Our work in the sea areas

This responsibility especially applies to marine areas that are important for Norway and Norwegian users, such as for example the High North. 

The main sources of information are observations (particularly by satellite) and weather forecasting through numerical models and analysis. The research focuses on the physical processes in the ocean, and the further development of the tools we use. 

Increasing understanding of how the ocean and sea ice behave in our waters, gives us the opportunity to continually improve the numerical ocean models. This gives us better tools for weather forecasting and climate research. 

A central theme in climate research is the impact of the ocean on the climate. This especially applies to processes relating to the exchange of energy between the ocean and atmosphere, including sea ice processes.

Ocean monitoring and forecasting

Our models cover both oceans, sea ice and waves. Connected together it allows us to be able to supply daily forecasts of sea level, current, ice concentration (and ice edge), hydrography (salinity and temperature), wave height and wave direction. The forecasting products are freely available to everyone. 

The Norwegian Meteorological Institute is responsible for ice monitoring and ice forecasting for the sea around Svalbard, the Barents Sea and the Norwegian coast. In winters with sea ice in the Skagerrak and the Oslo Fjord, maps for these areas are also produced. 

We also make daily global ice analyses based on meteorological satellites. This is data that is vital for use in operational weather and ocean forecasting and climate monitoring.