Sylvie Pouliquen

Argo profiling floats bring new era of in situ ocean observations

The Argo profiling float project will enable, for the first time, continuous global observations of the temperature, salinity, and velocity of the upper ocean in near-real time.This new capability will improve our understanding of the oceans role in climate, as well as spawn an enormous range of valuable ocean applications. Because over 90% of the observed increase in heat content of the air/land/sea climate system over the past 50 years occurred in the ocean [Leuitus et al., 2001], Argo will effectively monitor the pulse of the global heat balance.The end of 2003 was marked by two significant events for Argo. In mid-November 2003, over 200 scientists from 22 countries met at Argos first science workshop to discuss early results from the floats. Two weeks later, Argo had 1000 profiling floats—one-third of the target total—delivering data. As of 7 May that total was 1171.

The European Deep Sea Observatories Network of Excellence ESONET

ESONET is an European Network of Excellence (NoE) associating 50 partners (research centres, universities, industrials and SMEs) from 14 countries: France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Bulgaria and Turkey. More than 300 scientists and engineers will participate to its activities. The goal of the ESONET NOE is the lasting integration of European research on deep sea multidisciplinary observatories. Over the initial 4 years, the approach will be to merge the programmes of members Organisations through research activities addressing the scientific objectives and networking activities specially designed for integration and spreading excellence. ESONET NoE will create an organisation capable of implementing, operating and maintaining a network of multidisciplinary ocean observatories in deep waters around Europe. The NoE will structure the resources of the participating institutes to create the necessary critical mass, remove barriers and through a joint programme of activities arrive at durable solutions for this future organisation.

European marine observation data network — EMODnet Physics

Recently the European Commission undertook steps towards a European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) in order to standardize method for observing and assessing the grade of the Member States seas and improve access to high quality data. Since 2008-2009, European Commission, represented by the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), is running several service contracts for creating pilot thematic components of the ur-EMODNET: Biology, Bathymetry, Chemistry, Geology, Habitats, and Physics. The existing EMODnet-Physics portal (www.emodnet-physics.eu) is based on a strong collaboration between EuroGOOS member institutes and its regional operational oceanographic systems (ROOSs), and the National Oceanographic Data Centres (NODCs), and it is a marine observation information system, it includes systems for physical data from the whole Europe (wave height and period, temperature of the water column, wind speed and direction, salinity of the water column, horizontal velocity of the water column, light attenuation, and sea level) provided mainly by fixed stations and ferry-box platforms, discovering related data sets (both near real time and historical data sets), viewing and downloading of the data from about 500 platforms. (www.emodnet-physics.eu/map) and it contributes towards the definition of an operational European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet).

ESONET: a network to integrate European research on sea

ESONET is an European network of excellence (NoE) associating 50 partners (research centres, universities, industrials and SMEs) from 14 countries: France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Bulgaria and Turkey. More than 300 scientists and engineers will participate to its activities. The goal of the ESONET NOE is the lasting integration of European research on deep sea multidisciplinary observatories. Over the initial 4 years, the approach will be to merge the programmes of members organisations through research activities addressing the scientific objectives and networking activities specially designed for integration and spreading excellence.

CERSAT activities and scatterometers value-added products

CERSAT is the French Processing and Archiving Facility for the satellites ERS-1 and ERS-2, launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) in 1991 and 1995 respectively. CERSAT was designed for ERS-1 low bit rate processing, specializing its activities in two main domains: (i) Off-line processing for ERS radar altimeter (OPR) and micro-wave sounder (VLC), (ii) Off-line processing for AFAI-WIND scatterometer (WNF). Through a close collaboration with the scientific team of the Department of Oceanography from Space, CERSAT started in 1995 the generation of value-added products generated from ERS off-line scatterometer data (WNF): a Mean Wind Fields atlas and a Sea-Ice atlas were generated on CDROMs and distributed to users. In 1996 Cersat started new activities using NSCAT and ERS data, NSCAT is a double swath scatterometer launched on ADEOS in August 1996 and unfortunately lost in June 1997. To continue after NSCAT, NASA will, in 1998, launch a new scatterometer QuikScat. CERSAT plans to provide the users with the same services as for NSCAT. Since June 1997 all the products provided by CERSAT are available on their WEB server (http://www.ifremer.fr/cersat). Through the demonstration you will be able to discover these products as well as: (i) our WEB server, (ii) ERS/NSCAT atlases generated at CERSAT.

Atlantic Ocean Observing Networks: Cost and feasibility study

Results of a cost and feasibility study of the present and planned integrated Atlantic Ocean Observing System, including assessing the readiness and feasibility of implementation of different observing technologies

Data Harmonization Report: Report containing recommendation on data harmonization

Report harmonization in data and data processing to facilitate the interoperability of the systems AtlantOS WP7 is dedicated to improve harmonization of data management procedures, and thereby improve the quality, interoperability and discoverability of data resources in AtlantOS. To improve harmonization, AtlantOS WP7 works on multiple levels; a) WP7 has identified selected areas, where significant improvements of interoperability can be obtained. This has resulted in the formulation of a common agreement stating a set of specific minimum standards, which shall ensure cross platform coherence. This includes minimum standards for use of identifiers for platforms and institutions, metadata including vocabularies, quality control and dissemination means. Furthermore, guidelines regarding DOI assignment, catalogue techniques and vocabulary use in AtlantOS have been formulated. b) AtlantOS has formulated and installed a Data Management Plan (DMP) setting the framework for handling and dissemination of AtlantOS data. This was the first step towards improved harmonization and includes an overview of the Data Landscape, prioritization of Essential Variables for AtlantOS, regulations regarding open access to data and recommendations on use of standards. c) AtlantOS WP7 is initiating investigations of the use of GEOSS services, both for technical broker solutions to improve harmonization as well as for dissemination of AtlantOS data resources in an interdisciplinary global context. d) AtlantOS is also working on improving the transcontinental data sharing. A workshop is planned for in 2017 specifically targeting improvement of transcontinental sharing of data from the Atlantic Ocean. We here present the preliminary incentives for improving the transatlantic collaboration.

CORIOLIS, a French project for in situ operational oceanography

The seven French agencies concerned by ocean research are developing together a strong capability in operational oceanography based on a triad including satellite altimetry (JASON), numerical modelling with assimilation (MERCATOR), and in-situ data (CORIOLIS).