Overall, the major results of iAtlantic project can be summarised in the following categories:
Contribution of new scientific knowledge to fill gaps in our understanding of deep-sea and open-ocean ecosystems
- Improved ocean models at a range of scales to better understand the variability of AMOC in the past, present and future.
- New understanding of the role of ocean currents in the connectivity of specialised hydrothermal vent communities at the MAR.
- Identification of key drivers of ecosystem change and potential tipping points in the deep and open ocean.
- Identification of a tropicalisation trend in warm-water affinity species becoming more abundant across the Atlantic.
- Better understanding of what effects changes in the upper ocean have on the deep ocean environment.
- Demonstration of the likely impacts of climate change and human activities on a range of deep-sea ecosystems.
Development of new technologies and techniques to help supply missing information and expand capabilities
- New habitat suitability models to predict habitat and species shifts as a consequence of climate change, as well as new machine learning approaches to develop habitat maps at basin to local scale.
- Advancement, demonstration and transfer of a low-cost video survey tool, eDNA sampler, cost-effective 3D photogrammetric method, new high-resolution imaging technologies, and mapping tools.
Provision of underpinning infrastructure to support and facilitate access to marine data
- Establishment of the iAtlantic GeoNode, allowing users to search for, visualise, download and share 370+ geospatial datasets.
- Catalysed the establishment of the All-Atlantic Ocean Data community portal on the GEOSS platform.
- Integrated the South African Environmental Observation Network data catalogue system with the GEOSS.
- Progressing the transfer of data resources from PANGAEA to EMODnet thematic portals.
Facilitating the transfer of new scientific knowledge and know how to stakeholders and end users
- Production of transparent ocean basin-scale management scenarios for the whole Atlantic, as well as at regional scales.
- 110+ open access publications, 7 science/policy briefs, 200+ conference presentations.
- iAtlantic open access Zenodo archive of all project outputs and publications, including expedition reports.
- 3 focused stakeholder dialogue events to share and discuss latest project results.
- Participation in major ocean policy processes and events.
- Collaboration with marine industries.
Supporting the training and development of the next generation of deep-sea scientists across the Atlantic region
- Establishment of the iAtlantic Fellowship, comprising >50 early career researchers.
- 16 scientific capacity development workshops, 27 webinars.
- At-sea training, researcher exchange, jointly supervised PhD/MSc students.
Building and strengthening international scientific collaboration, partnerships and networks
- Inclusive project consortium spanning Europe, Brazil, South Africa, Argentina, Canada and the USA, complemented by a wider network of associated partners.
- Broader regional and sectoral representation through Advisory Board and Science Council members.
- Joint capacity building activities and scientific exchanges.
Raising public awareness of the importance of the ocean
- Strong online presence via the iAtlantic website, social media accounts, plus bi-annual newsletters.
- Extensive blog coverage of research expeditions through the course of the project.
- Active participation in more than 50 public events.
- Production of 4 iAtlantic films that aim to share knowledge and results with a broad audience.
- Publicity in the mainstream media on key ocean issues.
