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Promoting best practices in ocean forecasting through an Operational Readiness Level: Predicting the ocean state in a reliable and interoperable way, while ensuring high-quality products, requires forecasting systems that synergistically combine science-based methodologies with advanced technologies for timely, user-oriented solutions. Achieving this objective necessitates the adoption of best practices when implementing ocean forecasting services, resulting in the proper design of system components and the capacity to evolve through different levels of complexity. The vision of OceanPrediction Decade Collaborative Center, endorsed by the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030, is to support this challenge by developing a “predicted ocean based on a shared and coordinated global effort” and by working within a collaborative framework that encompasses worldwide expertise in ocean science and technology. To measure the capacity of ocean forecasting systems, the OceanPrediction Decade Collaborative Center proposes a novel approach based on the definition of an Operational Readiness Level (ORL). This approach is designed to guide and promote the adoption of best practices by qualifying and quantifying the overall operational status. Considering three identified operational categories - production, validation, and data dissemination - the proposed ORL is computed through a cumulative scoring system. This method is determined by fulfilling specific criteria, starting from a given base level and progressively advancing to higher levels. The goal of ORL and the computed scores per operational category is to support ocean forecasters in using and producing ocean data, information, and knowledge. This is achieved through systems that attain progressively higher levels of readiness, accessibility, and interoperability by adopting best practices that will be linked to the future design of standards and tools. This paper discusses examples of the application of this methodology, concluding on the advantages of its adoption as a reference tool to encourage and endorse services in joining common frameworks.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2023
Prospections sur la « villa gallo-romaine du Sart », au lieu-dit La Hamaide, à Hautrage (B).: Hautrage, une commune belge appartenant à l’entité de Saint-Ghislain, se situe dans la partie occidentale de la province du Hainaut. Plusieurs découvertes archéologiques, la plupart anciennes et souvent mal documentées, sont mentionnées sur son territoire1 . 1. Historique des recherches, le site (J. DUFRASNES) La première mention de ce site archéologique apparaît dans HAUBOUDIN 1898, p. 80. L’auteur, un archéologue amateur très actif habitant Stambruges2 , note alors : Villa du Sart.- Un chemin, qui porte encore le nom de chemin d’El Ville3 , indique la Villa du Sart qui est proche. Le cimetière était la nécropole de cette villa4 . Des notes manuscrites datées de janvier 19415 et un inventaire réalisé à l’occasion de l’entrée d’une partie de la collection d’Edmond Haubourdin aux Musées royaux d’Art et d’Histoire de Bruxelles mentionnent du matériel susceptible de provenir de la villa de la Hamaide à Hautrage, c’est-à-dire de la « villa du Sart » (fig. 1). Cependant, aucun des écrits laissés par cet archéologue ne relate qu’il obtint du matériel archéologique de ce site par acquisition, par des fouilles ou des prospections. Edmond Haubourdin ajoute : « Diverticulum.- Le chemin qui traverse le chemin de fer à la station de la Hamaide porte, au cadastre d’Hautrage, le nom de chaussée romaine. Cette chaussée [dont l’actuelle rue des Bats, à 300 mètres à l’est du site, serait un tronçon selon l’auteur ndlr] passait près de la villa et se dirigeait vers Bavay, probablement vers Chièvres, par Villerot, Sirault et Neufmaison, où elle se confondait avec le diverticulum qui venait de Condé par Stambruges. La grande largeur de cette voie de communication accuse son origine romaine »6
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2022
Protected yet unmanaged: insights into the ecological status of conservation priority stony reefs in Belgian waters based on the integrative use of remote sensing technologies: Stony reefs are ecologically important, providing irreplaceable ecosystem services. These fragile environments are recognised as conservation priorities by all relevant global and European policies. Bottom-contacting ﬁ sheries are an important source of anthropogenic disturbance to the sea ﬂ oor ’ s physical and ecological integrity having immediate and destructive consequences on stony reefs and compromising ecological functions. This study, aimed to assess the ecological status (community composition and functions) of two stony reef areas -Northwest and Hinder Banks study sites -in Belgian waters using multiple remote sensing tools. Insights on the study sites ’ geomorphological context and ﬁ shing patterns were gained using echo-sounding and publicly available satellite data. Video-based benthic community data were assessed against the exposure to ﬁ shing pressure using a trait-based approach linked to the biotas ’ resistance and recovery potential. In the Northwest study site, between 2019 and 2022 there was a signi ﬁ cant decline in the abundance of benthic species classi ﬁ ed with low resistance and recovery potential to trawling. Conversely, there was a notable increase in species with moderate scores. During the same period, this site experienced an eight-fold increase in ﬁ shing effort and the hydroacoustic data revealed the presence of several trawl-marks in 2022. Similar changes in benthic communities were observed in the Hinder Banks too. Here, the abundance of species with low resistance and recovery potential was signi ﬁ cantly lower in locations that were geomorphologically exposed to trawling compared to sheltered ones. Exposed locations had a higher abundance of opportunistic species, with moderate to high scores. The presence of several trawl marks on the sea ﬂ oor was observed in the exposed locations, corresponding to ﬁ shing hotspots identi ﬁ ed in the satellite data. Trawling activities marginally impacted richness and total abundance, but negatively altered benthic functional composition. The ﬁ ndings of this study provide scienti ﬁ c evidence of the detrimental impact of bottom-contacting ﬁ sheries on conservation priority biotopes and argues against the coexistence of such activities with Marine Protected Areas. The results of our investigation are of interest to environmental managers for the adequate implementation of environmental legislation in the face of rapid and widespread anthropogenic changes.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2023
