MERCATOR OCEAN JOURNA: 
SEPTEMBER 2021 
2. PRODUCT QUALITY EVOLUTION ALONG 
COPERNICUS-1: MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS 
2.1 The PQ-Dashboard: A new end-user gateway 
to PQ information 
The new version of a Copernicus Marine Service PQ central 
website called “Product Quality Dashboard” (PQD) was 
developed in 2020 and launched in January 2021. The new 
feature of this PQ-Dashboard concerns ocean monitoring 
and forecasting capacity summaries. They can now be 
displayed for the global ocean and the regional European 
seas, and for the three families of parameters: 
Blue Ocean (physical), 
Green Ocean (biogeochemical), 
White Ocean (sea ice). 
These summaries (Figure 3) include recent information on 
the number of satellite and in-situ observations available, 
and a first attempt of user-friendly forecast accuracy 
indicators. Now, this last functionality is available only for 
selected variables (i.e., sea surface temperature, Chlorophyll, 
and sea ice concentration), but will soon be extendec 
to a wider set. Furthermore, this user-friendly platform 
improves the interactive display of PQ metrics (including 
monthly updates of estimated accuracy numbers, EAN), ana 
anables the visualization of direct comparisons between 
any Copernicus Marine Service model product and in-situ 
>bservation timeseries at fixed mooring locations (the so- 
called ‘Class 2’ metrics, in GODAE terminology). 
The PQ-Dashboard is intended for new and experienced 
Copernicus Marine Service users, as it includes a virtual 
tour, detailed explanations for each graphic and a dedicatec 
section gathering “expert” validation metrics (with an 
extended number of parameters). 
A search zone lets the user directly display the 
scientific quality information related to a given product 
using its catalogue identifier (ex: GLO_ANALYSIS_ 
FORECAST_001_024). The new Class 2 metrics, showing 
timeseries of observations at fixed buoys together with their 
model counterpart are displayed by a click on the map as 
shown in Figure 4. 
POD/GLOBAL/BLUE OCEAN 
REGIE 
BLUE Ocean 
"opernicus Marine Monitoring and Forecasting Capacity: Global 
Im this panel, yau wiM find generic information on the quality of blue ocean parameters, the physical ocean and ocean circulation parameters available in the CMEMS 
satalogue. The quality of CMEMS products Is documented in QUIDs, which can be found on the catalogue, along with each product, One major source of deviation fram 
Ihe nominal quality of products as described in reference QUIDs, is the day-to-day fluctuation in the number of available observations which are used for the elaboratior 
»f this product. Hence, recent time series of the daily number of valid observations per parameter are shown here (satellite on the left, and in situ in the center), to inform 
/ou on potential quality drops due ta this specific source of uncertainty, This information Is updated on a daily basls, The accuracy of the 12-höur forecast from the mode 
aroduct dedicated to the area is illustrated on the right {only for sea surface temperature at the moment}. These forecast quality summaries show the distribution of 
measured values for a selection of accuracy metrics applied to catalogue products, These summaries are updated monthiy and will be progressively extended +0 al 
parameters. Detailed quality information is already available for all forecast products in the “expert metrics” part Just below. 
PARAMETER 
®) temperature 
©) Sattrity 
() Sea Surface Height 
CD) Current Velocity 
(*) Sea Surface Wave 
OD) wind 
7) Mixed Layer Thickness 
> Daily number of incoming 
satellite observations 
a T 
w ae [37T 
EL 
DI9-0B-02017- 11-240020-02-27200-O-112020-07-22021010720214:22 
ANDeKRLUNG AWWINd: SeaSUNscEHelcht. Sch Surface 
m 
x 
[” : Show all parameters 
5 Daily number of incoming in 
situ observations 
121-06-20 20220708 2021.07:10 20210713 202107:20 20210725 202 
femperature Sallnity Current Velocity SeaSurfacet 
Forecast quality for sea 
surface temperature vs 
drifting buoavs 
> 
279% 
zw —— 
A eier ee 
‚wartet im tell eat 
x} 
AM 
VA IDATION EXPERT METRICS 
“igure 3: The PQ Dashboard: Snapshot of the Monitoring and Forecasting Capacity Summary for the global ocean sea-surface temperature 
(as provided by the PQ-Dashboard in Februarv 2021).