Coastal Observation System
for Northern and Arctic Seas
Friedhelm Schroeder, Christiane Eschenbach, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Institute of Coastal Research
Contact: Friedhelm.Schroeder@hzg.de
COSYNA approach
COSYNA is a pre-operational, integrated coastal observational system.
It adopts an integrated approach to obtain a synoptic view of the
southern North Sea by combining continuous observations and
numerical modelling using data assimilation procedures. COSYNA
aims to provide a blueprint for systems that translate the synoptic view
into operational products. Products and methodologies developed in
COSYNA can assist authorities and other stakeholders to manage
routine tasks, emergency situations and evaluate trends .
Foto
The COSYNA instrumentation is composed of various measurement
platforms such as fixed stations, buoys, FerryBoxes, shipborne
measurements and remote sensing.
Products
Examples of the COSYNA
products are short-term (days)
forecasted fields of currents,
salinity, temperature and water
constituents.
Providing a number of pre-operational "products” on a routine basis,
COSYNA aims to reduce the gap between operational oceanography and
the various users of data and forecasts of the state of the North Sea. Users
include - among others - science, administration, fishery, renewable
energies, tourism, and nature conservation.
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Right: The first product
"Current Fields in the German
Bight, Surface” provides data
fields and maps of tidal
hindcasts and forecasts of sea
surface currents in the German
Bight. The fields are updated
every 30 min.
Exemplary components
in situ by gliders
m/s
1.5
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1.0
0.5
0
Regular HF radar measurements are assimilated into a 3D circulation model.
 SPM is measured 
remote via satellite
The gliders, configured to measure salinity, temperature, chlorophyll and
turbidity, profile transects of hundreds of kms in one-month missions
gathering near-real time data. The glider data augment the pre-operational
products by providing data at locations not covered by other instruments,
and increasing the region of influence of data-assimilation procedures.
Remote sensing is used to observe large areas of ocean and land surface
simultaneously. It is possible to measure concentrations of chlorophyll,
suspended matter and yellow substance. Recently, new algorithms for
coastal regions with highly variable waters have been adapted and validated
by HZG.
During a mission in June, a sediment re-suspension event was observed by
both gliders during a summer storm when the water column was stratified.
SPM concentrations observed on June 17th, 2011 showed typical variations
with higher values close to the coasts. Glider tracks marked red and green.
Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht • Max-Planck-Straße 1 • 21502 Geesthacht • Phone +49 (0)4152 87-0 • Fax +49 (0)4152 87-1403 • www.hzg.de