Virtual Laboratory · Coastal Ocean Dynamics

Coastal Currents from Observations

Generate integrated ocean surface-current maps by combining HF radar, drifter and satellite-altimetry observations in a reproducible, cloud-based workflow.

Enter the Virtual Lab Learn about the VLab

Open access. This page is available anonymously. EOSC users can sign in through EOSC AAI or another supported identity to use the Virtual Lab; no project-membership invitation is required.

Coastal Currents from Observations Virtual Lab logo

Purpose and scope

From observations to integrated coastal-current maps

The Virtual Lab helps users build a more complete representation of ocean surface circulation by integrating direct and indirect current measurements from several sources.

Its customisable Jupyter notebooks combine High Frequency radar observations, surface-drifter measurements and geostrophic currents derived from satellite altimetry. The analysis uses DIVAnd—Data Interpolating Variational Analysis in n dimensions—and introduces physical constraints such as coastlines, horizontal divergence and momentum balance to improve the reliability of the resulting fields.

Scientific workflow

Explore, integrate and simulate

Select a coastal region

Choose an area with suitable observational coverage, especially HF radar coverage that commonly extends approximately 50–200 km offshore.

Bring observations together

Combine HF radar, drifter and satellite-altimetry current information with supporting coastline, bathymetry and forcing data.

Apply DIVAnd

Use variational analysis and physical constraints to interpolate heterogeneous observations onto a consistent grid.

Generate current maps

Produce gridded surface-current fields in NetCDF format for further analysis, visualisation and reuse.

Simulate trajectories

Run Lagrangian experiments and visualise the movement of artificial drifters released from user-selected locations.

Support pollution scenarios

Use generated currents as input to MEDSLIK-II for simulations of oil-spill transport and dispersion.

Research resources

Data, analytical methods and reusable outputs

The VLab connects established marine and environmental data sources with an openly reproducible analysis implemented through Jupyter and Julia.

Observation and reference data

The workflow draws on surface-current observations and supporting environmental information from sources including:

  • Copernicus Marine Service
  • European HF Radar data services and drifter observations
  • Satellite-altimetry products
  • GEBCO and EMODnet Bathymetry
  • NOAA, OpenStreetMap and ECMWF resources

Availability, spatial coverage and licence conditions depend on the contributing provider.

Methods and execution

Customisable Jupyter notebooks guide users through region selection, data preparation, DIVAnd analysis, visualisation and downstream simulations.

  • DIVAnd analysis implemented in Julia
  • Reproducible software environment and notebook workflow
  • Interactive visualisation of surface currents and trajectories
  • Containerised MEDSLIK-II oil-spill modelling workflow

Primary outputs

  • Gridded ocean surface-current maps
  • NetCDF datasets suitable for downstream tools
  • Artificial-drifter trajectories from selected release points
  • Inputs and scenarios for oil-spill dispersion modelling

Access and policies

Open to EOSC users

Anyone may consult this public page. EOSC users can enter the Virtual Lab after signing in through EOSC AAI or another identity provider supported by D4Science.

Open-access VLab

Sign in and start exploring

No project-membership invitation is required. Use a supported academic or federated identity to access the notebooks and services available in the VLab.

Enter the Virtual Lab

Purpose

Analyse observed coastal circulation

The VLab is provided for research, education, method evaluation and the generation of integrated coastal surface-current products and related simulations.

Users should verify the licence, attribution requirements and access conditions attached to each input dataset and generated resource.

Acceptable Use Policy

Use the environment responsibly, lawfully and for legitimate research, education or innovation activities. Respect security, privacy, intellectual property and computational limits.

Read the D4Science AUP

User Access Policy

The VLab is open to EOSC users authenticating through a supported identity. Access is not restricted to members of a particular project consortium and remains subject to the AUP and operational capacity.

Resource conditions

Data and services integrated from external providers retain their own licences, citation requirements and possible access conditions. Consult the relevant provider record before reuse.

Responsibility and provenance

Developed in Blue-Cloud 2026

The Coastal Currents from Observations Virtual Lab was developed within Blue-Cloud 2026 by the University of Liège, SOCIB and the CMCC Foundation. Scientific leadership and method development are provided by the contributing partners.

The service is operated on the D4Science infrastructure and is now presented as part of the EOSC Node | European Digital Twin Ocean. D4Science provides the digital environment and technical operation; data providers remain responsible for their source resources and associated usage conditions.

  • University of Liège
  • SOCIB
  • CMCC Foundation
  • D4Science
  • EOSC Node | European Digital Twin Ocean

Blue-Cloud 2026 received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101094227.