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Marine Research Infrastructures updated overview,
European integration and vision of the future
Executive summary
WP 6 -Task 6.4
D6.4.1_1
October2012
Author: IFREMER (France)
Grant Agreement n° 249552
Acronym: SEAS-ERA
Title: Marine Research Infrastructures in Atlantic region – Executive summary –
V2_02 01 2013
WP 6: Atlantic region
Task 6.4: Infrastructures in the Atlantic region
Task Leader/Author: J-F Masset, IFREMER
Milestone N°: 6.4.1
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Table of content
1. Introduction
1.1 Why an updated overview
1.2 How an updated overview
1.3 Proposed typology
2. Marine Research Infrastructures in the Atlantic region
2.1 Research vessels and their underwater vehicles
2.2 In situ data acquisition systems
2.3 Marine data centres
2.4 Marine land-based facilities for engineering
2.5 Experimental facilities for biology and ecosystem studies
3. ESFRI projects status
3.1 EURO ARGO
3.2 EMSO
3.3 EMBRC
4. Conclusion
Annexes
*** Annex 1 Atlantic Region : D6.4_2 to _6
D6.4_2 Research Vessels
D6.4_3 In situ data acquisition
D6.4_4 Data centres and management
D6.4_5 Land-based facilities for engineering
D6.4_6 Experimental facilities for biology & ecosystems
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1. Introduction
1.1 Why an updated overview
Many European projects of Marine Research Infrastructures (RI), like research vessels and theit underwater
vehicles, in situ observation systems, in lab “…omics” equipment, experimental facilities for aquaculture or
for ocean engineering, data storage and access services, etc … started during the 2007-2012 period.
It is an evolution which seems irreversible because:
-
the need of European coordination seems more and more obvious due to the investment and
running costs of up to date installations required to be at the leading edge of the knowledge.
-
partnership bearing these projects usually group all the European existing skills in each domain
and thus have a vocation to be engaged for a long-life cycle.
-
marine RI needs go beyond the academic research specific requirement : societal challenges
emerging during the 2007-2013 period, environment, life resources and blue growth, request
seas and oceans monitoring activities and data services, mobilizing the existing research
infrastructures, also pressing on their future evolution.
These projects showcase a wide variety of infrastructure, which are open to the trans national access or
subject of networking activities or collaborative projects for their design, procurement and operation.
These projects also reveal a great complexity and the difficulty to show to our stakeholders a consistent
landscape and the complementary needs to which they respond. All these projects support as well as cross
cover the scientific challenges.
These projects are based on long development cycle, from initial design to the maturity of their operation,
the vision of their role in marine science should be long term.
It is thus necessary to have a global vision of this new marine RI landscape, to check that the initiatives
articulation is coherent, that the scientific themes coverage is consistent, to wonder about their evolution
and their long-term stabilization and eventually to prepare them to approach the next funding cycle 20142020.
The regional scale relevance : These RI projects, although pan-European because of funding instruments,
often reveal the relevance of the regional scale to adress shared scientific objectives as to consider joint
activities of investment, functioning, access and data sharing.
1.2 How an updated overview
The proposed updated overview is based on information sources including :
ESFRI and I3 projects proposals and web sites. ESFRI projects involved directly the Member States
commitments and their RFOs (Research Funding Organisations).
Some NoE projects acting as a preliminary stage of RI Eu coordination driven by scientists.
4
RI web sites, those which are relevant and open at a national level, which should be relevant for an
integration in an I3 project.
Information collected from the Eu projects coordination team, partners and related experts.
Infrastructure or equipment mapping ?
The starting point is to consider the "facilities" which are the subject of an offer for a trans national access
activity within the I3 projects and then by extension, to consider all similar facilities that may or could be
integrated into these projects. That means "facilities" that are worth to be open to national, regional or
European researchers, i.e. beyond the limits of the research institutes which host and operate them.
The mapping and related statistics are here given for all European countries having coasts in Atlantic
region.
1.3 Proposed typology
We have chosen to categorize these facilities by type of skills and jobs requested to design and operate
them, i.e. by “horizontal" business lines which can eventually become operational as such, to be compared
with scientific projects usually organised from experiments and data acquisition to knowledge dissemination
(“vertical”), relying on different technical skills and related RI.
It is also a choice guided by the existence of ESFRI projects or I3 projects, by the idea that operational
coordination at Eu level will develop more easily and naturally within these consortia.
For marine RI, we can distinguish 6 main business lines :
o
Research vessels and their underwater vehicles: for sea access and deep sea exploration/sampling.
o
In situ data acquisition systems: for seawater/seabed monitoring and observation.
o
Satellites: remote sensing for sea-surface monitoring.
o
Marine data centres: for data validation, storage and dissemination through web portals, incl.
access to high computing facilities & generic modelling.
o
Marine land-based facilities for engineering: deep wave basins, water circulation canals, hyperbaric
tanks, material behaviour in sea water testing laboratories, marine sensors calibration laboratories.
o
Experimental facilities for biology and ecosystem studies: marine genomics, blue biotechnology,
aquaculture, mesocosms.
Satellites are mostly of European (or even world) relevance and are dealt within the Deliverable D4.1 and its
specific annexe 4.
