Abstract
The Coastal Observing System for Northern and Arctic Seas (COSYNA) has been established in the German North Sea and off Spitsbergen to describe, analyze and predict the environmental status of coastal waters. The COSYNA approach of combining observations and numerical modelling in an ecological valuable and highly utilized region such as the North Sea may serve as a blueprint for similar observing, analysis and data distribution systems worldwide.
Experiences regarding the challenge to convey COSYNA’s scientific data and knowledge to the public and to stakeholders are stressed here. These technical and communicational challenges include (1) elaborated data access through advanced portal techniques and (2) feedback on and improvement of COSYNA products through interaction with (potential) users. The particular purpose of these efforts is to ensure COSYNA products are useful and applicable.
