In a recently published article, EMODnet Chemistry has shown how its network of data providers, national oceanographic data centres and regional coordinators checks data to ensure their quality. The paper, “Toward ‘good’ eutrophication data for marine policies and research: a multi-level quality control framework in EMODnet Chemistry”, is available in Frontiers in Ocean Sustainability.
Over the last ten years, the importance of making marine data FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) and reproducible has been recognised and progressively put into practice.
Enabling users to access larger volumes of marine data more easily through online blue data infrastructures has been the first stage. However, data managers have taken on a greater challenge: breaking down barriers between heterogeneous data sources and delivering data quality as well as quantity through rigorous validation procedures. Led by Marina Lipizer (OGS) and co-authors from the EMODnet Chemistry network, the paper presents the multi-level quality control (QC) protocol used by EMODnet Chemistry across European marine regions to validate data on nutrients, chlorophyll, and oxygen, which are crucial for assessing the trophic status of marine waters. Stemming from automated and expert validation, the approach includes three consecutive QC steps, which have been agreed on a European scale and adopted to ensure comprehensive coverage of the Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QC) process, from in situ sampling to regional-level validation. The first step involves the Data Originators (DOs), specifically scientists who carry out sampling and laboratory analyses of marine biogeochemical properties and are responsible for quality assurance and data validation based on their expertise. Once the data have received quality approval from the providers, they are delivered to the data managers, who are responsible for dataset formatting, metadata description and delayed-mode quality checks. The regional coordinators (RCs) are responsible for completing the final stages of the data validation process, as well as publishing the data through the EMODnet Chemistry key services. The RCs cover these few miles of the data journey in close collaboration with the data providers, so the whole procedure can be described as a quality loop.
A key contribution of this work lies in its transparent and collaborative process, which combines automatic validation tools with expert-driven checks, cross-parameter assessments, and contextual interpretation based on regional biogeochemical characteristics. First developed for eutrophication, the protocol is adaptable to other variables related to ocean acidification and pollution.
Marina Lipizer, researcher and data manager at OGS
On behalf of the EMODnet Chemistry network, I express my satisfaction with this publication, which demonstrates our commitment to sharing best practices in data management. Over more than 15 years, we have gathered evidence that these guidelines have been crucial to the implementation of European marine policies for the sustainable management of marine resources by enabling coherent environmental assessments.
Alessandra Giorgetti, Head of the NODC at OGS and Coordinator of EMODnet Chemistry
Read the paper to find out more about EMODnet Chemistry best practices in QA/QC. All EMODnet Chemistry guidelines are available on the EMODnet Portal.
Data flow and processing chain involving data originators, data managers, and regional coordinators. © EMODnet Chemistry