Most problems, not to say all, have simple solutions. Our minds have the tendency to perplex things. This idea of a network of simple buoys would have saved so many lives...

The POSEIDON system is a unique planning tool in the endeavour for the protection of the marine environment. It also provides a competitive advantage for the development of business activity, the prevention of disaster, and the safeguarding of human life.

By establishing a network of observation buoys and the creation of a specialized operational center for the processing of the data collected and the production of forecasts, POSEIDON system is an infrastructure at the leading edge of modern oceanography in Europe.

The system under its full functionality can provide:

-immediate (on line) and dependable information
-reliable forecast
-protection of marine ecosystem
-support of marine research

A unique tool for monitoring and managing the marine environment with the use of new technologies - the “Poseidon” system - has been developed and operates by the National Center for Marine Research (NCMR).

By using some of the best meteorological and oceanographic numerical models, “Poseidon” provides reliable forecasts of the environmental conditions and contributes at the operational surveillance of the Aegean Sea, an area of strategic importance for the national policy and economy.

The “Poseidon” system funded by the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area, EFTA, (85%) and the Ministry of Economy and Finance (15%). It is one of the more important success stories of NCMR in the sector of operational oceanography and marine technology. In the frame of the worldwide trend for the development of operational oceanography, “Poseidon” network places Greece among the leading countries in this field.

Short Description of “Poseidon”
The “Poseidon” system has two main components: a) a real-time monitoring system of the environmental conditions of the Hellenic Seas and b) a numerical forecasting system that provides reliable predictions for the next days. The observational basis of the system is the network of oceanographic buoys that collect meteorological and oceanographic data and transmit them to the operational center of “Poseidon” in real-time. State of the art sensors have been installed on each buoy to monitor physical, chemical and biological parameters at different sites of the Aegean and the Ionian Sea. These data provide a complete picture of the sate of the marine environment. They are also used by the numerical system that produces daily forecasts of weather and marine environmental conditions for the next three days. The numerical system uses the following state of the art forecasting models:

a) Weather prediction atmospheric model
b) Offshore wind wave forecasting model
c) Ocean hydrodynamic model
d) Near shore wave prediction model
e) Surface pollutant transport model

The first three models are used daily and compose an important part of the “Poseidon” operational procedure, providing analytical and reliable forecasts of weather conditions, sea state, currents and hydrological structures. The near-shore wave model and pollutant transport model are used on demand (e.g. for the prediction of the fate of an oil-spill during an accident or for the estimation of the impact of wave conditions on the coastal zone).

The forecasting procedure starts each afternoon with the atmospheric model that calculates the forcing fields that drive the oceanographic models, i.e. wind, air temperature, precipitation, cloud cover and atmospheric pressure fields. The wave and hydrodynamic modes are executed afterwards using the output of the atmospheric model and exchanging information such as current speed or surface roughness. The results of all three “Poseidon” operational models are used by the oil spill or the near shore wave components that have in this way the best possible predictive skill. The whole procedure makes use of the global weather forecasts provided by the National Center for Environmental Predictions of USA (NCEP, Washington DC) as well as of the real-time data provided by the “Poseidon” buoy network.

Products and applications
The main products of the “Poseidon” system are:

a) Primary data in real time (on-line), which include all the data transmitted from the oceanographic buoys.
b) Historical data and time-series, statistical analyses and data produced by hindcasting.
c) Forecasts for the conditions of the Hellenic seas for the next 1-3 days, and long-term operational forecasts.

The outputs of the “Poseidon” system are a necessary tool for the modern enterprise or policy maker working within or for the marine environment. Their span of application is immense and it includes central and local authorities, shipyard and shipping companies, aquaculture, watersports, resorts, and research centers. “Poseidon” system contributes to increased security in marine transport, prevention and timely reaction to pollution, tourism development, increased aquaculture productivity, management and protection of the coastal zone, efficient planning of coastal and marine infrastructure, research and technology development.

“Poseidon" at Internet
A main concern of the Operational center of “Poseidon” is the continuous dissemination of its products to the users. To this end, an automatic information system through the webpages of “Poseidon” has been developed, so that every user can easily have access to the latest measurements about the conditions of the Greek Seas and the results of the forecasting models.

The online data page of the “Poseidon” System is offering access to the most recent data recorded by the buoy network in the Aegean Sea. The data are available either as time series graphs or as text-based format for the latest transmission. It also provides 72 hours forecast of weather parameters, wave conditions in the Aegean Sea and general circulation parameters.

Perspectives and collaborations
Through the “Poseidon” project, NCMR gains know-how and experience for the study of the marine environment, develops marine technology and, at the same time, Greece acquires state of the art equipment for marine environmental monitoring.

Aiming at the maintenance and the viability of the system for the coming years, its financing was attempted through national funds. With this aim, a cooperation protocol was signed recently between the ministries of Development and National Defense. The objective of this collaboration is the co-exploitation of “Poseidon” system by the National Center for Marine Research (NCMR), the National Meteorological Service and the National Hydrographic Service, as well as the mutual rendering of know-how and data, regarding the condition of the seas.

The main priority of the “Poseidon” research group is the continuous improvement of the system characteristics and the quality of its products. On the technological ground, efforts are made to improve the system with addition of new sensors, and extend the observing capacity in deeper layers. In the numerical forecasting, the predictive skill is improved through the implementation of new models, the increased exploitation of data and the increase of model’s resolution. At the same time, new models are developed for selected coastal areas of interest such as the Saronikos and the Thermaikos gulfs. “Poseidon” measurements and forecasts supported the Athens 2004 Olympics.

Despite the large number of users that already visit the “Poseidon” web pages, continuous effort is made to increase the user groups in order to succeed consistent exploitation of system products by as many users as possible. Towards this direction, contacts are made with shipping companies, athletic sailing committees and Internet publishing companies that wish to exploit the Poseidon data.

On a European level, the “Poseidon” system is integrated into international research projects focused on Operational Oceanography. The system can be characterized as the biggest, up to now, national effort among the European countries and contributes to the development of a pan-European, and later global, ocean observing and forecasting system. At the same time, the “Poseidon” group contributes to transfer of know-how and capacity building in other Mediterranean countries working towards the development of a basin wide system for monitoring and management of the vulnerable Mediterranean ecosystem.

For further information visit http://www.poseidon.ncmr.gr

Tag: The Poseidon System