Deep-Ocean Observatories

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Society now depends on timely information on climate, weather, water, ecosystems, biodiversity, energy resources, and natural disasters. A range of important ocean and Earth processes have been identified using traditional research tools, but achieving an effective understanding of how these processes interact to understand, for example, impacts from climate change has not been possible through expedition-based oceanography alone. The deeper and more remote the ocean - the more challenging it has been to get needed measurement. It’s now widely recognised that in order to bridge gaps in understanding a network of observation sites is needed that collects data across a range of scales and disciplines. After all, some of the most remarkable environmental conditions occur when ships cannot be present because of intense weather. Within Europe the European Seas Observatory NETwork (ESONET) Network of Excellence and the European Multidisciplinary Seafloor Observatory (EMSO) Preparatory Phase (PP) programmes have several key aims related to creating a more comprehensive ocean observatory network in Europe including:


    • Create lasting integration of European research using deep-sea observatories capable of meeting societal needs for measuring across broad temporal & spatial scales
    • Demonstrate integration of researchers, institutes, & industrial partners
    • Define detailed objectives & design requirements and systematically address challenges of creating the needed system
    • Produce a practical plan for long-term monitoring of the deep-ocean environment as part of Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) & Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES)
 

Coordination

With approximately 50 partners in 14 countries ESONET and EMSO efforts are already substantial.

 

ESONET NoE is a Sixth Framework Programme of the European Commission

 

EMSO PP is a Seventh Framework Programme of the European Commission

 

 

You can also access a number of related project web sites hosted at NOC:

 

 

Research

 

HERMIONE

Hotspot Ecosystem Research and Man’s Impact On European Seas
  • Research programme focusing on five ‘hotspot’ ecosystems: open slopes and deep basins, submarine canyons, seamounts, cold-water corals, and chemosynthetic systems
  • To understand the distribution and interconnection of deepsea ecosystems, impacts of climate change, biodiversity and ecosystem function
  • To provide stakeholders and policy makers with science to support deep-sea governance aimed at sustainable management of resources and conservation of ecosystems

 

EuroSITES

European Ocean Observatory Network
  • Research programme using observatories that provide standardized data from a dispersed network of nine sites
  • European contribution to the OceanSITES network of deep water reference stations, and is a component of Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS ), as well as the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), and Global Monitoring for Environment & Security (GMES)
  • Facilitating water column and seafloor observatory enhancements such as in situ sensors for respiration, O2, pCO2, chlorophyll-a, pH, nitrate, and fluid flow