Abstract. Due to the semi-enclosed nature of the Mediterranean Sea,
natural disasters and anthropogenic activities impose stronger pressures on
its coastal ecosystems than in any other sea of the world. With the aim of
responding adequately to science priorities and societal challenges,
littoral waters must be effectively monitored with high-frequency radar
(HFR) systems. This land-based remote sensing technology can provide, in
near-real time, fine-resolution maps of the surface circulation over broad
coastal areas, along with reliable directional wave and wind information.
The main goal of this work is to showcase the current status of the
Mediterranean HFR network and the future roadmap for orchestrated actions.
Ongoing collaborative efforts and recent progress of this regional alliance
are not only described but also connected with other European initiatives
and global frameworks, highlighting the advantages of this cost-effective
instrument for the multi-parameter monitoring of the sea state. Coordinated
endeavors between HFR operators from different multi-disciplinary
institutions are mandatory to reach a mature stage at both national and
regional levels, striving to do the following: (i) harmonize deployment and maintenance
practices; (ii) standardize data, metadata, and quality control procedures;
(iii) centralize data management, visualization, and access platforms; and (iv) develop practical applications of societal benefit that can be used for
strategic planning and informed decision-making in the Mediterranean marine
environment. Such fit-for-purpose applications can serve for search and
rescue operations, safe vessel navigation, tracking of marine pollutants,
the monitoring of extreme events, the investigation of transport processes,
and the connectivity between offshore waters and coastal ecosystems.
Finally, future prospects within the Mediterranean framework are discussed
along with a wealth of socioeconomic, technical, and scientific challenges
to be faced during the implementation of this integrated HFR regional
network.
Abstract. The Mediterranean Sea is a prominent climate-change hot
spot, with many socioeconomically vital coastal areas being the most
vulnerable targets for maritime safety, diverse met-ocean hazards and marine
pollution. Providing an unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution at
wide coastal areas, high-frequency radars (HFRs) have been steadily gaining
recognition as an effective land-based remote sensing technology for
continuous monitoring of the surface circulation, increasingly waves and
occasionally winds. HFR measurements have boosted the thorough scientific
knowledge of coastal processes, also fostering a broad range of
applications, which has promoted their integration in coastal ocean
observing systems worldwide, with more than half of the European sites
located in the Mediterranean coastal areas. In this work, we present a
review of existing HFR data multidisciplinary science-based applications in
the Mediterranean Sea, primarily focused on meeting end-user and
science-driven requirements, addressing regional challenges in three main
topics: (i) maritime safety, (ii) extreme hazards and (iii) environmental
transport process. Additionally, the HFR observing and monitoring regional
capabilities in the Mediterranean coastal areas required to underpin the
underlying science and the further development of applications are also
analyzed. The outcome of this assessment has allowed us to provide a set of
recommendations for future improvement prospects to maximize the
contribution to extending science-based HFR products into societally
relevant downstream services to support blue growth in the Mediterranean
coastal areas, helping to meet the UN's Decade of Ocean Science for
Sustainable Development and the EU's Green Deal goals.
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