Ocean observations and indicators for climate and assessments.

Project Information

ObsSea4Clim

Grant agreement ID: 101136548

DOI

10.3030/101136548

EC signature date 15 November 2023

Start date 1 February 2024

End date 31 January 2028

Funded under

• Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Total cost

€ 6 083 527,50

EU contribution

€ 5 996 902,50

Coordinated by

DANMARKS METEOROLOGISKE INSTITUT
Denmark

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ObsSea4Clim (Ocean observations and indicators for climate and assessments.)

Reporting period: 2024-02-01 to 2025-07-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Climate change profoundly impacts ocean systems through warming, acidification, deoxygenation, and altered circulation patterns. Current ocean monitoring systems lack the coordination and standardisation needed to support robust climate assessments and policy implementation. The project addresses five key objectives: developing standardised ocean monitoring indicators that comply with international programmes supporting global assessments; improving Earth System Models to reduce uncertainty in regional climate projections; advancing understanding of links between ocean variability and environmental stressors; strengthening common standards for climate records; and enabling evidence-based decision-making. These objectives directly support the European Green Deal, climate adaptation strategies, and the conservation of marine biodiversity.

ObsSea4Clim unites European and international actors in ocean observing, climate assessment, Earth system modelling, and data management to strengthen sustained, multipurpose observations essential for climate monitoring. Building on theEssential Ocean Variables/Essential Climate Variables framework and a Rolling Review of Requirements, it will develop regional indicators, advance national observing systems, and integrate results with European and global initiatives. Focusing on key ocean–climate processes such as sea ice loss, ocean transports, stratification, sea level rise, ocean warming, marine heatwaves, and mesoscale variability, ObsSea4Clim will advance the use of best practices in ocean observing and apply Artificial Intelligence methods for data quality control. Its outcomes will enhance regional and global climate assessments, support the development of the Earth System Model (CMIP7), provide actionable indicators for sustainable development, and reinforce European leadership at the ocean–climate nexus.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The project has advanced the establishment of a Rolling Review of Requirements framework tailored to ocean-climate applications, in close collaboration with the Global Ocean Observing System and the World Meteorological Organisation. A comprehensive ocean indicator framework has been developed, encompassing physical, biogeochemical, and biodiversity domains across European marine regions. Regional case studies highlight significant climate variations. To address methodological uncertainties, advanced marine heatwave datasets have been produced using multiple definitions.
An Ocean Practices Federated Network has been designed as a unified discovery point for European methodological repositories, with over 100 maturity assessments completed. Real-time data transmission capabilities are being implemented in selected climate application areas to enhance monitoring and facilitate uptake beyond the climate community.
Extensive climate model evaluations have been carried out against key ocean variables, with particular focus on Arctic sea ice, marine extremes, and sea level. Substantial progress has been made in the development of next-generation Earth System Models for international climate assessments.
In support, interactive in-situ data density dashboards are developed, through which users can explore data availability filtered by variable, time range, depth and geographic area. This enables the identification of gaps in observational coverage and integration issues, and flags incomplete metadata.
Robust data management frameworks applying FAIR and CARE principles are in place, alongside the creation of a European Essential Ocean Variables network framework linked to a sister project. Stakeholder engagement mechanisms have mapped over 70 organisations across policy, industry, and research. Finally, a capacity-building programme has been launched to support early-career scientists.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The project advances beyond current practice through several innovations. The adaptation and application of the Rolling Review of Requirements process within ocean climate application areas provides the first systematic framework for assessing ocean-specific climate observing needs. Multi-definition marine heat wave datasets offer unprecedented flexibility for research applications, while addressing competing methodological approaches. The Ocean Practices Federated Network represents a paradigm shift, enabling single-point access to distributed European methodological repositories.
Parameter estimation frameworks for sea-ice dynamics calibration in Earth System Models introduce novel approaches to model improvement. Sea-ice biases contribute significant uncertainty to climate projections. Compound ocean state change analysis over 60 years provides new insights into multiple climate stressors, including ocean warming, acidification, and deoxygenation. The regional ocean indicators framework enables the development of targeted environmental policies while maintaining global consistency.
A new initiative on so-called ocean narratives aims to set the context for ocean indicators within the environmental pillar of sustainable development, alongside the pillars of society and economy. Narratives evolve around the global ocean and the Northeast Atlantic, as well as adjacent seas, linking ocean change with socioeconomic indicators.

Building blocks of ObsSea4Clim

The role of Ocean monitoring and reporting https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2020.104154