WEkEO is the EU Copernicus DIAS reference service for environmental data, virtual processing environments and skilled user support
The European Commission has launched a new initiative called DIAS to provide a single access point to all Copernicus data and information, alongside processing resources, tools and other relevant data.
As key organisations in the Copernicus Programme, EUMETSAT, ECMWF, EEA and MERCATOR OCEAN have combined their long-standing experience to develop the WEkEO Copernicus DIAS service. WEkEO is the EU's Copernicus DIAS reference service for environmental data, virtual environments for data processing and skilled user support. WEkEO DIAS Service is implemented by EUMETSAT, ECMWF, EEA, and MERCATOR OCEAN.
The name WEkEO (pronounced [wikio]) first refers to the image of the Wikipedia reference portal, and also brings up the idea of a collaborative platform where the first syllable “WE” involves the 3 centres (EUMETSAT, ECMWF, EEA, and MERCATOR OCEAN) together with all WEkEO’s users. It also refers to the way the WEkEO platform is built with a distributed architecture. The letter “k” is synonymous of Knowledge here. Finally, “EO” stands for “Earth Observation” and for “Environment Observatory”.
WEkEO’s strength relies on its distributed infrastructure built thanks to the Copernicus organisation already in place in the 3 centres: infrastructure and data from the 3 centres are not duplicated but rather linked together, reducing costs for the European tax payer and avoiding the need for new energy-consuming infrastructure. This approach gives users direct access to work with the most up-to-date Copernicus data instead of having to rely on copied, archive datasets. Finally, this federative approach can be extended to other selected external partners, so the system has the potential to continually grow and expand in the future.
The WEkEO DIAS service is launched at this occasion of the 20th anniversary of the signature of the Baveno Manifesto. The European Commission in partnership with ESA and with the support of the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research, organises a special celebration event on the 20th and 21st of June 2018 in Baveno, Lake Maggiore, Italy.
The European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT)is an intergovernmental organization based in Darmstadt, Germany, currently with 30 Member States. EUMETSAT operates the geostationary (Meteosat) satellites and Polar (Metop) satellites as part of the Initial Joint Polar System (IJPS) shared with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). EUMETSAT is also a partner in the cooperative high-precision ocean altimetry Jason missions involving Europe and the United States (Jason satellites). EUMETSAT has been entrusted by the European Commission to exploit the four Sentinel missions of the Copernicus space component dedicated to the monitoring of atmosphere, ocean and climate. EUMETSAT will carry out these tasks in cooperation with ESA.
The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) is an independent intergovernmental organization supported by 34 Member and Co-operating States. ECMWF is both a research institute and a 24/7 operational service, producing and disseminating numerical weather predictions to its Member States. This data is fully available to the national meteorological services in the Member States. The Centre also offers a catalogue of forecast data that can be purchased by businesses worldwide and other commercial customers. ECMWF has been entrusted by the European Commission to operate Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) and Copernicus Climate Change Monitoring (C3S) Service.
MERCATOR OCEAN is an ocean data and information service provider in real and delayed time. The company is located in South-West France near Toulouse. MERCATOR OCEAN designs, develops and runs forecasting systems based on ocean numerical modelling fed by ocean observations, to describe the physical and biogeochemical states of the ocean at any time, above and beneath the surface, at global and regional scales. MERCATOR OCEAN is a private, non-profit company owned by nine major players in operational oceanography worldwide, that are privileged users and key scientific partners of the Copernicus Marine Service: CMCC (Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici), CNRS (French National Centre of Scientific Research), Ifremer (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea), IRD (Institute of Research for Development), Météo-France and the UK Met-Office, NERSC (Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center), SHOM (Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the French Navy), and the Spanish Puertos del Estado. MERCATOR OCEAN has been entrusted by the European Commission to operate Copernicus Marine Service (CMEMS).
Copernicus is the European Union's Earth Observation Programme, looking at our planet and its environment for the ultimate benefit of all European citizens. The Programme is coordinated and managed by the European Commission. It is implemented in partnership with the Member States, the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), EU Agencies and MERCATOR OCEAN.
The European Environment Agency (EEA) aims to support sustainable development by helping to achieve significant and measurable improvement in Europe's environment, through the provision of timely, targeted, relevant and reliable information to policymaking agents and the public. Our key goals are to be the prime source of environmental knowledge at European level, play a leading role in supporting long-term transition to a sustainable society, and to be a lead organisation for environmental knowledge-sharing and capacity-building