- GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel
- Christian-Albrechts Universität zu Kiel
The ocean economy is growing and the pressures on our seas and the ocean, including from over exploitation, pollution and climate change, have asserted significant stresses on the marine system. Digital twins are rich, virtual representations of objects and systems, in this case the ocean system, or a part of it. They allow us to track how and why the things we care about are changing and simulate what their futures could be, including by exploring ‘what if?’ scenarios. They can provide critical knowledge to plan and guide human activities in the ocean and coastal spaces to safeguard a healthy ocean and support a sustainable green-blue economy.
Digital twins depend upon: an int egrated, and sustainable, ocean observing system ; well -managed, accessible and interoperable data and software; predictive processes or data-driven models with which users can interact, to support their needs; sharing of good and best practive and traing, education and outreach.
The connection between
a
digital twin and
its real-world counterpart
requires a well-formulated interface between the digital twin, environmental
and societal
data, and the user. User interaction is an essential function embedded in the design of digital
twins, to ensure maximum information value for investment in ocean observations. This may include user driven development of
visualisation, user-driven data transformation and data-science tools
or predictive modelling.
Digital twins thus enhance our ability to make informed operational, scientific management and policy decisions about the systems they represent. They can play an essential role in planing for future uses of the ocean and thus support ecosystem based ocean management or marine spatial planing. They also enable impactful communication that brings data to life.
The scale of effort to support the delivery of ocean information required to understand the climate system, address negative impacts of human activities , improve large-scale marine ecosystem management and guide the development of a more sustainable ocean economy, is beyond the capabilities of any single nation. Global trans-basin investment and coordination are required across the value chain to ensure fit-for-purpose Digital Twins of the Ocean. This is what the gobal programme DITTO of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development pursues. More information about the DITTO Programme can be found at https://ditto-oceandecade.org/