Pseudoprionus bienerti waitzbaueri ssp. n. - eine neue Prioninae aus Jordanien (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae Prioninae): Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2021
Publications: Located in Members
Publishing data to support the fight against human vector-borne diseases: Vector-borne diseases are responsible for more than 17% of human cases of infectious diseases. In most situations, effective control of debilitating and deadly vector-bone diseases (VBDs), such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, Zika and Chagas requires up-to-date, robust and comprehensive information on the presence, diversity, ecology, bionomics and geographic spread of the organisms that carry and transmit the infectious agents. Huge gaps exist in the information related to these vectors, creating an essential need for campaigns to mobilise and share data. The publication of data papers is an effective tool for overcoming this challenge. These peer-reviewed articles provide scholarly credit for researchers whose vital work of assembling and publishing well-described, properly-formatted datasets often fails to receive appropriate recognition. To address this, GigaScience’s sister journal GigaByte partnered with the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) to publish a series of data papers, with support from the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), hosted by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Here we outline the initial results of this targeted approach to sharing data and describe its importance for controlling VBDs and improving public health.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2022
Publishing data to support the fight against human vector-borne diseases: Vector-borne diseases are responsible for more than 17% of human cases of infectious diseases. In most situations, effective control of debilitating and deadly vector-bone diseases (VBDs), such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, Zika and Chagas requires up to-date, robust and comprehensive information on the presence, diversity, ecology, bionomics and geographic spread of the organisms that carry and transmit the infectious agents. Huge gaps exist in the information related to these vectors, creating an essential need for campaigns to mobilise and share data. The publication of data papers is an effective tool for overcoming this challenge. These peer-reviewed articles provide scholarly credit for researchers whose vital work of assembling and publishing well-described, properly formatted datasets often fails to receive appropriate recognition. To address this, GigaScience’s sister journal GigaByte partnered with the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) to publish a series of data papers, with support from the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), hosted by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Here we outline the initial results of this targeted approach to sharing data and describe its importance for controlling VBDs and improving public health.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2022
Pyrops auratus, a new lanternfly from the Philippines and taxonomic note on Bornean P. gunjii (Satô & Nagai, 1994) (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Fulgoridae): Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2021
Pytho depressus (Linnaeus, 1767): A rare and sporadically distributed beetle in Belgium (Coleoptera: Pythidae): Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2022 OA
Quality-control tests for OC4, OC5 and NIR-red satellite chlorophyll-a algorithms applied to coastal waters: Reliable satellite estimates of chlorophyll-a concentration (Chl-a) are needed in coastal waters for applications such as eutrophication monitoring. However, because of the optical complexity of coastal waters, retrieving accurate Chl-a is still challenging. Many algorithms exist and give quite different performance for different optical conditions but there is no clear definition of the limits of applicability of each algorithm and no clear basis for deciding which algorithm to apply to any given image pixel (reflectance spectrum). Poor quality satellite Chl-a data can easily reach end-users. To remedy this and provide a clear decision on when a specific Chl-a algorithm can be used, we propose simple quality control tests, based on MERIS water leaving reflectance (ρw) bands, to determine on a pixel-by-pixel basis if any of three popular and complementary algorithms can be used. The algorithms being tested are: 1. the OC4 blue-green band ratio algorithm which was designed for open ocean waters; 2. the OC5 algorithm which is based on look-up tables and corrects OC4 overestimation in moderately turbid waters and 3. a near infrared-red (NIR-red) band ratio algorithm designed for eutrophic waters. Using a dataset of 348 in situ Chl-a / MERIS matchups, the conditions for reliable performance of each of the selected algorithms are determined. The approach proposed here looks for the best compromise between the minimization of the relative difference between In situ measurements and satellite estimations and the number of pixels processed. Conditions for a reliable application of OC4 and OC5 depend on ρw412/ρw443 and ρw560, used as proxies of coloured dissolved organic matter and suspended particulate matter (SPM), as compared to ρw560/ρw490, used as a proxy for Chl-a. Conditions for reliable application of the NIR-red band ratio algorithm depend on Chl-a and SPM. These conditions are translated into pixel-based quality control (QC) tests with appropriately chosen thresholds. Results show that by removing data which do not pass QC, the performance of the three selected algorithms is significantly improved. After combining these algorithms, 70\% of the dataset could be processed with a median absolute percent difference of 30.5\%. The QC tests and algorithm merging methodology were then tested on four MERIS images of European waters. The OC5 algorithm was found to be suitable for most pixels, except in very turbid and eutrophic waters along the coasts where the NIR-red band ratio algorithm helps to fill the gap. Finally, a test was performed on an OLCI-S3A image. Although some validations of water reflectance are still needed for the OLCI sensors, results show similar behavior to the MERIS applications which suggests that when applied to OLCI data the present methodology will help to accurately estimate Chl-a in coastal waters for the next decade.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2022

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