The EU Digital Twin Ocean: a pillar to Restore our Ocean and Waters

The ocean is facing several pressures, like biodiversity loss, pollution, rapid warming, and unsustainable human activities. Science-based knowledge is needed more than ever to ensure correct implementation of EU ocean policies, striving for the protection and restoration of marine ecosystems at both national and international waters, and the protection of vulnerable coastal communities. The European Digital Twin Ocean (EU DTO) is a consistent, high-resolution, multi-dimensional and near real-time virtual representation of the ocean, combining ocean observations, artificial intelligence, advanced modelling operating on high-performance computers and accessible to all. The EU DTO is currently being built to give governments, researchers, businesses, activists, and citizens alike the power to make informed decisions, backed by science and data, to restore marine and coastal habitats, support a sustainable blue economy and mitigate and adapt to climate change.

The DTO integrates a wide range of data sources to transform data into knowledge. This highly accurate living replica of the ocean is fed by continuous observations from thousands of sensors across the world’s oceans and numerous satellites. Users will interactively access comprehensive information to assess the impact of potential interventions in different climate scenarios. The EU DTO is build on existing European satellite, in situ and model data provided by Copernicus Marine Service, EMODnet, and pan-European and national research infrastructures, and at the same time allow for integration of alternative data flows from Internet of Things, citizens and industry. A powerful asset to support the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and 2030 Agenda, the EU DTO provides the ability to explore the impacts that management decisions such as reducing CO₂ emissions or establishing marine protected areas would have on marine ecosystems, climate, and ocean economy sectors.