COSNORTH offers improved environmental, maritime and climate services on Spain’s northern coastline
Supported by European and national entities, this project represents a significant advance in the monitoring and management of the marine environment to promote sustainability and safety in coastal and estuarine areas.
The Institute of Environmental Hydraulics of the Universidad de Cantabria (IHCantabria) has launched the implementation of the COSNORTH project, which aims to develop an operational system of coastal and estuarine oceanography, to improve the prediction of marine variables and strengthen environmental, maritime and climate services on the north coast of Spain. This is a pioneering initiative, funded by Mercator Ocean International, within the framework of the Copernicus National Marine Service Collaboration Program: EU COASTAL MONITORING DEMONSTRATORS.
At the moment, IHCantabria is working on the identification of potential end users and on activities necessary to ensure the maximum involvement of stakeholders in the development of the COSNORTH project and the future use of the proposed services. The implementation period of this project is 18 months, during which time it is intended to improve the accuracy of coastal marine forecasts and provide advanced tools for environmental risk management and maritime surveillance.
With the development of COSNORTH, IHCantabria expects to contribute to the strengthening of the coastal and estuarine modeling system, providing high resolution data, which are based on the Copernicus Marine Service. The kick-off meeting for this project was held at the beginning of this year and members of several research groups of this institute are participating in its implementation.
Innovation in the prediction and management of the marine environment
The COSNORTH project is based on the development and implementation of two operational systems: Operational Coastal Modeling System (CANTABRIA-OCFS) and Operational Estuarine Modeling System (SANTANDER-OEFS-AI).
CANTABRIA-OCFS is based on the Regional Ocean Modelling System (ROMS) model and is supported by data from the Copernicus Marine Service. This system will provide high resolution forecasts (~300 m) of marine variables, such as surface currents, three-dimensional currents and sea level along the Cantabrian coast.
The SANTANDER-OEFS-AI system uses artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques; it will provide high-resolution (~50 m) predictions for the Bay and Port of Santander, in order to improve risk management and climate adaptation in estuarine environments.
“These operational systems will provide useful information to develop innovative services, such as MARLAW and FLOODPORT, in close collaboration with national and regional entities,” reports Ana Julia Abascal, principal investigator of the COSNORTH project.
MARLAW is a maritime surveillance service that will improve maritime surveillance and the application of European anti-pollution regulations. IHCantabria will develop this service in collaboration with the Guardia Civil and other maritime authorities; its delivery date is scheduled for July this year.
FLOODPORT is an early warning system for flood risk prevention in estuarine ports. This system will provide climate indicators and forecasts 2-3 days in advance, allowing authorities to take mitigation measures in a timely manner. Delivery of this system is scheduled for January 2026. For the development of FLOODPORT, IHCantabria has the support of Puertos del Estado and the Port Authority of Santander.
Relationship with the MARION project
The coastal and estuarine operational systems and the online modeling system IHTESEO, key products derived from the MARION project, will be disseminated and enhanced through COSNORTH, ensuring the applicability and sustainability of the systems developed in this project, which is part of the Marine Science Program (PCM).
Impact and contribution to European policies
COSNORTH will contribute to the implementation of several European Union policies and directives, such as: protection of the environment and reduction of marine pollution (Directive 2009/123/EC); adaptation to climate change by improving coastal resilience (Directive 2007/60/EC); improvement of maritime safety and enforcement of environmental crime regulations (Directive 2024/1).
