Model-Observations Synergy in the Coastal Ocean

International audience; Integration of observations of the coastal ocean continuum, from regional oceans toshelf seas and estuaries/deltas with models, can substantially increase the value ofobservations and enable a wealth of applications. In particular, models can play a criticalrole at connecting sparse observations, synthesizing them, and assisting the design ofobservational networks; in turn, whenever available, observations can guide coastalmodel development. Coastal observations should sample the two-way interactionsbetween nearshore, estuarine and shelf processes and open ocean processes, whileaccounting for the different pace of circulation drivers, such as the fast atmospheric,hydrological and tidal processes and the slower general ocean circulation and climatescales. Because of these challenges, high-resolution models can serve as connectorsand integrators of coastal continuum observations. Data assimilation approachescan provide quantitative, validated estimates of Essential Ocean Variables in thecoastal continuum, adding scientific and socioeconomic value to observations throughapplications (e.g., sea-level rise monitoring, coastal management under a sustainableecosystem approach, aquaculture, dredging, transport and fate of pollutants, maritimesafety, hazards under natural variability or climate change). We strongly recommendan internationally coordinated approach in support of the proper integration of globaland coastal continuum scales, as well as for critical tasks such as community-agreedbathymetry and coastline products.