Overall and specific objectives

The overall objective is to develop and implement satellite SAR monitoring of the marine environment in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan as a component of GMES.

The specific objectives are the following:

Scientific objectives:

• Develop and test algorithms for retrieval of marine geophysical parameters from SAR images, including open ocean parameters as well as sea ice parameters.
• Improve the forward modelling of sea surface radar scattering, including effects of current features, ocean fronts and slicks.
• Apply retrieval algorithms and radar scattering models as methods in the analysis of SAR images for improved quantification of sea surface parameters with focus on oil spill and sea ice monitoring.

GMES objectives:

• Facilitate and coordinate access to SAR and other satellite data as well as met-ocean data and in situ validation data needed for monitoring of the Northern Sea Route, the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.
• Establish and test service chains for SAR monitoring in the study areas, including agreements with users who will receive information products and provide feedback to the service providers.
• Develop and implement a user-friendly, harmonized, pan-European, interoperable system to access data and information about the marine environment based on web map server technology.
• Build a network with other related projects, organizations and agencies to create momentum for developing operational oceanography services, focusing in the three study areas, with strong components of satellite observation.

Major milestones

Time schedule for the project:

• September 2007: First data sets acquired and made available to partners. Web map servers installed by partners operating regional nodes. First user workshops completed and prepared user requirement document ready. DISPRO installation workshop for service providers completed.
• December 2007: Chosen SAR analysis tools installed and tested by partners. RUK (Russian, UKraine and Kazakstan) partners have installed a first version of DISPRO and web map servers.
• June 2008: Regional information nodes established and populated with sample data sets. A routine data acquisition which will run through the second year established for generation of new products. Feedback on SAR analysis tools used by the service providers.
• December 2008: Progress report on SAR acquisition, analysis and dissemination to users, and status on use of the information system and data dissemination. User feedback on products delivered, status on promotion and training activities.
• June 2009: Service delivery and information system under MONRUK completed, the final user workshops conducted and user assessment reports ready. Recommendations for further implementation of operational services in the study areas made.
  

Expected results

• Established procedure to facilitate access to SAR data from ENVISAT and RADARSAT in near real time for the RUK area.
• Improved algorithms and analysis tools for SAR ocean and sea ice products.
• Demonstration of SAR monitoring and service chain to key users in the RUK area .
• Installed and tested an information system with web  map servers and regional data  nodes.
• Results of user requirements analysis, users surveys and feedback from users to service chain testing, which will be useful to all potential data provideres and service providers who plan to offer new and improved information products to users.
• Recommendations for development of future monitoring services for the marine environment in the RUK area.

Contact point

Prof. Stein Sandven, +47 55 20 58 00, Stein.Sandven at nersc.no