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2. Marine RI mapping in the Atlantic region
2.1 Research vessels and their underwater vehicles
Reference : Annexe D6.4_2 Research Vessels
Fleets overview :
Research Vessels
Underwater vehicles
Large exchangeable
equipment
Global
L > 65m
Ocean
Regional
65m < L < 35m
/ Local /
ROV
AUV
Coastal
Manned
USV
Submersible
L < 35m
Norway
1
5
9
4
Sweden
1
5
7
2
5
(but all Baltic (3Skagerrak
oriented)
& 4 Baltic)
Denmark
1
2
4
(2 Atlantic
& 2 Baltic)
Iceland
1
1
Germany
5
12
1
12
4
3
1
3
(9
Atlantic (10 Atlantic
oriented & 3 & 2 Baltic)
Baltic oriented)
Netherlands 3
2
Belgium
3
UK
11
Ireland
1
France
6
2
2
6
1
3
19
5
2
3
12
2
4
5
3
2
2
3
(1 Atlantic & 1 (5 Atlantic,
Med)
4 Med,
1 mix,
1 Pacific,
1 Indian)
6
Spain
4
6
9
2
2
1
9
5
1
5
4
17
10
9
19
(4 Atlantic & 2 (4 Atlantic,
Med)
2 Med, 3
mix)
Portugal
2
Total
for 36
Atlantic
1
8
30
(Atlantic 68 (Atlantic 34
oriented)
coasts)
134 Research Vessels
61 Underwater Vehicles
19
Vessel age distribution for European R/Vs :
Mediumterm priority
Short-term top
priority
Mid-life refit
priority
This diagram shows that regional vessels is the critical issue.
Atlantic region => 6 new or refit vessels recently put into service during 2010-2012
Refit in 2010 : Pelagia (NL)
Pelagia
Global, L : 66.00 m, build 1990/ refit 2010
NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research
http://wwwold.nioz.nl/nioz_nl/386d4f0fee290da945fd7d7b
8c235733.php
North Atlantic, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean ; multi
purpose
7
New in 2011 : Ramon Margalef (Spain)
Ramon Margalef
Ocean/Regional, L : 46,7 m, build 2011
Instituto Espanol de Oceanografia (IEO)
http://www.ieo.es/buques/margalef.htm
Atlantic NE & Canary Islands, Mediterranean ; multipurpose
New in 2012 : Simon Stevin (Belgium)
Simon Stevin
Ocean / Regional, L : 36 m, build 2012
VLIZ (Flanders marine institute)
http://www.vliz.be/EN/Logistic_Support/Logistics_Simon
_Stevin
http://www.vliz.be/EN/Logistic%20Support/SimonStevin_
Techspecs
Atlantic NE ; multi purpose
New in 2012 : Sanna (Denmark-Greenland)
Sanna
Local/coastal, L : 32 m, build 2012
Greenland Institute of Natural Resources
http://www.natur.gl/en/the-institute/scientificinfrastructure/ships/rv-sanna/
Greenland ; fisheries, environment, oceaonography
New in 2012 : Clupea (Denmark)
Clupea
Local/Coastal , L : 28,80 m, build 2012
Federal Ministry for Consumer Protection, Food and
Agriculture / Federal Agency of Agriculture and Food,
Hamburg
http://www.vti.bund.de/en/startseite/about-us/researchvessels/clupea.html
8
Southwestern Baltic sea, North sea ; fisheries, biology,
oceanography
New in 2011 : The Princess Royal (UK)
The Princess Royal
Local/Coastal, L : 18,90 m, build 2011
Newcastle University
http://research.ncl.ac.uk/rvprincessroyal/index.htm
North east England ; fisheries, biology, environment
Atlantic region => 15 new or refit vessels planned or expected for the 2013-2020 period (Oct. 2012
situation)
Country
Vessel
Vessel class
number
Norway
Faroe
Islands
Germany
3
1
3
Scheduled Old
year
replacing
refitting
vessel
/
Global
2
Ocean/Regional Local/coastal
1
2013-2018 3 replacements
1
2013
1 new
2
1
2015-2020 2 replacements
1 refit
Belgium
UK
Ireland
France
Spain
2
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Total
15
8
6
1
1
2015
2 replacements
1 replacement
1 refit
2015-2017 2 replacements
2013,
1 replacement
> 2016
1 refit
Atlantic region : 1 new vessel planned to be put into service in 2013
New in 2013 : Angeles Alvarino (Spain)
Angeles Alvariño Ocean / Regional46,7 m2013 Instituto
Espanol de Oceanografia (IEO)
http://www.ieo.es/angeles.htm
Atlantic Bay of Biscay & West Iberian ; multi-purpose
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Vision of the future
The future is still strong national fleets but with robust cooperation schemes at Eu level.
As regard European coordination, we should consider the specificity of two categories of fleets :
- Global class multipurpose vessels (> 65 m)
- Regional class vessels
Within EUROFLEETS and the future EUROFLEETS 2 (2013-2016), the next stage will be pioneering exploring
and experimenting new integrating tools such as virtual joint fleet or shared scientific evaluation.
OFEG still active to give flexibility to the sea cruises planning of global/ocean vessels and to foster operability
of rare underwater equipment, but restricted to countries having similar vessels.
