Data from FerryBoxes on ships of opportunity going on permanent routes are stored inside this database (ferrydata.hzg.de). Parameters are temperature, salinity, chlorophyll-a fluorescence, oxygen and different others. The data model is transect oriented. A data portal to access and visualise the data is also provided.

COSYNA (Coastal Observation System for Northern and Arctic Seas) is an operational coastal monitoring, forecasting and information system for the North Sea composed by fixed platforms, FerryBoxes, gliders and HF-radar systems. It is being developed by institutes of the German Marine Research Consortium (KDM) and collaborating institutions and is operated by the HZG Research Centre. The infrastructure represents an investment of 9 M €. It was build up since 2007 and is fully operational since 2012. COSYNA_GL is one of the 2 gliders of the system (TWR Slocum Electric, 100 m) equipped with CTD, Wetlabs ECO puck FLNTU (fluorescence and turbidity) and CDOM fluorescence.

COSYNA provides near real-time data from integrated observations and model results. The observations comprise a variety of in situ techniques (e.g. FerryBox, Gliders, Cabled Underwater Observatories) as well as remote sensing from shore by radar and from space by satellite. Key physical, sedimentary, geochemical and biological parameters are observed at high temporal resolution in the water column and the upper and lower boundary layers. COSYNA’s modelling part consists of nested models with different grid sizes for hydrography (salinity, waves, currents), for suspended matter and for biogeochemical and ecosystem processes. Sophisticated data assimilation procedures, i.e. continuous corrections of the models by observations, improve the reliability of now-casts and short-term forecasts. All data and plots are generally available for download through the data portal (http://codm.hzg.de/codm/). FerryBox data can be directly accessed via the data portal ferrydata.hzg.de where different vizualizaton tools are available (e.g. single transect, pool data along a certain transect for a longer time period or time-series at certain locations). Furthermore, all datasets can be exported in ASCII (tab separated tables) or NetCDF format and downloaded. COSYNA’s motivation is bridging the gap between operational oceanography and the various users of forecasts of the marine state. For further outreach to stakeholders and the wider community an app has been developed for the most common platforms.