At Digital Ocean Week and the 9th Copernicus Marine General Assembly, EMODnet Head of Secretariat Kate Larkin joined a panel of experts from the European Commission (DG MARE, DG RTD), the European Environment Agency, Copernicus Marine Service and EuroGOOS, European Global Ocean Observing System, spanning the OceanEye value chain.
Discussions explored the inter-dependencies and vulnerabilities that require strengthening to deliver robust and fit-for-use ocean knowledge for society, and how OceanEye is set to deliver stronger links between in situ observations, Earth observation and digital ocean services.
Kate stressed the value of diverse in situ observations to feed the European Digital Twin Ocean (EDITO), enabling accurate and realistic representations of ocean and coastal systems. She noted that the need for transdisciplinary data extends well beyond ocean physics and biogeochemistry, to include wider environmental, ecosystem and human activities data.
She also highlighted how EMODnet is powered by an extensive network of in situ marine data experts spearheaded by National Oceanographic Data Centres, Hydrographic Offices and Geological Surveys, and that EMODnet’s vision is to onboard all relevant ocean data actors and move towards streamlined data flows from national to European level.
As the discussion turned to how Europe can better coordinate investments and define priorities for future ocean observation, Kate highlighted a fundamental starting point:
“Before Europe can fully define its priorities for future ocean observation, it first needs to know where the real gaps are. This is made possible by EU public data services EMODnet and Copernicus Marine, and this needs to scale, bringing all existing data together so that Europe has the best possible knowledge at its fingertips to guide future ocean observing design, together with user needs and requirements.”
Kate Larkin, Head of the EMODnet Secretariat
As Europe advances initiatives such as the European Digital Twin Ocean and OceanEye, strengthening the connection between national observing systems and European knowledge services will be essential.