Emilio García Ladona

Emilio García-Ladona
Ver el perfil de Emilio García Ladona en LinkedIn
Ver el perfil de Emilio García Ladona en LinkedIn

Dr. Emilio García-Ladona


Major scientific interests are focused on: Mesoscale variability in the ocean: mixing processes and dynamics of the mixed layer, instabilities, topographic interactions and shelf/slope exchanges; dynamics of the western Mediterranean circulation; pattern recognition techniques applied to data analysis, specially in teledetection; operational oceanography.


Emilio García Ladona - (emilio@icm.csic.es)
Dept. d'Oceanografia Fisica i Tecnològica
Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC)
Passeig Marítim, 37-49
08003 Barcelona (Spain)
Office: B-26
Tf: (+34) 93 230 9500 - 93 230 95 13

  • MEDOSMOSIS (6119) new !
  • National authorities carrying out maritime surveillance need constant updated and accurate information and effective operational infrastructures. There is a great deal of complexity to be dealt with marine spatial information obligations stemming from European Directives, initiatives and policies, in terms of maritime surveillance and safety. The MED OSMoSIS strategic project aims precisely to cut through this complexity by developing a few modules/applications about maritime surveillance activities and facilitating the exchange of information between different authorities.


  • COSMO (CTM2016-79474-R)
  • The goal of COSMO is to improve our knowledge about the variability of the surface ocean currents near the Iberian Coasts and to improve the systems used by the Spanish Search and Rescue Agency and the National Police for the performance of their research and humanitarian duties institutionally assigned. COSMO aims to produce an Atlas of high-spatial resolution currents (daily average currents and variability) using the new set of reanalyses of the ocean circulation generated by European operational service. We will characterize both the circulation off the Iberian Peninsula and the statistical properties of the trajectories of drifting objects. A database of floating device trajectories (buoys, drifters and the like) will be created by compiling, document, homogenize, validate and inter-compare sets of observations and data scattered among different public entities and security bodies. The scientific research within COSMO will focus on the implementation and feasibility assessment of novel methodologies for deriving ocean currents from images of sea surface temperature, to fill the resolution gaps of current approaches to estimate ocean currents from drifter trajectories and sea level. These products lack of the appropriate spatial and temporal resolution required to capture the horizontal gradients at the scales of 1-10 km, deemed to be important for search and rescue activities (SAR) and for air-sea interactions. We will also investigate the impact of the assimilation of these novel observations in a regional model of the Strait of Gibraltar. The COSMO project will undertake a high-resolution Lagrangian experiment to gather information about the interactions between sub-mesoscale, mesoscale and large-scale flows in one of the regions with the largest density of marine traffic. The data gathered will help to assess the operational system. COSMO is a non-coordinated project direclty involving a research body (CSIC) and three public bodies with the largest social responsibilities regarding marine monitoring, prediction and security (Puertos del Estado, SASEMAR and Policía Nacional).


  • MEDEAS (691287)
  • MEDEAS project will design a new energy-economy model for the EU transition to a low carbon emissions energy system. The model will take into account the necessary flexibility and granularity to deal with different levels of complexity according to stakeholders interests and will be built as an open source initiative to boost a cooperative development.


  • ConnectinGEO (641538)
  • ConnectinGEO’s primary goal is to link existing coordinated Earth observation networks with science and technology (S&T) communities, the industry sector and the GEOSS and Copernicus stakeholders. The aim is to facilitate a broader and more accessible knowledge base to support the needs of the GEO Societal Benefit Areas (SBAs) and their users. A broad range of subjects from climate, natural resources and raw materials, to the emerging UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be addressed.


  • FORMED (CGL2012-33989)
  • The proposed research project deals about the characterization of the large-scale bed forms (> 1 m) of the Spanish Mediterranean continental margin based on the analysis of their morphology and the study of contemporary processes involved in their formation and evolution. The multibeam bathymetry provided by the Secretaría de Pesca and other institutions allows a regional classification of bed forms based on their morphometric characteristics.

