A European component strengthened for International ocean monitoring
Monitoring of the Earth's oceans is a key component to understand ocean dynamics and climate change. The International Argo Project is dedicated to such monitoring, but it is a complex, multinational endeavour that requires robust and regular coordination to function. As such, the EU-funded 'Strengthening international dimension of Euro-Argo research infrastructure' (SIDERI) project aimed to strengthen links between the Euro-Argo Research Infrastructure and the global Argo programme. Efforts also sought to encourage the increased participation of EU countries. The project's major output was a roadmap towards the establishment of the Euro-Argo European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC). Once the ERIC is established, the roadmap will also serve as its founding strategy document.Future priority areas for Argo were identified as part of the process. These cover monitoring of specific areas and of ecosystem parameters, and improvements to the data management system. SIDERI also encouraged European participation in Argo through conferences and workshops with ocean researchers in various countries. Lastly, reports were prepared that address legal and policy issues Argo may face in the future, such as complying with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The International Argo Programme is at a critical juncture where careful strategies need to be implemented to ensure that it keeps operating successfully. The outcomes of the SIDERI project have contributed significantly in this area.
Keywords
Argo, floats ocean monitoring, ocean data, research infrastructure, climate change.
