Group
• Scientific recommendations on the operational oceanographic developments are provided by the Science Advisory Working Group
• The societal engagement is boosted through the Ocean Literacy Working Group