    In parallel, a specific monitoring of hydrodynamics and sediment transport processes in the near-bottom boundary layer and the water column will be carried out to study: 1) wave-current processes potentially associated with dunes in the coastal area (Ebro Delta), 2) internal waves associated with sediment waves of prodelta (the Llobregat prodelta), 3) internal waves as potential generating mechanism of sediment waves on the continental slope (Gulf of Valencia) and 4) to investigate deep bottom currents as potential mechanism to explain the deep sediment waves (North of Menorca). The analysis of the interaction between bed forms and hydrodynamic forcing will be complemented by the application of models of sediment transport and bed form generation as well as flume tests.

    Finally, bed forms will be analyzed as specific habitats in the Ebro delta and Cabo de Palos areas, characterized by their communities and benthic habitats. Habitat mapping techniques will be developed integrating physical, geological and biological information, in order to provide a useful tool in managing the marine environment. It is expected that results from the project will provide a regional overview of the bed forms of the Spanish Mediterranean continental margin as well as detailed information of those bed forms with greater uncertainty about the formation processes. The expected results may lead to a change in our perception of what are the dominant mechanisms of formation and evolution of bed forms and their rates of change. The combined use of the excellent available morphological database and field measurements using advanced instrumentation (benthic tripod, thermistor chains, multiparameter equipment, AUV, ROV\'s, etc) offers the opportunity to integrate information from different sources for a better understanding of the processes involved in bed forms formation.

    The preparation of an Atlas of bed forms in the Spanish Mediterranean continental margin based on the observed morphologies will provide to both the scientific community and society in general, access to the present-day existing knowledge on this topic.


  • MIDAS-7 (AYA2012-39356-C05-03)
  • The SMOS satellite, launched in November 2009, is the first ESA Earth observation (EO) mission coled by Spain. With an unprecedented EO scientific, technological, and industrial leading role, Spain’s goal has been to produce, for the first time, global sea surface salinity and soil moisture maps by means of the novel synthetic aperture interferometric radiometer (MIRAS). Thanks to the Spanish National R\&D program and ESA funding, and with the support from CDTI, the proposing team has successfully addressed various scientific and technological challenges, such as: i) establish an operational data production and dissemination centre in Spain, the CP34; ii) to bring together scientific and technological know-how within the CP34 associated expert centre, the SMOS BEC; and iii) to consolidate new teams and facilities dedicated to the development of SMOS products. After two years of intense work, the SMOS nominal products will be soon consolidated. As such, this proposal also focuses, for the first time, on the development of novel SMOS-based added-value products and new applications of interest for the industry and public managers. Moreover, to capitalize the know-how of the team, this proposal addresses new challenges as the SMOS synergy with new EO missions or the development of new products beyond SMOS. However, to maintain the international role of Spain in this leading-edge scientific area is necessary to consolidate this specialized and talented team together with its synergy with the industry.


  • MEDESS-4MS (MED 2S-MED11-01)
  • MEDESS-4MS service is dedicated to the maritime risks prevention and strengthening of maritime safety related to oil spill pollution in the Mediterranean. The main goal of MEDESS-4MS is to deliver an integrated operational multi model oil spill prediction service in the Mediterranean, connected to existing oil spill monitoring platforms (EMSA-CSN, REMPEC and AIS data), using well established oil spill modeling systems, the environmental data from the GMES European Marine Service and the MS national ocean forecasting systems. MEDESS-4MS does not aim at developing new elementary service chains but will integrate and consolidate the existing ones, based on the experience gained through the interaction with operational response agencies, REMPEC and EMSA during real oil spill incidents in the region and the demonstrations and inter-calibration exercises carried out in the framework of EC projects.

    MEDGIB experiment




  • TOSCA (G-MED09-425)
  • The TOSCA (Tracking Oil Spills and coastal Awareness) project aims to develop a long-lasting network of policy makers & scientists for observation & forecasting of marine accidents (oil pollution, Search And Rescue (SAR) operations...), in the Mediterranean Sea. TOSCA will supply forecast models, risk maps & action plans developed by the scientists in collaboration with the local authorities, which will enable them to improve their immediate response capacity & to ensure a sustainable costal monitoring.





    García-Olivares A., J.L. de Pablos, R. Madrigal Sailing the Prestige out to sea. An independent analysis. Scientia Marina, 75, 3, 533-548.

