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Cost and value of multidisciplinary fixed-point ocean observatories

Cost and value of multidisciplinary fixed-point ocean observatories
Cost and value of multidisciplinary fixed-point ocean observatories
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 programme 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.
Ocean, Observations, Costs, Value, Data, Services
138-146
Cristini, Luisa
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Lampitt, Richard S.
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Cardin, Vanessa
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Delory, Eric
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Haugan, Peter
fddadcbf-9396-40c9-b66a-b0efce54876d
O'Neill, Nick
fc88d54b-46fc-4f7a-af2c-fd5d1bdbc28f
Petihakis, George
f51b4013-eefd-4e90-8c0d-c81c2b85d9b8
Ruhl, Henry A.
177608ef-7793-4911-86cf-cd9960ff22b6
Cristini, Luisa
c50c936c-2be1-43f0-8ffe-79e653f45d93
Lampitt, Richard S.
dfc3785c-fc7d-41fa-89ee-d0c6e27503ad
Cardin, Vanessa
53852e8c-5352-4bc7-94d1-cfdb39ce4312
Delory, Eric
9dbdf1ed-7865-4df4-9ef9-77eb1bfe2796
Haugan, Peter
fddadcbf-9396-40c9-b66a-b0efce54876d
O'Neill, Nick
fc88d54b-46fc-4f7a-af2c-fd5d1bdbc28f
Petihakis, George
f51b4013-eefd-4e90-8c0d-c81c2b85d9b8
Ruhl, Henry A.
177608ef-7793-4911-86cf-cd9960ff22b6

Cristini, Luisa, Lampitt, Richard S., Cardin, Vanessa, Delory, Eric, Haugan, Peter, O'Neill, Nick, Petihakis, George and Ruhl, Henry A. (2016) Cost and value of multidisciplinary fixed-point ocean observatories. Marine Policy, 71, 138-146. (doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2016.05.029).

Record type: Article

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 programme 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.

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JMPO_2016_48_Revision 2_V0.pdf - Accepted Manuscript
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Accepted/In Press date: 25 May 2016
Published date: September 2016
Keywords: Ocean, Observations, Costs, Value, Data, Services
Organisations: Marine Biogeochemistry

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 399440
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/399440
PURE UUID: 9bfd9f22-c906-420f-83d9-35da579c3081

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Date deposited: 16 Aug 2016 09:22
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 05:49

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Contributors

Author: Luisa Cristini
Author: Richard S. Lampitt
Author: Vanessa Cardin
Author: Eric Delory
Author: Peter Haugan
Author: Nick O'Neill
Author: George Petihakis
Author: Henry A. Ruhl

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