What is SEACLIM and Why Do We Need It?

What is SEACLIM and Why Do We Need It?

A new European project unlocking the future of our ocean through regional climate prediction.

The ocean plays a central role in regulating our planet’s climate and sustaining ecosystems, communities, and economies that depend on them. But as global temperatures rise, our seas face multiple challenges — from coastal flooding and marine heatwaves to ocean acidification, deoxygenation, ecosystem shifts and pressures on the blue economy.

For decision-makers and citizens alike, the question is no longer whether our ocean is changing. We need to better understand and project the changes in the marine environment and evaluate risks to develop the mitigation and adaptation strategies that will ensure a more sustainable blue economy. The Horizon Europe-funded SEACLIM project aims to provide answers d Mato this question.

SEACLIM – European SEAs CLIMate impact prediction through regional models – is a four-year research and innovation project dedicated to improving our ability to predict and understand how climate change will impact the marine environment in the coming decades. Officially launched in January 2025, SEACLIM brings together 13 leading research institutions, operational centres, and marine experts across Europe.

Why SEACLIM?

Today’s global climate models are powerful tools for understanding broad climate trends, but they lack the detail required for regional and local planning — especially when it comes to complex coastal environments. SEACLIM tackles this challenge by developing regionally downscaled multi-annual predictions and multi-decadal climate projections. These high-resolution numerical models will deliver more accurate, actionable insights into how ocean conditions like temperature, salinity, sea level, sea-ice and biogeochemistry are expected to evolve in European seas.

The project focuses on three key marine regions:

  • Northeastern Atlantic Ocean
  • Northwest Shelf & North Sea
  • Arctic Ocean

By providing interoperable and more granular, regional-to-local data and information about the future state of our regional seas, SEACLIM will make it easier for scientists, public authorities, and marine industries to use ocean climate information that is fit for purpose.

SEACLIM Objectives and Outcomes

SEACLIM is driven by strategic objectives ranging from the co-design of coordinated numerical modelling frameworks to the delivery of ocean climate services demonstrators. The project’s expected outcomes include:

  • New coordinated protocols for regional ocean predictions and projections, aligned with key international programmes
  • Advancing regional ocean climate modelling novel ocean climate indicators to assess the future ocean state, its health and the evolution of marine ecosystems
  • Demonstration of real-world climate services supporting climate adaptation of ports in Spain, adaptation policy on sea level rise for France, marine management in Norway, coastal risk management and the blue economy for Germany 
  • Integration of datasets and indicators into the European Digital Twin of the Ocean (EDITO)
  • A roadmap for establishing a new service line in Copernicus Marine for regional ocean climate predictions

These results will help ensure that Europe’s blue economy sectors — from fisheries and offshore wind to coastal risk planning — and adaptation policies have access to trusted, science-based climate information and tools.

Meet the SEACLIM Consortium

SEACLIM is coordinated by Mercator Ocean International, in partnership with +ATLANTIC CoLAB, University of Bergen, Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center (NERSC), Institute of Marine Research (IMR), Now Systems, Fundación Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de Cantabria (FIHAC), Puertos del Estado (EPPE), Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI), National Oceanography Centre (NOC), Met Office, and French Geological Survey (BRGM).

This multidisciplinary consortium unites expertise in oceanography, climate science, numerical modelling, marine ecosystems, and climate services — ensuring both scientific rigour and real-world relevance.

Engaging with Stakeholders and the Public

To ensure its outcomes fully respond to the needs of its end users, SEACLIM places stakeholder engagement at its core. From early consultations and co-design workshops to webinars and hands-on training, the project will interact closely with scientists, marine operators, policymakers, and civil society throughout its duration.

The project will also keep the public and broader communities informed through:

  • Regular news articles 
  • Science highlights webinars 
  • Social media updates 
  • Public deliverables
  • Scientific publications
  • Presence in various relevant ocean and climate scientific events

Stay Connected

SEACLIM’s success depends not only on strong science but also on active dialogue with stakeholders and the public. You are invited to follow along, contribute your views, and benefit from the project’s results.

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