What we do
SOCIB's mission is to operate an observing and forecasting system in the Western Mediterranean and to provide data, facilities, services and digital tools to advance the understanding of the ocean and transfer knowledge to society. To fulfill this mission, SOCIB carries out the following key activities.
Main areas of activity, where our added value lies
Discover the key activities of the ICTS SOCIB
Access to outstanding facilities for the scientific, technological and industrial community
Access our facilities
As an ICTS, SOCIB offers competitive access to the scientific, technological and industrial communities to its outstanding facility, the Metocean Data Repository, certified with the International CoreTrustSeal, as well as its Research Vessel and Glider Fleet. In addition, it offers comprehensive oceanographic, fleet and instrumentation services, providing advice from decision-making to operation.
- Access to the outstanding Metocean Data Repository facility is available through the SOCIB Data Catalog, Data API or THREDDS Data Server, upon registration.
- The Research Vessel R/V SOCIB is a coastal catamaran specially designed to study the Mediterranean, but also to support national and international oceanographic research projects.
- The Glider Fleet allows the collection of ocean data related to the Essential Ocean Variables (temperature, conductivity, depth, fluorescence, dissolved oxygen, etc.).
Ocean observing and forecasting using a multi-platform system
Access the observing and forecasting facilities of the ICTS SOCIB
SOCIB operates a multi-platform observing and forecasting system that continuously and sustainably monitors the western Mediterranean and especially the Balearic Sea. The observing system includes surface drifting buoys, profilers, 16 coastal stations installed in different ports and coastal areas of the Balearic Islands, 2 metocean buoys installed in the Ibiza Channel and the Bay of Palma, the Research Vessel R/V SOCIB (length of 24 meters), 2 high-frequency coastal radar stations, 7 gliders and 2 beach monitoring systems.
Furthermore, the Modelling and Forecasting Facility develops high-resolution forecasting models. Furthermore, the Modelling and Forecasting Facility develops high-resolution forecasting models.
Collection and distribution of open and real-time metocean
Access to the SOCIB metocean data
The ICTS SOCIB obtains oceanographic data (temperature, salinity, waves and current velocity) and meteorological data (atmospheric pressure, wind speed or air temperature) through the different observation facilities deployed mainly in the western Mediterranean. The ICTS SOCIB provides access to data in compliance with an Open Science policy, via its institutional repository, certified with the international CoreTrustSeal.
Marine research on key issues
See publications, projects and agreements
The ICTS SOCIB team, as a marine ICTS and ocean observatory, focuses its research in the western Mediterranean Sea on three key themes:
- Ocean and coastal variability, relationship to climate change variability, human pressures and global change.
- Marine ecosystem variability, coasts and beaches, ocean health, resilience and adaptation to climate change.
- The coastal ocean in real time, operational oceanography and knowledge-based management oriented services.
These topics connect with the priorities of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS): Climate, Ocean Health and Real-Time Services, mainly located in the Balearic Sea, Ibiza Channel, Gulf of Lions, Alboran Sea and Algerian Basin.
Communication, Outreach and Transfer of Knowledge
Continuous cooperation between science, public administration, the business sector and the educational community
The ICTS SOCIB designs and implements digital applications and provides services to respond to the needs and requirements of strategic sectors. In this way, it fosters the understanding of the ocean, promotes integrated marine and coastal management based on scientific knowledge, and facilitates decision-making in the context of climate change. In addition, it supports the Blue Economy and promotes marine Innovation.
It also disseminates and informs the public and the educational community about the value of the ocean and the importance of marine sciences and technologies for its conservation. To this end, it designs programs to promote ocean culture and implements citizen science projects and marine environmental education activities with innovative resources for all audiences. In addition, it offers training for future generations in the field of oceanography.
