Deep ocean observatories

Background

The global Ocean is constantly changing. Much of this is due to natural variability, but there is evidence that man is tipping the delicate balance of this complex system. This is likely to change oceanic nutrient inventories with adverse effects on the functioning of marine ecosystems and global circulation patterns. We need to monitor closely the changing properties of the oceans if we are to understand the consequences of these shifts. This demands a continuous stream of high quality data on climatically and ecologically relevant variables at a number of key locations. A high temporal resolution of the data set is essential to:

• Understand short-term variation and ecosystem dynamics

• Capture episodic events such as phytoplankton blooms that have profound effects on the functioning of the oceans

• Understand long-term variation and climatic trends

This Fact Sheet introduces the importance of deep ocean observatories in the current international effort to monitor the oceans. The EUR-OCEANS network supports the integration of 9 deep ocean observatories and promotes co-ordinated research between member states. This work will be continued and enhanced by a FP7 European project EuroSITES. All deep ocean observatories identifiedwithin EuroSITES are part of an international programme called OCEANsites which monitors key regions of the globe from the sea floor to the atmosphere.

Map to show the location of 9 deep-ocean observatories forming the EuroSITES network. The background shows SeaWIFS satellite chlorophyll distribution. See www.eurosites.com for more information.

Deep ocean observatories: taking the pulse of the ocean

Ocean observatories form an integral part of monitoring the marine environment. They record key variables at fixed geographical locations in the ocean and provide in situ measurements from the surface to the seafloor every few hours over long periods. This gives a perspective of time to the ocean data and allows scientists to factor out everyday variation and detect both episodic events such as phytoplankton blooms and long-term trends in the ocean such as increasing temperatures over a decadal time scale. The high resolution data allows more accurate models to be produced to understand the short-term variability in the oceans including ecosystem dynamics and nutrient cycling. Such models will help predict future changes in the oceans and their feedback effects on our climate.