Cost and value of multidisciplinary fixed-point ocean observatories

Abstract

Sustained ocean observations are crucial to understand both natural processes occurring in the ocean and human influence on the marine ecosystems. The information they provide increases our understanding and is therefore beneficial to the society as a whole because it contributes to a more efficient use and protection of the marine environment, upon which human livelihood depends. In addition the oceans, which occupy 73% of the planet surface and host 93% of the biosphere, play a massive role in controlling the climate. Eulerian or fixed-point observatories are an essential component of the global ocean observing system as they provide several unique features that cannot be found in other systems and are therefore complementary to them. In addition they provide a unique opportunity for multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary work, combining physical, chemical and biological observations on several time scales. The fixed-point open ocean observatory network (FixO3) integrates the 23 European open ocean fixed-point observatories in the Atlantic Ocean and in the Mediterranean Sea. The program also seeks to improve access to key installations and the knowledge they provide for the wider community, from scientists, to businesses, to civil society. This paper summarises the rationale behind open ocean observatories monitoring the essential ocean variables. It also provides an estimate of the costs to operate a typical fixed-point observatory such as those included in the FixO3 network. Finally an assessment of the type of data and services provided by ocean observations and their value to society is also given.

Novel metrics based on Biogeochemical Argo data to improve the model uncertainty evaluation of the CMEMS Mediterranean marine ecosystem forecasts

“…As a result, the performance analysis shows that the western regions have, in general, largest variability and lower performance, specifically during the winter season. Thus, to rationalize the costs of observing systems (Cristini et al, 2016), it may be more efficient to sustain the observing systems with high-frequency observations in high-variability areas. On the other hand, given that field variability may be related to local physical and biogeochemical processes (e.g.…”

Marine Ecosystem forecasts: skill performance of the CMEMS Mediterranean Sea model system

“…As a result, the performance analysis shows that the western regions have, in general, largest variability and lower performance, specifically during the winter season. Thus, to rationalize the costs of observing systems (Cristini et al, 2016), it may be more efficient to sustain the observing systems with high-frequency observations in highvariability areas. On the other hand, given that fields variability may be related to local physical and biogeochemical processes (e.g.…”

Overview of the Ocean Climatology and Its Variability in the Azores Region of the North Atlantic Including Environmental Characteristics at the Seabed

“…However, they require a systematic in situ validation of the estimated data and lack capability of sampling the whole three-dimensional complexity of the oceans. Therefore, expanding fixed-point in situ seafloor observatories, moored oceanographic arrays, and drifting profilers are of paramount importance to measure essential ocean variables (Cristini et al, 2016).…”