Leveraging data challenges to enhance Copernicus Marine Service products and align with the future European Digital Twin of the Ocean.

The SLICING (Sea Level Innovations and Collaborative Intercomparison for the Next-Generation products) project is a Copernicus Service Evolution project that responds to the evolving landscape of sea level processing. SLICING promotes a novel approach centered on open and collaborative data challenges for altimetric product developments and assessments. With a focus on fostering collaboration and methodological advancement, SLICING aligns with the objectives of the Copernicus Marine Service (CMEMS) and the overarching spirit of the European Digital Twin of the Ocean (DTO).

 

With the growing influence of artificial intelligence in oceanography and the advances of oceanographic observations, such as the new SWOT satellite, the surge in innovative methodologies and processing techniques is huge. However, these scattered efforts and the lack of generic and open comparisons is still a hindrance to reliably inform operational process chains. SLICING proposes a structured framework for the comparison of state-of-the-art methods and operational products to assess processing techniques and improve altimetry products. This framework not only aims to enhance the quality of observation and mapping processing for CMEMS but also provides a blueprint for the CMEMS Sea Level Thematic Assembly Centre evolution. By formulating altimetric processing problems as data challenges on collaborative platforms, SLICING attempts to provide a link between scientific innovation and operational implementation, addressing the gap between research and production. These challenges, rooted in rigorous software development practices, transcend mere method testing. They act as catalysts for collaboration, bringing together scientists around key operational altimetric processing issues.

 

In this presentation, we show examples of open comparisons for preprocessing the new SWOT data and mapping conventional altimetry. Through these examples, we offer a comprehensive overview of the strides made during the SLICING project, shedding light on advancements in sea level processing and the facilitation of collaborative data challenges. This overview can serve as a valuable exploration into the dos and don'ts that emerged from the project, offering insights into effective strategies for fostering collaborations and enhancing the quality of oceanographic products. By distilling the lessons learned, this broader perspective is intended to guide future initiatives, both within the CMEMS and in the broader context of the European DTO. Indeed, through shared problem formulation, evaluation metrics, and reproducible practices, the work carried out in the SLICING project exemplifies how the spirit of collaborative data challenges aligns with the DTO's vision of a unified digital platform.