Regional vessels issue :
ERVO could evolve towards the advisory committee for regional vessels procurement strategy and
implementation.
Regional OFEG-like or equivalent arrangement by European region could be envisaged :
-
bartering exchange of ship time at regional level : “the OFEG scheme”
-
one owner and multi users (per month) : “the Thalassa scheme” (Ifremer / IEO arrangement)
Future trends for research vessels concept and design :
(ref : “European Research Vessels Fleets”, Per Nieuwejaar / IMR & Uwe Nixdorf / AWI, Brest international
symposium June 2011)
-
Trend towards fewer, but larger and more capable multifunctional vessels,
-
Scientific needs to work in increasing water depths, with heavier and more sophisticated tools
-
Increased use of landers, observatories, moorings, bouys and drilling equipment which requires
vessels with large, open working decks and heavy duty cranes, A-frames and winches
-
Dynamic positioning system is a ”must”
-
More vessels equipped for sea floor mapping
-
Implementing ”Green ship technology” on new and existing vessels
-
”Super quiet” vessels in order to avoid disturbance of sea mammals and fish, improving signal-tonoise ratio for own hydroacoustic equipment
-
Avoid ”bubble sweep down” in order to maintain good hydroacoustic performance in heavy seas
10
2.2 In situ data acquisition systems
Reference : Annexe D6.4_3 In situ data acquisition
The multitude of fixed and mobile platforms, of automated systems allowing mostly the quasi real-time data
transmission, summarized in the pictures below and detailed in annexe D6.4_3 for Atlantic region, does not
masked the fact that all these recent developments rely on a small number of parameters for which in situ
measurements are feasible. These means in-situ sensors with the right resolution and precision (the very
first condition), miniaturized enough, with low energy consumption, functioning in an automated way and
without frequent services necessary for cleaning and/or recalibration purpose.
During the past two decades, the technology allows a lot of breakthroughs for the development of
autonomous platforms and real time data transmission, and we still are in the cycle to pull the best party of
these new technologies. On the other hand, progress to wider the range of in situ new sensors adapted to
the operational oceanography constraints is low, in particular the development for chemical and biological
in-situ sensors is still ahead.
Atlantic region : In-situ (automated) acquisition systems overview
Fixed point ocean
obs. (per sites,
depth > 1000m,
incl.
oceanic
moorings & seafloor stations)
Oceanic Gliders
profilers(
floats
deployed
every
year)
Ferrybox Fixed
point Coastal HF Others
(Voluntary
(per lines) coastal obs. (per radar
vessels, surface
sites, depth <
drifters, …)
1000m, mooring
buoys or fixed
stations)
Norway
5
~8
9
Sweden
1
6
Denmark
1
Iceland
1
Germany
4
Netherlands
60-70
11
~9
3
~8 major sites
1
~14
15
7
~60
1
2
~28
1
27**
1
~18***
1
~8
3
Belgium
UK
3
Ireland
1
France
1
~ 65
2
Spain
2
~5
1
Portugal
1
TOTAL
18 major sites*
40-50
3
1
~12
~
180 35 gliders 17 Ferry ~ 176 sites
per year
lines*
8 HF radars 1
11
* some sites or Ferry lines being operated by two countries
** French coastal observatories : 27 along the Atlantic coast, 10 along the Med. coast
*** Spanish coastal observatories : 18 along the Atlantic coast(+Canaries island), 10 along the Med. coast
EU RI projects related to coastal and ocean observation and data :
EC umbrella (directives, policies, communications)
Oceanic
modelling
Marine Core
Services (DG
ENT / GMES)
MY OCEAN
Coastal
modelling
Coastal and shelf
seas continuous in
situ measurements
National/regional
activities/projects
JERICO (I3)
Rivers discharges
EURO ARGO
(ESFRI)
Fisheries data
EUROFLEETS (I3)
EMSO
(ESFRI)
EuroSITES
(FP7-Env)
(DCF)
GROOM
(DS)
Marine data thematic centers
SEADATANET (I3)
standards and web portal
WISEMarine (DG
ENV)
EMODNET
(DG MARE)
Trend : a need of a common vision for a good articulation of each RI consortium contributing to the Ocean
Observation issue.
Main grouping of RI and related on-going European projects : 6 European projects for establishing
Research Infrastructures integrate the major part of the effort for in-situ data acquisition in the European
regional seas. Several regional or national integrated marine observing systems also perform similar data
acquisition. Some of them partly rely on these European projects for RIs. Some efforts are also performed
during FP research projects such as the on-going FP7 PERSEUS. Other data acquisition are performed either
during scientific cruises (see Research vessels and underwater vehicles), or by marine coastal stations (for
biology or environmental data), or by any other systems not yet integrated in an European network.
o
Fixed point open ocean observatories / oceanic moorings :
FIXO3 (FP7-I3 proposal in the second list of the 2012 call, waiting for a selection (?))
