Case Studies
Toward the Digital Twin of the Ocean
Create a digital representation of ocean real-world entities and processes for the Mediterranean Sea
The 4DMED-Sea Project
A project funded by the European Space Agency (ESA)
The Mediterranean Sea ecosystem provides fundamental resources and services that support large and complex human socio-economic activities, that can be severely impacted by both natural and anthropogenic stressors. Management, restoration and preservation of the Mediterranean Sea Health require an advanced understanding of the marine ecosystem functioning, fostering innovative approaches to provide science-based solutions for sustainable development, such as those enabled through future Digital Twins of the Ocean.
Investigating the complex interactions between the physical/biological/biogeochemical processes that shape the Mediterranean ecosystem represents a key interdisciplinary research objective that will be addressed by the 4DMED project. The project will significantly improve the European EO capacity of the Mediterranean through the generation of consistent high-resolution data-driven 4D reconstruction(s) of essential ocean variables describing its physical and biogeochemical state, and their analysis through innovative synergistic tools that combine satellite observations, in situ data, and innovative algorithms based on emerging technologies and advanced models, such as those based on Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning.
Three Scientific Case Studies will be focusing on bio-physical interactions at ocean fronts, seascape connectivity and ecoregions definition and variability, including potential impacts on biodiversity, as well as on the analysis of the role of Lagrangian dispersion on higher trophic levels, focusing on the ecology of selected target species in sub-regional contexts.
The impact of the new products and the achievements of the scientific studies will be assessed as advanced monitoring solutions within future DTO, targeting marine spatial planning and protection policies, and fishery management. The 4DMED consortium will provide recommendations for a Science Agenda and 5-year science roadmap and actively interact with the major international initiatives focused on Mediterranean Sea Health.
