About HyperBOOST

The 2-year project funded by The European Space Agency focuses on the validation of satellite data through in situ observations collected via the Tara expedition around the European coast. 

The project is an extension to the ESA Biodiversity + Precursors: Coastal Ecosystems project Biodiversity of the Coastal Ocean: Monitoring with Earth Observation (BiCOME) to obtain in situ observations useful for validation of satellite products related to coastal biodiversity.

 


TREC's sampling trip in Tallinn, Estonia, 26-28 June, 2023. Copyright: Kinga Lubowiecka/EMBL Image source.

Aims

 

  • Provide validation data (in-situ hyperspectral radiometry, bio-optical, optically active components biogeochemical and biodiversity relevant data) in optically complex waters for several missions/products: Sentinel-2, Sentinel-3, Landsat 8/9, PRISMA, ENMAP, PACE (stations during 2024)

  • Provide a hyperspectral bio-optical characterisation of European regional seas with a consistent set of instruments/measurement protocols 

  • Validate satellite products from different sources

  • Preparation activities for ESA CHIME in coastal waters (Copernicus Hyperspectral Imaging Mission for the Environment)

Expected Impact

 

  • Assessment of uncertainties of Earth Observation products for European coastal waters

  • Optical characterisation of European waters. First coherent dataset after the Babin et al. 2003 studies

  • Enable future activities:

    • Preparation for CHIME (Copernicus Hyperspectral Imaging Mission for the Environment) L2 products

    • Algorithm development for Carbon studies, Land/Ocean fluxes, riverine fluxes, drivers/pressures, Ocean Health, Ocean Biodiversity

    • Scouting of ecologically significantly different areas to be proposed as future hyperspectral validation sites


The So-Rad instrumentation on the left and HSP1 on the right. Both are installed on to the vessel to provide crucial data

About TREC

 

TREC (TRaversing European Coastlines) brings together the expertise and resources of EMBL (The European Molecular Biology Laboratory) and various European partners, aiming to initiate a new era of exploration in coastal ecosystems. The primary objective is ambitious and time-sensitive: to observe, model, and understand the effects of changing environments on organisms and communities at the cellular and molecular levels. By delving into these intricate aspects, the researchers seek to gain valuable insights into the intricate dynamics of coastal ecosystems and the impact of environmental changes.

The expedition is conducted by EMBL, The Tara Ocean Foundation together with The Tara Oceans Consortium and The EMBRC (European Marine Biological Research Centre), taking place between April 2023 and June 2024 and will cover more than 120 land-sea transects on board the schooner Tara. The schooner is equipped with a range of capabilities to take in situ measurements and samples. 

Find out more about TARA-TREC

Project partners

 
 

Collaborating with