Underlying models for the European Digital Twin Ocean, a demonstration of three Focus Applications

The EDITO-Model Lab project is aiming to develop the next generation of ocean and coastal models, combining artificial intelligence and high-performance computing, to be integrated into the EDITO public infrastructure, providing access to Focus applications. The improved core model suite together with automated model builders and downscaling tools, as well as high-resolution data sources from both numerical simulations and machine learning approaches will be published in an interactive manner on the EDITO platform. In this work we demonstrate the capabilities of the European Digital Twin Ocean in so called Focus Applications, designed for intermediate users that are interested in ocean and coastal management. The Focus Applications cover three areas in line with the EU Mission "Restore our Ocean and Waters". Biodiversity: Optimizing Marine Protected Areas by simulating biodiversity indicators and habitat suitability; Zero Carbon: Reducing carbon emissions of the marine transportation industry by including waves and currents in optimizing ship routing; and Zero Pollution: Reducing marine pollution by simulating the transport of oil spills and marine plastics, assessing hazards and backtracking to the source. By developing these Focus Applications and deploying them in the EDITO public infrastructure, the EDITO Model Lab consortium hopes to showcase the value of the next generation of ocean models (DTO engine), moreover contribute to a fruitful discussion with intermediate users around observing, simulating, forecasting and projecting coastal and ocean processes. This work includes interactive demonstrations.