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DC-WOC-ESA

Opening April 30th, 2024 !

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The WOC data challenges are comparison platforms that allow a sound and fair assessment of the WOC products between them and to other products. These platforms offer an input dataset (altimetric data, drifters, SST data …) for anyone to create a current products as well as a reference dataset (independant from the input dataset) in order to evaluate the products. These data challenges are contained in a github repository and their documentation and results are presented on this readthedocs website.


North Sea Gulf Stream Mediterranean Sea image map example



Objectives and caveats

The goal of the data challenge is to evaluate the products ability to estimate the total surface current in three different regions during the year 2019 (evaluation period). The input observations used to generate the products are not resticted apart for the drifters data during the evaluation period. A dataset of some input observations is provided (see Download the data), however any other data apart from the drifters data during the evaluation period can be used.

Note that some products are intrinsically estimating only specific components of the total current (e.g., the geostrophic component) they are nonetheless evaluated like the other products, making their assumption on the currents as a total current approximation.

The caveats of the data challenge are:

  • not all products are using the same input observations,
  • some products may use drifters which are also used for the evaluation but never drifters data acquired during the evaluation period ,
  • some products' goal is not to estimate the total currents,
  • the summarized score in the scoreboards may not be representative of the methods' full performances, making it important to look at the detailed comparisons,



Evaluated products

Products Provider Reconstructed currents Input observations used Available regions
WOC BFN-QG WOC-ESA Geostrophic altimetry Agulhas
WOC dADR-SR WOC-ESA Total currents altimetry, SST Mediterranean
WOC Omega 3D WOC-ESA Total currents altimetry, SST Gulf Stream
WOC Global Inertial WOC-ESA Total currents Drifter currents, GlobCurrent geos. Agulhas, Gulf Stream, Mediterranean
GlobCurrent total CMEMS Geostrophic + Ekman altimetry, gravimetry, drifters Agulhas, Gulf Stream, Mediterranean
GlobCurrent Geostrophic CMEMS Geostrophic altimetry Agulhas, Gulf Stream, Mediterranean

For more details on the products, check the Products description page.



Regions of interest

The WOC data challenges cover three geographical regions, with different dynamical characteristics.



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  • Area: [14°E, 35°E, 45°S, 30°S]
  • Dynamical specificities: Strongly geostrophic region.
  • Independant evaluation data: CMEMS drifters currents and trajectories.
  • Products:
    • WOC BFN-QG
    • WOC Global Inertial
    • GlobCurrent Geostrophic
    • GlobCurrent Total

> Agulhas Current setup

> Reconstruction movies

> Overall comparison


  • Area: [80°W, 10°W, 25°N, 50°N]
  • Dynamical specificities: High variability region with mixed geostrophic and ageostrophic dynamics.
  • Independant evaluation data: CMEMS drifters currents and trajectories.
  • Products:
    • WOC Omega 3D
    • WOC Global Inertial
    • GlobCurrent Geostrophic
    • GlobCurrent Total

> Gulf Stream setup


> Reconstruction movies


> Overall comparison


  • Area: [5°W, 25°E, 35°N, 47°N]
  • Dynamical specificities: A quasi-closed basin with strong ageostrophic dynamics and vertical shear.
  • Independant evaluation data: CMEMS drifters currents and trajectories.
  • Products:
    • WOC dADR-SR
    • WOC Global Inertial
    • GlobCurrent Geostrophic
    • GlobCurrent Total

> Mediterranean Sea setup


> Reconstruction movies


> Overall comparison




A word on the WOC project

The World Ocean Circulation (WOC) consortium is composed partners from France, Norway, Italy, Spain, Netherlands. It gathers experts in the Earth Observation and ocean processes and sea state interactions.

The WOC project developed synergetic products optimizing the capacy offered by Earth Observations as well as in-situ and numerical models by focusing on four domains of applications:

  • Sea-state current interactions for Safe Navigation,

  • 3D currents and vertical motion for Sustainable Fisheries,

  • Surface Lagrangian drift for a Clean Ocean,

  • High Resolution wave and current model assessment for a Productive Ocean and ocean processes and sea state interactions.

Check out the WOC products



So far, the github page visits amount to: