The Texas A&M – University of Haifa Eastern Mediterranean Observatory: Monitoring the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

The need for sustained long-term measurements of the ocean has increased due to climate variability and societal desire to mitigate the impact of natural disasters on coastal communities. Knowledge about key ocean variables is essential for monitoring and predicting long-term ocean variability, and real-time capability is needed to inform short-term forecasting systems to assist coastal managers and response teams. Ocean observatories collect oceanographic data for scientific and societal reasons, and open access to these data enables their use by the general public, decision-makers, and stakeholders.