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In this edition:

• A Welcome Note from the Project Manager Kelli Johnson
• FOCCUS Insights & Technical Developments

• FOCCUS Survey: Copernicus products in coastal forecasting centers 

• FOCCUS in the Spotlight!
• FOCCUS Outreach Activities & Announcements

The Horizon Europe project FOCCUS aims to enhance Copernicus Marine Service's coastal dimension by developing innovative products and integrating Copernicus with Member States services. It facilitates seamless ocean monitoring and forecasting across global, regional, and coastal scales, reinforcing Copernicus research for challenges like coastal protection and sustainable blue economy development.

Welcome to the first edition of the “Forecasting and Observing the Open-to-Coastal Ocean for Copernicus Users” (FOCCUS) Project newsletter. In this update, we are excited to share our progress towards the project’s goal of developing advanced and seamless coastal monitoring and forecasting systems to help improve and advance the coastal dimension of the Copernicus Marine Service (CMEMS). From the kickoff meeting in March, to the first completed Deliverables, Milestones, and Workshops leading into the new year, the first eleven months of the project have been full of collaborative progress among our 19 European partner institutions.

As we continue to move forward into the second year of FOCCUS, it’s important to stay connected and aligned on the progress we are making together to advance the coastal dimension of CMEMS. We appreciate all the hard work and dedication that has gone into FOCCUS so far and are happy to share in this newsletter all that has been accomplished in the last year.

Kelli Johnson

Project manager 

The HORIZON FOCCUS project has made substantial progress during its first year after the official start in January 2024. The different Work Packages active this year have well advanced in their Milestones and Deliverables contributing to the main FOCCUS objective to improve the monitoring and observing of the open-to-coastal system and to enhance the coastal component of Copernicus Marine Service.

During this first year, a Project Data Management Plan has been produced (https://zenodo.org/records/12819320)  which will be updated as the project advances. Another project key achievement has been the development of preliminary model historical datasets for E-HYPE and LISFLOOD hydrological models. These datasets are critical for enhancing our understanding of hydrological systems and freshwater inputs, enabling more accurate predictions of coastal areas. 

In addition to the advancements in the different Work Packages, the project has actively participated and represented in relevant events, such as the EuroGOOS Baltic Operational Oceanography System (BOOS) General Assembly at DMI, Copenhagen, Denmark; the IHO-EU Network Working Group (IENWG-14) meeting and the European Maritime Day in Svendborg, Denmark, where FOCCUS's innovative approaches were presented to the operational oceanographic and hydrographic community. These presentations have helped highlight the project’s contribution to improving ocean and coastal monitoring and forecasting systems and fostered collaboration with other key stakeholders in marine and environmental research.

The project has also been present in two international relevant conferences during the last months of the year.  

FOCCUS was represented at OceanPredict 2024 Symposium in Paris, France, from 18-22 November 2024, where it was presented a poster on the overall project, as well as a key talk by our Coordinator, Joanna Staneva, who highlighted FOCCUS project in her presentation. Additionally, a poster on the project’s contributions to data integration and marine forecasting has also been presented. The event has provided an excellent platform, in the framework of the UN Ocean Decade, to highlight FOCCUS’s progress in advancing coastal forecasting and integrating high-resolution data into operational models.

Following that, FOCCUS has participated in the AGU Fall Meeting 2024 in Washington, D.C., from 9-13 December. The project has been represented through both in-person and two online posters: one on Coastal Observations for Enhancing Models and Applications and another on a general presentation of FOCCUS. This event has been a key opportunity to engage with the international scientific community and demonstrate FOCCUS’s impact at global level.

Looking ahead, FOCCUS will continue to focus on integrating coastal in situ, hydrological and remote sensing data sources to enhance the accuracy and reliability of forecasting systems. Several Deliverables and Milestones will be achieved by the end of 2024 and beginning of 2025, as one report on coastal high-resolution data products being developed in WP2.These engagements, combined with ongoing work on high resolution coastal observations, hydrological models, interface with Copernicus models and development of coastal applications, will position FOCCUS to play a pivotal role in advancing coastal and ocean forecasting capabilities in the coming years.

FOCCUS is launching a survey to document the current use of Copernicus Marine Service products by national and regional coastal forecasting centres, and to help shape the roadmap for improved integration between open ocean and coastal operational oceanography systems in Europe.

In addition, the information on forecasting systems will be supplemented with data from the OceanPrediction Atlas of the UN Decade Ocean Prediction Collaborative Center. While registration to this atlas is optional, it is strongly encouraged.

The survey is specifically aimed at local operational ocean forecast systems (OOFS). OOFS refer to modelling systems operated at national or sub-national scales, typically embedded in larger European regional systems such as those provided by the Copernicus Marine Service. In this survey, we target OOFS that routinely provide operational oceanographic data products to coastal regions.

The Horizon Europe FOCCUS project is making significant strides in improving the coastal extension of the Copernicus Marine Service, aiming to better serve coastal users and Member States. With increasing challenges posed by climate change and human activity, as well as the growing needs of Blue Economy stakeholders, FOCCUS is focused on expanding and refining these vital services.

To learn more about the FOCCUS project’s innovative approach and the value it brings to coastal data services, we invite you to watch the latest project video. The video highlights the project’s goals and the transformative impact it will have on supporting coastal management in the face of global environmental changes.

During the EMODnet "Marine Data for Ports, Marinas, and Boating" workshop, Mercator Ocean International showcased the FOCCUS project.

Dr. Francisco Javier Campuzano of +ATLANTIC CoLAB presented the FOCCUS project at MarineUserDays, hosted by EUMETSAT in Lisbon, Portugal this week. 

He explained how the project aims to address and enhance the coastal applications of the Copernicus Marine Service Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS), enhancing support for coastal users and EU Member States. 

FOCCUS was present at the OceanPredict24 Symposium at the UNESCO Ocean HQ in Paris.

Coordinator Dr. Joanna Staneva gave a key plenary presentation on coastal and regional ocean prediction across scales, processes and applications, mentioning FOCCUS as a main EU initiative working on improving coastal forecasts. 

Two FOCCUS posters were displayed in the section on observational systems, one general poster about the project and another on new insights of high-resolution coastal observations. 

FOCCUS participated in the AGU Fall Meeting 2024 in Washington, D.C., from 9-13 December. The project was represented through both in-person and online posters, showcasing its scope and achievements, particularly in improving coastal and marine services. This will be a key opportunity to engage with the international scientific community and demonstrate FOCCUS’s impact.

Early 2025

In early 2025, FOCCUS will hold an end-of-year virtual meeting in mid to late January. This informal meeting will bring together the consortium to reflect on the year’s progress and plan for the months ahead.

17-19 March 2025, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

The General Assembly will take place in Palma, Spain, from 17-19 March 2025, providing an opportunity for the team to meet in person, discuss technical reviews, and set the course for the next phase of the project.

28 April-2 May 2025, Vienna, Austria

Looking further into 2025, FOCCUS will be featured at the European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly in Vienna, Austria, from 28 April to 2 May. This high-profile event will showcase the project’s advancements in coastal forecasting to a broader scientific audience.

4-6 June 2025, Nice - France

A FOCCUS abstract was submitted and accepted.

Register here

16-19 June 2025, Brest, France 

Register here

23-27 June 2025, Vienna, Austria 

FOCCUS abstracts were submitted.

Register here

These upcoming activities reflect FOCCUS’s dedication to advancing coastal and marine forecasting, building stronger connections with global stakeholders, and ensuring the project’s outcomes align with the needs of coastal users and policymakers.

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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.

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