EMODnet Chemistry is pleased to announce and welcome a new partner who has joined the project this year: The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH). The BSH is the public institution for maritime tasks of the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany. Based in Hamburg and Rostock, it is responsible for many activities relating to the North Sea and Baltic Sea, e.g. forecasting, early warning, environmental monitoring and spatial planning. In addition, the BSH collects and processes a wide range of marine data, from geodata to chemical-physical data, using its own resources or from other institutions.
Together with the German Oceanographic Data Centre (DOD), the BSH organises the national and international exchange of oceanographic data. Since 1967, the DOD has been a node of the IODE network of international data centres that collect, validate, archive and make data accessible. IODE is the international programme of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO for the exchange of oceanographic data and information. It is worth noting that the BSH, like other EMODnet Chemistry Partners, operates a Quality Management System (QMS) throughout its area of responsibility. The QMS enables an organisation to continuously improve the quality of its processes and results. For more information about the EMODnet Chemistry Data Centres that operate a QMS, please refer to this EMODnet article entitled ‘Data quality: EMODnet Chemistry Coordinator OGS becomes a UNESCO-accredited data centre’
The BSH brings its unique expertise and strong commitment to collaboration to the project as a member of the Open Advisory forum. The aim of this Forum is to identify and provide datasets according to the general EMODnet Chemistry practices for data delivery and to advise on the development of products and services.
“We are happy to join EMODnet Chemistry again after being a member from 2009 to 2016. Data is the most valuable and powerful resource of the 21st century and we feel obliged to give easy access to it.” Susanne Tamm - Senior Data manager, Head of Data-Department at the BSH
Finally, we would like to thank the BSH for joining us and taking on the role of the EMODnet Chemistry National Data Centre of the Federal Republic of Germany. We look forward to a long-term and fruitful collaboration that will enhance our capabilities in receiving, harmonising and validating data in Europe and open it up to ever more diverse applications.
Sea Surface Temperature (SST) anomalies in July 2024 in the North Sea
©Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH)