eNews
#04 2025
Ocean modelling spotlight: COSS-TT Conference in Brest, France
By Gustav Rautenbach, Operational Ocean Modeller, Egagasini Node, NRF-SAEON
Gustav Rautenbach, a PhD graduate from Nelson Mandela University and ocean forecast modeller from the SOMISANA (Sustainable Ocean Modelling Initiative: a South AfricaN Approach) team, represented SAEON’s Egagasini Node at a seminar and conference in Brest, France, in June this year.
The seminar took place at the Université de Bretagne Occidentale, where Gustav presented his PhD research to internationally acclaimed researchers and students from around the world. His presentation focused on several numerical tools used during his PhD – an ocean model, an eddy detection and tracking algorithm, particle tracking and potential vorticity analysis. These tools were used to provide an in-depth analysis of frontal eddies generated along the east coast of South Africa, features that significantly influence the region’s coastal circulation.
Gustav Rautenbach presenting his PhD thesis at the Université de Bretagne Occidentale in Brest, France. (Photo: Raquel Flügel)
Gustav presenting his poster at COSS-TT. (Photo: Nasreen Burgher)
Poster presentation at COSS-TT meeting
The Coastal Ocean and Shelf Seas Task Team (COSS-TT) is an international initiative under OceanPredict that fosters collaboration to advance coastal ocean forecasting and prediction systems. Its mission is to support science and expertise that enable seamless, multidisciplinary downscaling from global to coastal scales, addressing the unique challenges of monitoring and forecasting in regions where most human marine activity occurs. It is also closely aligned with UN Ocean Decade initiatives such as CoastPredict and SynObs. This year’s meeting was hosted by Ifremer in Brest, France.
Gustav presented a poster at COSS-TT showcasing a case study of a single frontal eddy, using the same numerical tools from his PhD. His poster demonstrated how this eddy forms, detaches from the KwaZulu-Natal Bight and propagates downstream, uplifting deeper, cooler, nutrient-rich water. He also showed how this uplifted water mixes with coastal waters in areas where numerous valuable marine protected areas have been designated.
The COSS-TT meeting featured a wide range of presentations, from new theoretical methods and data assimilation to machine learning, artificial intelligence and the application of these methods in ocean forecasting. It sparked thought-provoking discussions and gave Gustav the opportunity to represent SAEON and the SOMISANA team in an international setting, and network with potential collaborators from around the globe who share similar interests.
Attendees of the COSS-TT meeting at Ifremer in Brest, France. (Photo courtesy of the Coastal Ocean and Shelf Seas Task Team)
Acknowledgements
Gustav thoroughly enjoyed his time in Brest, France. According to him the accommodation was comfortable, the crêpes and cider were delicious, and the weather was warm!
Gustav would like to thank NRF-SAEON, the BRICS project and IRD for supporting his trip and for the opportunity to present at both the Université de Bretagne Occidentale and COSS-TT. Finally, he would like to extend special thanks to the staff of the Université de Bretagne Occidentale and Guillaume Charria for organising the seminar and COSS-TT meeting as well as for their warm hospitality.