Follow-up of EUROSITES (FP7-ENV project : April 2008 – March 2011)
http://www.eurosites.info/index.php
12
o
Fixed point open ocean observatories / sea-floor stations:
ESONET and EMSO, for an European Multidisciplinary Seafloor Observation
ESONET : FP6-NoE, March 2007 – Feb. 2011
EMSO : ESFRI project, Preparatory Phase, April 2008 – April 2012
Projects common web site : http://wwz.ifremer.fr/esonet_emso
o
Oceanic profilers:
EURO ARGO : Global Ocean Observing in Infrastructure
ESFRI Project, Preparatory Phase Janv 2008 – June 2011, ERIC infrastructure from 2012.
Project web site : http://www.euro-argo.eu/
o
Glider, for both oceanic and coastal observations:
GROOM : Gliders for Research, Ocean Observation and Management
FP7-DS project : under negotiation, ~ jan. 2012 – dec. 2014
o
Coastal observatories:
JERICO : Joint European Research Infrastructures network for Coastal Observatories
FP7-I3 project : May 2010 – April 2014
Project web site : under construction
o
Ocean research drilling:
ECORD : European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling
ERA-Net Coordinated Action, named ECORD-Net, of the 6th Framework Programme from December
2003 to August 2008 http://www.ecord.org/about/aboutecord.html
As regard ocean observation :
We face a change of paradigm in the observation of our oceans and coasts, an observation that has evolved
from being centred on a unique platform, the oceanographic ships with data availability being delayed in
time, to an observation now based on multi-platform and integrated systems (using buoys, satellites, ships,
autonomous underwater vehicles, HF radar, ARGO profilers, etc.), also assuring quasi real time quality
controlled data availability for both researchers and society. This change of paradigm is very significant and
allows being able to respond to the three key drivers : (1) science priorities, (2) technology development, (3)
response capacity to society needs.
13
As regard coastal observation :
Historic : bathymetry survey (=> marine maps), tidal measurements (=> tidal, forecasts), marine biology
coastal stations (=> water sampling and in-lab analysis)
Now : Around European coastal seas, the number of marine observing systems is quickly increasing under
the pressure of both monitoring requirements and oceanographic research. Present demands for such
systems include reliable, high-quality and comprehensive observations, automated platforms and sensors
systems, as well as autonomy over long time periods. In-situ data collected, combined with remote sensing
and models output, contribute to detect, understand and forecast the most crucial coastal processes over
extensive areas within the various national and regional marine environment.
However significant heterogeneity exists in Europe concerning technological design of observing systems,
measured parameters, practices for maintenance and quality control, as well as quality standards for sensors
and data exchange. Up to now, the expansion of “coastal observatories” has been driven by domestic
interests and mainly undertaken through short-term research projects.
New monitoring technologies are being progressively implemented in coastal ocean observatories. These
new observing systems, such as IMOS, OOI, IOOS, VENUS, POSEIDON, COSYNA among others, are delivering
new insight into coastal ocean variability, that will trigger new theoretical and technological developments,
increasing our understanding of open ocean, coastal and nearshore processes and contributing to a more
science based and sustainable management of the oceans and coastal areas.
JERICO (Towards a joint European Research Infrastructure Network for Coastal Observatories), FP7-I3
project in its second year, should increase the coherence and the sustainability of these dispersed coastal
systems by addressing their future within a shared pan-European framework.
Vision of the future
1. The monitoring challenge : Seas and oceans are vast, and each point of measurements at sea, either
through regular samplings and in-lab analysis or through in situ acquisition , has a real cost.
2. The technological challenge : from this cost point of view, the best option is automated instrumentation
able to provide long-time series and so large amount of data. For 20 years, a lot of progress has been done
for the development of automated fixed or mobile instrumented platforms (like oceanic profilers or gliders
or sea-floor stations) and for data transmission (via satellites), but it remains a critical issue for the
development of in situ sensors in order to cover the wider range of parameters to monitor. Presently, very
few physical parameters are operational for automation and long-time series of data :
- temperature
- conductivity (+ water depth and temperature => salinity)
- optical sensors for :
--- dissolved oxygen (=> indirect parameter used to close the carbon cycle)
--- pH (but present resolution is not adequate to deal with the ocean acidification issue)
--- turbidity (=> indirect measurement of chlorophyll-a ratio)
14
Automated chemical instrumentation is also possible on fixed platform, buoys or sea-floor stations, but not
miniaturised enough for oceanic floats and gliders.
- nitrates, nitrites, phosphates (contaminants from the anthropogenic pressure)
- dissolved iron
- sulphur (near hydrothermal sources)
Examples of gaps as regard in situ sensors :
- dissolved CO2 miniaturised enough for oceanic profilers and gliders (=> CO2 ocean uptake issue)
- pH sensor resolution (for ocean acidification issue)
- most of the chemical contaminants of the Water Framework Directive list :
--- organic : PAH,
--- metallic : Cd, Ni, Pb, Hg,
Another technological issue is the endurance of the sensors : systems energy consumption, bio fouling,
stability of the measurement quality.
3. The scientific challenges : acquisition should stay scientifically driven, each line of instrumentations
should be specify for a specific scientific challenge : sensors accuracy, acquisition frequency, spatial
coverage.
Example : temperature on oceanic floats, calibrated to give consistent data for the oceanic circulation and
exchange of thermal energy issue.
