Action #5: RI interactions

Objectives: Establish strong links with existing open ocean and land-coastal RIs EMSO-ERIC, EURO-ARGO ERIC, EMBRC-ERIC and ICOS ERIC, to secure littoral-coast-open sea continuum in observations and modelling. The open sea observatories, especially EMSO-ERIC, will provide open access data for NW-MED PSS needs and the expertise on biogeochemical sensors and QC procedures will be shared. The repeated observations of biodiversity in the PSS region (through imagery and genomics approaches) is also a strong opportunity to set up interactions between EMBRC-ERIC and JERICO and reinforce collaborations between the communities.

Action Lead and other Partners (with contact persons): CNRS (Coppola), UPC (del Rio), SOCIB (Allen), CNR (Cantoni, Bozzano)

JS3 Platforms included: Coastal moorings & buoys, seabed platforms (OBSEA)

Other data sources and external partners for implementation: AQUACOSM: see Action #3; EURO-ARGO ERIC: BGC-Argo floats are deployed regularly in the PSS area; EMSO-ERIC: fixed observatories (cabled and standalone): Dyfamed, Albatross, Lion; ICOS buoys: W1M3A, Dyfamed; Benthic crawler in EMSO-ERIC Ligure will be deployed in 2020 for observing and monitoring the deep-sea environment in the nearshore NW-MED in the framework of EMSO-France.

Overall timetable of action: Spring 2021-Aug 2022

Description of action: In the NW-MED PSS there are strong interactions between RIs regarding the platforms locations and variables observed. To harmonize efforts and investments, the Best Practices and data QC procedures will be proposed for the different RI platforms considering the specific needs for JERICO-RI (variables accuracy, biofouling maintenance…).

Joint workshops/projects between RIs should reinforce the interactions. A pCO2 sensors calibration exercise from ICOS is planned for June-July 2021. EMSO-ERIC and JERICO-PSS partners will join this exercise (CNRS, CNR). In this PSS, imagery and genomic approaches in observing systems have started between EMBRC-ERIC and ILICO during repeated summer cruises (MOOSE-GE) in order to improve the impacts of climate/anthropogenic changes on biodiversity. In EMSO-ERIC a benthic crawler and oxygen electrode will be deployed in 2021 in the EMSO-ERIC Ligurian Sea. This oxygen sensor will be used near the Rhone delta area in 2021 for oxygen inventory in the sediments (ILICO site).  

Best practices used or developed: Many RIs have already produced BP (ICOS ERIC, EMSO-ERIC and EURO-ARGO ERIC). OceanSites & EMSO-ERIC will work on a new version of BP with EUROSEA WP3.

Data flows: Existing data flows from other RIs

Data QC routines: Existing GDACs (as CORIOLIS) manage Argo, EMSO-ERIC/OceanSites, gliders, GO-SHIP datasets with QC and format procedures. They are based on different cookbooks established during DMT meetings. These cookbooks allow harmonising data QC procedures provided by different platforms. OBSEA is using QARTOP QC routines to flag real-time data generation. Some discussion and demonstrations took place within some EMSO-ERIC partners to use such routines

Data management issues: For EMSO-ERIC discussions with the global consortium (OceanSites) is planned through H2020 EUROSEA WP3 to improve and establish a common BP and metadata catalogue. This includes especially BGC variables provided by moorings.

Expected results: BP and QC procedures common for several RIs

Users of results: Scientists, operational oceanography

Dissemination of results: Through RIs disseminations (workshops, reports, annual meeting)

Links: T2.2 and WP5 for best practices