Image caption: Snapshot from PORTO Online, a web portal developed under CALYPSO South and providing a featured data service targeting harbour masters, port authorities and operators in the shipping and maritime sectors for the Maltese Islands and the Malta-Sicily Channel.
Mercator Ocean International, a non-profit company providing services related to oceanography and focused on the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, has just issued the 5th COPERNICUS Ocean State Report, presenting a comprehensive analysis of the current state and unprecedented changes affecting the oceans. Malta is highlighted prominently in the executive summary and promotional material used to introduce this prestigious world renowned publication, with local national services used to monitor extreme weather conditions being emphasised and praised as a major achievement.
The report discusses the urgent need for sustainable ocean governance based on scientifically-sound ocean data and knowledge. The Physical Oceanography Research Group (PO-Res.Grp) within the Department of Geosciences of the University of Malta features with a prominent article entitled ‘Monitoring storms by merged data sources for the Malta shelf area in 2019’ (Drago et. al) which describes how operational observing and forecasting systems in Malta are used to study extreme storm events.
“Three state-of-the-art tools developed using COPERNICUS Marine Service products for tracking and forecasting key ocean changes … include an alert tracking system for extreme ocean conditions and weather in Malta. The new Maltese tracking system, developed using Copernicus Marine Service products and first used in 2019, provides alerts and near-real-time evolution of potentially extreme ocean and weather conditions. It assists local authorities in improving land and marine protection, providing guidance for safe ocean navigation and in relaying critical information to emergency management staff during severe ocean and weather events.”
Prof. Aldo Drago, leader of the PO-Res.Grp, described his satisfaction that our local research and operational systems have been given such international prominence. “This is indeed a boost to our leading role in proposing new ideas and products in joint international collaborative projects aimed to support local authorities in improving coastal and marine protection, providing guidance for safe ocean navigation, and relaying key information to emergency units for use during extreme event conditions”.
The full 5th edition of the report can be easily accessed .