4. We need a common strategy concerning the priority parameters, the acquisition spatial coverage, the
sustainability :
- which priority on new sensors ?
- which gaps in the spatial coverage ?
--- continuity of sea region
--- continuity from the ocean to the shelf seas
--- continuity from the sea surface to the sea-floor
--- continuity of the coastal waters monitoring
- how to sustain the automated systems (continuity of the funding)
5. An integration by business lines : presently, few business lines can be identify and structure at regional
and/or European levels :
- fixed-point open ocean observatories : oceanic moorings, sea-floor stations
- oceanic floats : profilers, gliders , drifters, ..
15
- coastal observatories : fixed platforms, buoys, coastal profilers, Ferry-box, volunteer fishing boats
- other platforms of opportunity (incl. fishing vessels)
“Sustainability” is the key to being able to make the needed long time-series observations required to meet
societal needs.
“Strengthening the connection with the industrials” through a Forum for Coastal Technology (as developed
in JERICO) and making more effective this cooperation (e.g. focusing on innovative sensors to improve time
and spatial resolutions) by clearly defining the needs of the observing community so that appropriate
instruments can be developed that meet those needs (such as accuracy and reliability).
“To identify extra parameters” that may need to be measured to better understand ocean and coastal
dynamics - from the physical to the biological.
“To better promote at the international” the European know-how and best practice developed by the
scientists/engineers in this MRI field.
2.3 Marine data centres
Reference : Annexe D6.4_4 Data centres and management
The local data centres constitute the elementary bricks for the data validation and storage core activities.
The main issue is the organization of unique coordinated networks per family of parameters :
-
data assembly by themes and by regions,
-
standards,
-
interfaces with digital models,
-
implementation and maintenance of common portals for data access,
Some centres also offer access to digital modelling generic tools and other high computing facilities.
Atlantic region : Marine data providers overview
Country
Marine data providers
Norway
IMR (at National level)
Sweden
SMHI (at National level)
Denmark
NERI (at National level)
Iceland
MRI
16
Germany
BSH, AWI, MARUM (PANGAEA)
Netherlands
NODC (incl. 8 Institutes), MARIS
Belgium
MUMM, VLIZ
UK
NERC/BODC (also : NEODC for earth obs. data and BADC for atmospheric data)
Ireland
MI (incl. 5 data banks)
France
IFREMER-SISMER (incl. 10 data banks), IFREMER-CORIOLIS, SHOM, CLS,
MERCATOR, BRGM, CDG/CNRS, ACRI-ST,
Spain
IEO, UTM-CSIC, UB, IGME, ALTAMIRA, PUERTOS, STARLAB
Portugal
IH (incl. 7 data banks)
TOTAL
~ 30 marine data providers in the Atlantic region :
o
~ 90% are public research institutes, each one in charge of up to 10
thematic data banks,
o
~ 10% are private companies
A shared vision (common strategy) and a closer relation/articulation (global implementation plan) is
necessary among here under major initiatives :
o
SEADATANET : the open and operational network of all thematic/regional marine data centres, (incl.
GEO-SEAS for the marine geological data)
o
MY OCEAN : the operational oceanography portal, 24h real time data service, forecast, extension to
shelf and coastal seas,
o
EMODNET : towards an European public service of marine data for all users, access free
o
i-MARINE : initiative to establish and operate an e-infrastructure supporting the principles of the
Ecosystem Approach to fisheries management and conservation of marine living resources.
o
DG Env / Wise Marine : legally-mandated data and indicators for the Marine Strategy Framework
Directive implementation.
Major consortia and policy makers are concerned by the harmonisation of the marine data management
and data access, by the overlapping risks, they already initiated expert groups and propositions for a
shared development.
In situ data acquisition systems and marine data centres are the core infrastuctures of the EOOS
(European Ocean Observing System), refering to the Ostend Declaration (October 2010) which recognized
the need and urgency for a “truly integrated, sustainably funded EOOS that can deliver comprehensive, open
access and quality controlled marine environmental data, providing marine knowledge for research, industry
and policy support (e.g. Marine Strategy Framework Directive).”
17
2.4 Marine land-based facilities for engineering
Reference : Annexe D6.4_5 Land-based facilities for engineering
Facilities listed include :
o 2D /3D wave basins, 2D wave flumes
o Water circulation flumes
o Various testing facilities for ocean and coastal engineering, for ocean/atmosphere interface studies
o In-situ test sites for marine renewable energy system.
Not included :
o Towing tanks dedicated for ship models, without wave generation
o Cavitation tunnels for ship propeller
o Hydraulic testing facilities not linked with coastal engineering
Atlantic region : overview of the land-based facilities and in-situ testing sites for ocean engineering
Wave basins or
wave flumes
Country
Water circulation
flumes
Other land-based
facilities
2
Norway
1
1
Denmark
3
1
Germany
1
1
Netherlands
In-situ test sites
1
2
1
4
3
1
UK
4
2
3
Ireland
1
France
23
3
6
Spain
17
2
1
2
Portugal
1
TOTAL 54 wave basins or
wave flumes
8 water circulation
16 other facilities
flumes
for ocean
engineering
9 In-situ test sites
Vision of the future
Often forgotten, the essential role of these land-based facilities for the preparation and the qualification
of any instrumentation systems before their deployment for oceanographic campaigns or at sea as
autonomous in situ systems. Three main functions :
-
The sensors calibration = > ad hoc calibration laboratories
18
-
The hyperbaric qualification of systems in functioning = > hyperbaric tanks with cable crossing
equipment
-
The instrumentation systems qualification= > deep water basin
The valorisation of these facilities and skills for other purpose as offshore or renewable marine energies
ones = > basin equipped with wavemaker, water circulation canals, in situ testing sites.
