Download Where are the jellyfish?

LAND
MARINE
ATMOSPHERE
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
CLIMATE CHANGE
SECURITY
ISSUE 53 / JULY 2015
Where are the
jellyfish?
Facts
> In the Mediterranean
region, 150 000 people are
treated for jellyfish stings
each year
> In 2013, jellyfish blocked
a cooling water intake,
prompting a Swedish
nuclear reactor to shutdown
> In 2007, jellyfish wiped out
a salmon farm in Northern
Ireland killing 100 000 fish
HOW COPERNICUS SUPPORTS JELLYFISH PREDICTION
Jellyfish are one of the oldest animal species on Earth, existing for more than 500 million years. They swim
or drift with the currents through our oceans. Up to a certain number, jellyfish have a positive impact on
the ecosystem as they support carbon sequestration from the atmosphere through transporting organic
particles in the depth of the oceans. But, due to climate change, marine pollution and overfishing of
jellyfish predators, jellyfish population is recently increasing too fast. This increase can cause severe
problems when they come in contact with human activities. For fisheries, the gelatinous masses can
block up fishing nets. For swimmers, the venom in their tentacles may cause a rash, severe pain or
spasms. Moreover, jellyfish may be introduced to new environments when carried in ships’ ballast water
thus posing a serious threat to other ecosystems. To take precautionary measures to help avoid contact
between people and jellyfish, it is essential to know how they are spreading along our coasts.
Copernicus satellites assist in jellyfish prediction by providing information on a range of physical and
biological ocean parameters that favour jellyfish blooms. Ocean temperature, salinity, water currents,
sea-surface height and chlorophyll concentration strongly affect jellyfish occurrence. To locate jellyfish,
first of all field data from beach observations are entered
in a data-driven model to identify the conditions for the
presence or absence of jellyfish. The necessary data on
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
Low risk
ocean parameters can then be obtained from satellites.
These data are in turn used to determine the risk level
of jellyfish presence for a certain coastal area.
Medium risk
> Prediction of the geographic
range of jellyfish occurrence
> Support for precautionary
measures (e.g. place nets to
secure beaches)
Policy Objectives
> Integrated Maritime Policy
> Maritime Spatial Planning
> Integrated Coastal
Management
> Marine Strategy Framework
Directive
> The Common Fisheries Policy
High risk
The image shows the risk (high, medium and low) of jellyfish
occurrence near the beach in the area of La Manga, Spain
for 13 August 2012. The information is based on the jellyfish
presence index (JPI). This qualitative measurement is based,
amongst others, on satellite data, representing the probability
of encountering jellyfish at particular locations.
Source: STARLAB & EOJELLY; Background image: Google Earth
www.esa.int/copernicus • www.copernicus.eu
Benefits
ISSUE 53 / JULY 2015
Sentinel-3
MONITORING OCEAN PARAMETERS
NORTH SEA
BALTIC SEA
Sentinel-3 is primarily an
ocean mission that will
provide accurate and reliable
measurements on:
37º C
> Sea-surface temperature
24º C
BLACK SEA
> Ocean colour
> Sea-surface height
> Ocean currents
12º C
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
-0,3º C
The map shows sea-surface temperature on 28 June 2014. Warmer ocean temperatures such as within the
Mediterranean Sea (reddish colours) favour jellyfish spreading. Thus, satellite-based sea-surface temperature
information serves together with other ocean parameters (e.g. sea currents, salinity) as input for modelling the
probability of encountering jellyfish.
Source: EU Copernicus Marine Service
Copernicus Contribution
Next Steps
The Copernicus Marine Monitoring Service
uses satellite data to predict the spread of
jellyfish by providing information on the
state and dynamics of the ocean.
> Develop and implement specific satellitebased jellyfish prediction products based
on user feedback
Products
> Strengthen capabilities to forecast the
presence of jellyfish populations
> Ocean physics analysis maps (salinity,
currents, sea level, temperature)
Also Sentinel-1 supports the
Marine Monitoring Service
by providing radar images of
the ocean, showing wind and
waves.
> Differentiate predictions for different
jellyfish species
> Ocean biogeochemistry analysis maps
(ocean chlorophyll)
Dangerous lion’s mane jellyfish
www.esa.int/copernicus • www.copernicus.eu