Multi-Observation Thematic Assembly: existing products and future evolutions

Producing comprehensive information about the ocean has become a top priority to monitor and predict the ocean and climate change. Complementary to ocean state estimate provided by modelling/assimilation systems, a multi observations-based approach is developed thought the Copernicus Marine Service MultiOBservation Thematic Assembly (MOB TAC). Recent advances in data fusion techniques and use of machine-learning approach open the possibility of producing estimators of ocean physic and biogeochemistry (BGC) operationally, using input data from diverse sensors, satellites and in-situ programs. 

MOB TAC provides the following multi observations products at global scale:  

Blue ocean 

• 3D temperature, salinity, geopotential height and geostrophic current fields, both in near-real-time (NRT) and as long time series (REP=Reprocessing) in delayed-mode; 
• 2D sea surface salinity and sea surface density fields, both in NRT and as REP; 
• 2D total surface and near-surface currents, both in NRT and as REP; 
• 3D Vertical velocity fields as REP; 
• L2Q and L4 sea surface salinity from SMOS in REP and NRT (only L2Q) 

Green ocean 

• 2D surface carbon data sets of FCO2, pCO2, DIC, Alkalinity, saturation states of surface waters with respect to calcite and aragonite as REP; 
• Nutrient and Carbon vertical distribution (including Nitrates, Phosphates, Silicates, pH, pCO2, Alkalinity, DIC) profiles as REP and NRT; 
• 3D Particulate Organic Carbon (POC), particulate backscattering coefficient (bbp) and Chlorophyll a (Chl-a) fields as REP. 

Parallel to its portfolio, MOB TAC has and will further develop specific expertise about the integration of multiple satellites and in-situ based observations coming from the other CMEMS TACs and projects. Furthermore, MOB TAC provides specific Ocean Monitoring Indicators (OMIs), based on the above products, to monitor and the global ocean carbon sink.