European integration in this domain is mainly supported by two FP7-I3 projects, :
-
one networking Hydraulic/Hydrodynamic testing facilities for offshore engineering as for marine
environment issues (HYDRALAB IV : “More than water, Dealing with the complex interaction of
water with environmental elements, sediment, structures and ice”, FP7-I3, 2011-2015)
-
another one more focused on testing facilities for Marine Energy Converters (MARINET : “Marine
Research Infrastructures Network for Energy Technologies”, FP7-I3, april 2011- march 2015).
Both consortia gather very similar skills and should envisaged a grouping at medium-term on common issues
like wave generation and water current flumes.
2.5 Experimental facilities for biology and ecosystem studies
Reference : Annexe D6.4_6 Experimental facilities for biology & ecosystems
Atlantic region overview :
Country
Marine biology labs
with some “…omics”
equipment
Research
aquaculture
Mesocosm
facilities
facilities
Ecosystem and
biodiversity
observatories
(new RI project)
Norway
1
Sweden
2
5
3
1
1
Denmark
1
1
Iceland
2
…
Germany
3
Netherlands
2
Belgium
1
2
3
1
…
1
UK
4
1
1
3
Ireland
2
3
…
France
2
2
3
19
Spain
2
5
1
4
Portugal
1
1
1
2
17
23
9
19 + …(under
investigation)
TOTAL
The genomic revolution, since 2000:
- Which led to new equipments in the marine biology labs
- Which entailed an explosion of data produced data (because of the efficiency of the sequencing
platforms, …)
The relative low investment in facilities for research in aquaculture for the last 20 years although
aquaculture sector should compensate the stagnation of fisheries production to face the increasing
demand.
The rising concern of the environmental impact on the live resources and their biodiversity :
- The conversion in mesocosms of some aquaculture experimental tanks or ponds,
- The need of a structured network of biodiversity and ecosystem observatories,
3 business sub-lines identified but sharing common skills on marine life resources and their aquatic
environment
Marine Genomics stations : following the FP6 “Marine Genomics” NoE and relying on the FP7-I3 ASSEMBLE
(Association of european marine biological laboratories) the ESFRI project EMBRC (European Marine
Biological Resource Centre ) undertakes in 2011 its preparatory phase with a consistent consortia gathering
all the institutes at the very edge of the "omics" technics.
Aquaculture experimental facilities : AQUAEXCEL (FP7-I3, march 2011 – feb. 2015) is starting in 2011 a
cooperation which will provide the European aquaculture research community with a platform of top
class research infrastructures, integrating on a European scale key aquaculture research infrastructures.
The platform will encompass a wide range of production systems including recirculation, flowthrough, hatchery, cage, and pond systems. Fish research will be spread across several species including
sea bass, sea bream, salmon, cod, trout and common carp. Freshwater, marine, cold, and warm
water environments will be represented, as will small, medium and industrial scale settings.
Future potential improvements (AQUAEXCEL 2 perspective) :
o
Consortium additional infrastructures could comprise those dedicated to new species with
special requirements (e.g. bluefin tuna which needs larger tanks/cages than any other
species).
o
It could also include disease challenge testing facilities which were not included in
AQUAEXCEL due to overlap with the NADIR I3 project, although diseases are a major
problem for aquaculture development.
20
o
Another improvement expected from the present AQUAEXCEL project is that the Trans
National Access (TNA) should include the possibility of a bench fee for basic analyses on the
samples provided by the infrastructures, as this type of cost is generally not included in the
operating cost of the infrastructures themselves and thus not taken into account in TNA
(being more attached to labs related to the infrastructures). Nevertheless, basic processing
(extraction, analytical devices, basic genotyping) is often needed to adequately valorize the
biological samples obtained in the infrastructures.
o
Links to high throughput sequencing infrastructures should also be considered as a new,
powerful emerging tool for understanding biological mechanisms and their genetic basis in
aquaculture (non model) species.
o
For fostering cooperation within the project, TNA between project partners should also be
encouraged, especially for students.
Also to mention, the Nordic Network on Aquaculture Recirculating Systems : The aims are to co-ordinate
and strengthen research and development of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) in Nordic countries.
The network is financed by the Nordic Council of Minister, and was formally founded at a steering
committee meeting in April 2011 with country representatives from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and
Iceland.
What are Recirculating Aquaculture Systems?
Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are intensive fish and shellfish rearing systems that re-use the
water after it has undergone various treatment processes such as mechanical and biological filtration. As a
consequence, the discharge of nutrients and organic matter from farms applying RAS technologies is
considerably reduced compared to more traditional systems.
