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.
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.
EuroSITES: A step towards integration
EuroSITES is a FP7 Collaborative Project which focuses on in situ long-term time series ocean observatories (www.eurosites.info). EuroSITES aims to integrate and enhance 9 existing deep (>1000 m) ocean observatories into a coherent European network, coordinated by 7 member states and Cape Verde. The network will encompass the ocean interior, seafloor and subseafloor and establish a pre-operational network with the vision of an operational network in the future. All selected sites have minimal coastal input and can be considered as a model for many open-ocean processes. The integration of these sites is currently supported by EUR-OCEANS but will be continued through EuroSITES.
