According to the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, only 20% of the world’s oceans have been mapped with high-resolution data in 2022. WorldOcean Circulation (WOC) uses satellite data to improve ocean current monitoring.

Source : Unesco 

The project aims to enhance global ocean current monitoring by developing and validating innovative methodologies that leverage the combined power of satellite observations, in situ measurements, and numerical models. The goal is to improve the retrieval of upper-layer ocean circulation products across four strategically selected pilot regions, chosen to represent a broad range of global ocean dynamics: a polar sea area, a western boundary current, an upwelling region, and a coastal zone.

Aligned with the goals of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, the project also demonstrates how these new products can support tangible societal applications through four high-priority use cases: Pollution Monitoring, Safe Navigation, Sustainable Fisheries, and Renewable Marine Energies. In terms of scientific output, the project has published 6 peer-reviewed papers, with 4 additional manuscripts currently in preparation, further underlining its contribution to the scientific community and operational oceanography.