Mesocosm facilities : MESOAQUA (“Network of leading MESOcosm facilities to advance the studies of
future AQUAtic ecosystems from the Arctic to the Mediterranean” , FP7-I3 , jan. 2009 – déc. 2012) .
The objective of the EU project MESOAQUA is to construct a network of European marine mesocosm
facilities to advance the studies of future aquatic ecosystems from the Arctic to the Mediterranean. This field
may still be in its infancy, but certainly, the work of MESOAQUA offers the potential for rapid development,
with a shared and focused vision, and should begin to pay dividends in the near future.
Towards a new concept of infrastructure focused on ecosystem and biodiversity observation :
This new concept of infrastructure was first proposed under the name of ECOBOS (European Ecosystem and
Biodiversity Observatory System) , addressing both natural and marine waters, for a FP7-I3 2010 call, but
eventually was not selected.
21
Currently, the concept is under development within the context of a COST action named EMBOS
(Development and implementation of a pan-European Marine Biodiversity Observatory) System, started in
Feb. 2011 :
http://www.cost.eu/domains_actions/essem/Actions/ES1003
In EMBOS, the needed large-scale network of research locations in Europe will be installed to assess longterm changes in marine biodiversity and their possible causes taking into account natural and anthropogenic
gradients, and EMBOS will extend and optimize this observatory system, including novel interdisciplinary
approaches for research. The cooperation leads to a focused and cost effective long term research agenda
for EU marine observatories, and contributes to ERA, LIFEWATCH (e-Science and Technology Infrastructure
for Biodiversity Data and Ecosystem Research) and GEOSS/GEOBON actions, and supports legal obligations
of the EU regarding the CBD, OSPAR and Barcelona conventions as well as EU directives (Bird and Habitat
Directive, WFD, MSFD, ICZM).
A complete mapping of the observatory sites which could be integrated in this network is under
investigation within FP7 EUROMARINE / WP5 :
The infrastructure aims :
o
to install a permanent international pan-European large-scale network of marine biodiversity
observatories
o
with an optimized and standardized methodology, to assess long-term changes in marine
biodiversity and their possible causes taking into account natural and anthropogenic gradients
o
to optimize novel interdisciplinary approaches for research
o
to facilitate knowledge-based environmental management
Secondary objectives :
o
Assessment of the impact of biodiversity change on marine ecosystems and the services they
provide
22
o
An early warning system for biodiversity changes
o
Quantification of long-term changes in marine biodiversity
3. ESFRI projects status
Reference : MSI 2012 symposium, Toulon, 13-14-15 nov 2012
3 ESFRI projects are in the domain of the research infrastructures fully devoted to the marine sciences :
EURO ARGO, EMSO and EMBRC.
Some other FP7-I3 projects may have in their vision of the future the perspective to join the ESFRI roadmap :
EUROFLEETS.
Marine ESFRI projects also interact as the marine component of some other ESFRI projects :
o
EURO ARGO and EMSO, as marine data providers for ICOS (Integrate Carbon Oservation System)
o
EMSO as the marine component of SIOS (Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing System)
o
EMSO for the marine to land data integration for EPOS (European Plate Observing System)
3.1 EURO ARGO
Objective : ensure a long term European contribution to the international programme Argo, 3000 profiling
floats worldwide measuring the temperature and salinity to a depth of 2000 m, a major contribution to the
global ocean and climate observing system
Proposal : Europe establishes an infrastructure for ¼ of the global array
Requirement : 250 floats per year including regional enhancements (Nordic seas, Mediterranean &
Black seas) (about 50 floats per year for regional enhancements)
Dual use : research/climate and operational oceanography (GMES)
Euro-Argo deployed floats (from Argo Information Center) :
2002
France
UK
Germany
Ireland
Norway
Netherlands
Spain
Italy
Greece
Portugal
Poland
Bulgaria
Finland
Europe (EU)
TOTAL
2003
7
38
14
3
2004
34
38
25
2
6
7
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
85
47
45
90
28
75
65
26
35
32
33
35
85
29
71
4
35
20
33
4
3
2
4
4
2
4
1
4
5
4
2011
55
25
41
3
4
9
10
1
1
2012
53
43
48
3
4
7
17
4
1
2
70
132
4
116
15
197
7
208
3
136
8
112
194
98
65
40
66
3
4
7
13
20
2
2
149
180
222
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EURO ARGO is now in its Construction and Operation Phase :
Set up for 2013 a new European legal structure, Euro-Argo ERIC, a central core facility with distributed national
facilities.
Status of the Euro-Argo ERIC application :
o
Statutes, technical & scientific description have been validated:
o
Members: Germany, UK, France, Italy, Netherlands, Greece, Bulgaria
o
Observers: Poland
o
Participating Countries (not part of the ERIC but involved in Euro-Argo RI) : Norway, Spain, Ireland,
Portugal (Finland, Turkey ?)
o
Hosting institution for the ERIC : France (Ifremer)
o
Agreements are at ministerial level and this will help to ensure long term sustainability :
-
French ministry of research has completed the validation of the Euro-Argo ERIC application
(recognition as an international body, VAT exemption) and has sent the official application to
the EC. Validation by the EC.
