Environment and safety

These two words are central to many current issues of priority for national, European and international authorities.

Source : BSAM/French Customs services

Operational oceanic forecasting is already providing answers in many areas. Government agencies have been among the first to benefit from real time oceanic information: safety at sea, surveillance, prevention of environmental risks (monitoring pollution caused by hydrocarbons, toxic algae, etc) and climatic risks (flooding, storms and other extreme climatic phenomena). Seasonal forecasting is currently a major growth area, due to the availability of oceanic forecasting systems. Moreover, coastal activities related to tourism, coastal development or aquaculture are also helped by the development of coastal models, which require a continually updated description of the deep ocean.

Through GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security), a joint European initiative by the European Community and the European Space Agency, and in particular through the Mersea and Marcoast/Roses projects, Mercator Océan is gaining a reputation as a supplier of general oceanographic services.

of services provided by Mercator Océan for monitoring pollution include the following: