Metocean Analytics

The term “metocean” comes from the combination of meteorology and oceanography. Some weather, marine, environmental, and physical oceanography conditions affect some industries in various ways in their day-to-day business.  

For marine sector stakeholders, knowing the environmental conditions supports faster strategic decision-making for maritime activities or projects. Harnessing high-quality metocean data may lead to designing tailored and efficient solutions against any challenges. 

What are the type of data analyzed? 

Various aspects are particularly useful in Metocean Analytics. A large selection of variables is then monitored in order to enable each industry or company to find personalized solutions or create a tailor-made strategy. Below is a list of the main parameters: 

• water movements: sea-surface level, current speed, and direction, tide and surge variations; 
• offshore wind: mean wind speed/strength, wind direction; 
• sea state: wavelength and height, wave period, wave direction; 
• water characteristics: depth, salinity, temperature; 
• air temperature. 

How is the data collected and where does it come from? 

Meteorological and oceanographic data is acquired from various sources that are compiled for in-depth analysis:  

• a multitude of buoy systems that are positioned in situ, under the sea surface, or on inland weather stations. These measuring instruments feature sensors that monitor the calibrated variables and then transfer the gathered information to a computer in a remote location. 
• radars and satellite observations; 
• drone technology; 

• the Copernicus Marine Service provides free, open information on all aspects of the ocean state (physical, biogeochemical) for European regional seas and global oceans. 

Data collection and analysis are conducted under international standards like ISO as well as the industry’s best practices. 

How is the data analyzed? 

A large amount of raw metocean data is not very helpful. To be understandable and exploitable by most people, values must be standardized, sorted, and then presented as a history of spatial and temporal fluctuations or used in realistic numerical modeling to make predictions. For example, It is possible to: 

• map the water’s dynamic effects from a measuring point in a radius of one kilometer or more, to generate global, regional, or local wave models, tidal and current models, etc. 

• track weather changes within a time interval (minutes, days, weeks, months, years) to evaluate the occurrence of the events and extrapolate them to get refined predictions.  

A central dashboard allows easy reading of data and models.