COASTAL OCEAN WATCH

At the junction between ocean and continent, coastal waters are characterized by high biological production. These rich and complex ecosystems are highly vulnerable, affected by human and natural changes. All these pressures undoubtedly affect the quality of coastal waters, whose preservation is essential for economic and ecological reasons.

Monitoring and evaluating the evolution of coastal waters is fundamental to identify areas where significant changes occur in order to prioritize appropriate actions for their preservation. In this context, the satellite observation of the ocean now makes it possible to collect various physical and biological parameters at spatiotemporal scales inaccessible from traditional in situ measurements. Among the various parameters that can be observed from space,measuring the water color makes it possible to acquire qualitative and quantitative information on the biogeochemical composition of surface water.

In this context, the Coastal Ocean Watch project, bringing together researchers and engineers in remote sensing and ecology, was developed around a main objective:
To evaluate and analyze the temporal evolution of the quality of European coastal waters over the last 20 years using remote sensing of water color.
To do this, we will estimate, using appropriate algorithms coupled with satellite observations, some biogeochemical parameters, providing relevant information on the quality of the water and the trophic state of European coastal waters. The time series of these different marine parameters will then be analyzed using appropriate statistical tools to define their main temporal trends over the last 20 years. As the conservation of marine biodiversity is closely linked to environmental monitoring, this project will provide essential information to decision makers to take appropriate measures to stabilize and / or enhance natural biodiversity.