-
Signature by different countries (ministerial) is now starting
Euro-argo ERIC evolution :
o
2013-2015: Light structure supported by member state funding only
o
2015-onward: RI to be boosted with hopefully EU funds to complement member states funding
(increase Europe contribution to Argo)
There is common understanding that direct EU funding is required for such a global
infrastructure. Decision needed (Horizon 2020, GMES, EMODNET ?)
Argo expected evolution for the next decade :
Proven concept. Transition from research to sustained operational mode. 800 to 900 floats per year to be
deployed.
Evolution of instrumentation (data transmission, hardware, lifetime)
The array needs to evolve over time. Extending the core mission.
o
Under ice and high latitudes
o
Marginal seas
o
Sampling (e.g. WBC)
o
Deep ocean
o
New sensors and Bio-Argo (Oxygen, Chl-a, Nitrate, Particulate Carbon) (and other variables such as
PH)
o
Extension is on going (pilot experiments) and long term plans are discussed
24
There is common understanding that direct EU funding is required for such a global infrastructure. Decision
needed (Horizon 2020, GMES, EMODNET ?).
3.2 EMSO
Objective : a Societal need for improved understanding of climate change, anthropogenic impacts, and geohazard warning drive development of ocean observatories in European Seas
Proposal : a European network of fixed seafloor and water column observatories constituting a distributed
infrastructure for long-term monitoring of environmental processes
Construction Phase, steps towards an EMSO ERIC legal framework :
o Italian Ministry Letter sent to the Funding Agencies : done
o MoU Signature process: in progress, 7 countries signed up for EMSO (full & associated members),
awaiting signature of additional members of MoU to formally start ERIC negotiations
o Interim Office establishment : on-going
o ERIC Application submission : next
o ERIC Application review process : next
25
o
ERIC APPROVAL : next
Projects with socio-economic impact so eligible for Structural Funding from EU
Long term evolution : Further integration of hardware over a greater range: seafloor to water column, from
deep/open sea to coastal, fixed points and mobile platforms (RV + ROVs)
3.3 EMBRC
Objectives :
o To afford the full range of sampling equipment and technology needed to exploit the marine
opportunity
o
To give access to all ecosystems needed to understand coastal zone processes and connections
between regional seas
o
To reach a Pan-European standardisation of data collection and analysis, needed to progress the
science
Proposal : a Consortium of Europe’s marine laboratories.
o
Single Entry Point
o
Access to their expertise and facilities for marine research and development.
o
Access to state-of-the-art technologies and novel marine model organisms.
o
Knowledge and technology transfer for fast link from discovery to commercial exploitation.
EMBRC is in its Preparatory phase (2011-2015) :
o
13 nodes with independent functioning with a coordinating head-office
o
Envisaged to become an ERIC , but still negotiating with Member States
o
Reactive infrastructure – monitoring demand & needs of research community
o
Emphasis also on KTT to speed-up discovery to application process
o
Hardware provider for European marine research strategy – Euromarine
o
Link between marine RIs & BMS RIs (Biology and Medical Sciences) as well as possible platform for
interdisciplinary research
o
Access programme dependant on EU funding
26
4. Conclusion
It was important to show the wide variety of research infrastructures existing or in project in Europe, which
are necessary to support all marine science disciplines and to cover all locations where these disciplines
operate.
These are all distributed infrastructures, thus numerous . In the Atlantic region :
~ 134 research vessels (130 m > L > 10m)
~ 61 underwater vehicles + 19 large exchangeable equipment
~ 18 major fixed sites for ocean observation
~ a European fleet of 800 Oceanic profilers at sea + 6 fleets of gliders (totaling 35)
~ 176 coastal observatories, 17 ferrybox, 8 HF radars
~ 30 marine data providers
~ 54 wave basins, 8 water circulation flumes, 16 other facilities for ocean engineering
~ 9 in situ testing sites for ocean energy
~ 17 marine biology stations (with some “…omics” equipment)
~ 23 research aquaculture facilities
~ 9 mesocosm facilities
> 19 Ecosystem & biodiversity observatories
, a total of about 625 facilities in the Atlantic region
Networks of facilities by type of skills can initiate an operational European integration:
~ 20 consortia have been constituted in the past 5-7 years in the form of ESFRI, I3 or similar projects,
~ including 3 ESFRI projects :
o
EURO ARGO : Euro-argo ERIC is starting early 2013, funded by Member States and an EU support
expected by 2015
o
EMSO and EMBRC : aim to become an ERIC infrastructure
All these consortia covers quite well all the marine sciences : apart the Biodiversity and Ecosystems
Observatory to put operational (the consortium EMBOS being already constituted), probably that it is not
necessary any more to create new consortia but rather to strengthen existing ones. Ideal plan: renewal 4
more years of the project I3 thanks to this EC instrument, then long-lasting functioning of the consortium
within the framework of the JPI, with possible adoption of a legal statute like ERIC, and combined roles of
national RFOs and EC for the funding.
27
The challenge in the coming period 2014-2020 is really to consolidate these consortia and to truly benefit
from their coordination opportunities at European level (or at regional one when applicable) in order to
provide :
o
modern facilities suitable for advanced scientific activities,
o
opening to European researchers,
o
usefulness for marine environment monitoring,
o
cost-efficient procurements and operations.
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29