Objective
The aim of ESONET is to create an organisation capable of implementing, operating and maintaining a network of ocean observatories in deep waters around Europe from the Arctic Ocean to the Black Sea connected to shore with data and power links via fibre optic cables. The fundamental scientific objective is to make continuous real-time observations of environmental variables over decadal, annual, seasonal, diel and tidal time scales.
Constant vigilance will allow resolution of quasi-instantaneous hazardous events such as slides, earthquakes, tsunamis and benthic storms. ESONET will form a sub sea segment of the GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security) with sensors extending from the sub sea floor, through the water column to sub-surface sensors providing calibration of satellite borne sensors. ESONET brings together leading oceanographic and geosciences institutes in Europe together with universities, industry and regional agencies.
It will provide integration across disciplines from geosciences, through physical, chemical and biological oceanography to technologies of instrumentation, cables, data processing and archiving. Jointly executed research will demonstrate functioning observatories at several cabled and non-cabled sites around Europe. Existing deep-sea cables installed for neutrino telescopes will be utilised in the Mediterranean sea and shallower tests sites will be established elsewhere.
Principles of sensor management, calibration, metadata and data quality will be establish ed with real-time dissemination and generation of hazard warning. ESONET will run a training and education program through courses, scholarships, exchange of personnel between participating institutes, and outreach to the general public.
Dissemination will also include a web portal, with links to the INSPIRE Geo-Portal, and with all sub sea observatory projects worldwide, enabling the widest possible access to information.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmarine biology
- natural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsneutrinos
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsfibre optics
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdata sciencedata processing
Call for proposal
FP6-2005-GLOBAL-4
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Funding Scheme
NoE - Network of ExcellenceCoordinator
ISSY-LES-MOULINEAUX
France
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Participants (43)
SWINDON WILTHSHIRE
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ANAVISSOS ATTIKI
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LISBOA
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ISTANBUL
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INCIRALTI - IZMIR
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LEIDSCHENDAM
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HENNEBONT
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READING - BERKSHIRE
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