1. European COastal-shelf sea OPerational monitoring and forecasting system ECOOP

2. Call text (most recent version) Integrated development of European coastal and regional seas forecasting systems (Topic for up-to-one IP) Support the consolidation, integration and development of existing networks (remote sensing and in-situ observations) into an integrated pan-European system able to make long-term systematic measurements of the oceanic parameters, including biological parameters, in the regional and coastal seas of Europe. Such a system is targeted at detecting environmental and climate changes, predicting their evolution, producing forecasts and developing decision supporting systems, taking particularly into account the GMES and GEO initiatives. Such a system should be designed to respond to the end-users needs as stressed in the GMES 2004-2008 Implementation Plan. Emphasis will be given to international co-operation and to the participation of SMEs and to international cooperation partners, as well as on the potential for technology transfer.

3. GMES Diamond

4. Key items in GMES Plan SERVICES –Public authorities and private sector –user-friendly and cost- effective access to standardised data and harmonised data policies must be fostered –Basis for decision making –Dialog with users –Secure sustainability of services Overall continuity, comparability and integration of space and in- situ data,modelling activities and interoperability of the systems need to be strengthened Closing gaps in existing monitoring network Interoperability – linkage between observing systems and other data sources Climate change Water Framework Directive Integrated coastal zone management Risks in maritime transport, ice monitoring and oil spills

5. Key items in GMES Plan Collection and distribution of large volumes of data at very high speeds Information technologies Securing access to data and information Structured framework for data integration and information management Define datapolicies. Knowledge development and exchange incl. basic research on environmental processes and methodologies Research activities: –Enhancement of monitoring technology –Improvements of models and capacity for analysis, forecasting, planning and decision support Preparation of training courses

6. Global – regional - local MERSEA ECOOP

7. The goal of ECOOP is: to build up a sustainable pan-European capacity in providing timely, quality assured marine service (including data, information products, knowledge and scientific advices) in European coastal- shelf seas in order to support the request of environmental information for policy makers, the monitoring and prediction of environmental and climate changes, for GMES, the 6th Environmental Action Plan, European Water Framework Directive and regional Conventions for environmental protection, through the development of an integrated capacity and a coordinated research with critical mass which will ensure sustainable, systematic and advanced performance with minimum overlap in workload and maximum outcome.

8. Broad Issues Marine ecosystem health Sustainable marine resource management Sedimentary system sustainability Coastal climate change impacts Water cycle Water contamination, response and mitigation Operational forecasting in shelf and coastal areas

9. Major challenges 1. To integrate present non-integrated monitoring and modelling activities, non-integrated research and operational application activities, non-integrated marine technology and operational monitoring developments, Un-coordinated long-term national research plans, Un-coordinated national monitoring plans, Separated research components into a sustainable operational monitoring and forecasting systems for European coastal-shelf seas 2. To fill the necessary knowledge gaps and components in building up the next generation systems through joint research activities

10. Organisation

11. ECOOP WP’s Integrated Capabilities WP1. Community Monitoring Framework (Kai Soetje) WP2. Community Modelling Framework (Roger Proctor) WP3. Data Management (Guiseppe Manzella) WP4. Coupling to and integration with the MERSEA global system, Pierre Bahurel WP5. Forecasting and Information Service System, Martin Holt Joint Research Activities WP 6 An environment assessment service system, Jun She WP 7 Optimal synergy between remote sensing and in-situ observing networks. Pierre Yves le Traon WP 8 Model validation and inter- comparison, Gennady Koroteav WP 9 Ecosystem modelling and data assimilation, Sukru Besiktepe Wp 10 Advancing Coastal-Shelf Sea modelling; Emil Stanev WP 11 Ensemble and super-ensemble forecasting, Nadia Pinardi WP 12 Hindcast and scenario studies on coastal climate/environment change, Einar Svendsen Wp 13 Demonstration and evaluation of ECOOP Monitoring, forecasting and information system, Kostas Nittis