  • ESEOO (VEM2003-20577-C14-10)
  • ESEOO has been a project to promote the Operational Oceanography at a national level. More precisely, to give scientific assessment and expertise to improve the management of marine emergencies. The project has been composed by 24 research groups from several national and international laboratories and universities and with the participation of the spanish Marine Search and Rescue Agency (SASEMAR). Web - DOF



    Machín F., M. Emelianov, P. Rodríguez, E. García-Ladona, J. Menéndez, J. Salat XBT profilers for operational purposes: application and validation in real exercises. Scientia Marina, 72, 4, 779-799. DOI: 10.3989/scimar.2008.72n4779

    Sotillo M.G., E. Álvarez Fanjul, S. Castanedo, A.J. Abascal, J. Menendez, M. Emelianov, R. Olivella, E. García-Ladona, M. Ruiz-Villarreal, J. Conde, M. Gómez, P. Conde, A.D. Gutierrez, R. Medina Towards an operational system for oil-spill forecast over Spanish waters: Initial developments and implementation test. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 56, 4, 686-703. DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2007.12.021

  • Submarine Canyons (INTAS - 460)
  • This was a joint spanish-russian cooperation project to provide a deeper understanding of physical mechanisms that control the hydrodynamic regimes associated with submarine canyons and to evaluate their impact on mass transfer between the continental shelf and open ocean. (Web).



    Palanques A., E. García-Ladona, D. Gomis, J. Martín, M. Marcos, A. Pascual, P. Puig, J.M. Gili, M. Emelianov, S. Montserrat, J. Guillén, J. Tintoré, M. Segura, A. Jordi, S. Ruiz, G. Basterretxea, J. Font, D. Blasco, F. Pagès General patterns of circulation, sediment fluxes and ecology of the Palamós (La Fonera) submarine canyon, northwestern Mediterranean. Progress in Oceanography, 66, 89-119. DOI: 10.1016/j.pocean.2004.07.016

    Puig P., A. Palanques, J. Guillén, E. García-Ladona Deep slope currents and suspended particle fluxes in and around the Foix submarine canyon (NW Mediterranean).. Deep-Sea Research. Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 47, 343-366. DOI: 10.1016/S0967-0637(99)00062-X

  • AFORO: Shape Analysis of Fish Otoliths (AVGION - TIC2000-0376-p4-04)
  • AFORO was a project to develop tools for automatic classification of fish otholits from an image database. As a result we developed the AFORO website that offers an open online catalogue of otolith images and its associated shape analysis through pattern recognition techniques applying Fourier transform (FT), curvature space scale (CSS) and wavelet analysis (WT). This site also allows to search and identify directly using query images of otholits.



    Parisi-Baradad V., A. Manjabacas, A. Lombarte, R. Olivella, Ò. Chic, J. Piera, E. García-Ladona Automated Taxon Identification of Teleost fishes using an otolith online database—AFORO. Fisheries Research, 105, 1, 13-20. DOI: 10.1016/j.fishres.2010.02.005

    Lombarte A., O. Chic, V. Parisi-Baradad, R. Olivella, J. Piera, E. García-Ladona A web-based environment for shape analysis of fish otoliths. The AFORO database. Scientia Marina, 70, 1, 147-152.

    Parisi-Baradad V., A. Lombarte, E. García-Ladona, J. Cabestany, J. Piera, O. Chic Otolith shape contour analysis using affine transformation invariant wavelet transforms and curvature scale space representation. Marine and Freshwater Research, 56, 795-804. DOI: 10.1071/MF04162

    Piera J., V. Parisi-Baradad, E. García-Ladona, A. Lombarte, L. Recasens, J. Cabestany Otolith shape feature extraction oriented to automatic classification with open distributed data. Marine and Freshwater Research, 56, 805-814. DOI: 10.1071/MF04163

  • Operational Oceanography Activities
  • VADO development: A system for accessing and visualizing data through Google maps viewer. Now we are moving towards a Marine Spatial Data Infrastructure (IDE)

    BUDAS system: A system to automatically collect and distribute drifting buoys localisation from satellite (ARGOS, IRIDIUM, etc,), and to build animation through Google EARTH and Google maps.