EuroSITES: Integrating Europe's deep ocean observatories from the ocean interior to the seafloor and subseafloor

EuroSITES is a European FP7 Collaborative Project which will integrate Europe's existing deep ocean observatories and contribute both to the subsea component of GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security) and to the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). Beginning in Spring 2008, EuroSITES will focus on enhancing and standardising the current in situ infrastructure of 9 European deep ocean sites through best practice and common data management. The main objectives, scope and structure of EuroSITES will be presented within the context of other European and international projects and initiatives including ESONET, EMSO, ARGO, HERMES, MERSEA, OOI, Ocean- SITES, ORION and NEPTUNE. Close interaction between these and other relevant projects is essential to develop a unified approach to European and International ocean observation. The importance of the EuroSITES Oversight Committee will be highlighted as a key advisory panel and driver throughout the duration of the project, involving leading international scientists and key end users of ocean observational data such as the modelling community, data managers and outreach specialists. The EuroSITES community supports Research and Development of innovative ocean observation technology. Specific science missions to be carried out within EuroSITES including the measurement of deep ocean oxygen consumption, mesozooplankton and pH will be briefly described. These all aim to progress European ocean observation technology beyond the current state-of-the-art.