EMECO (European Marine Ecosystem Observatory) & Western Shelf Observatory

EMECO (European Marine Ecosystem Observatory)

& Western Shelf Observatory

Dave Mills (Cefas) Remi Laane (Deltares)

([email protected])

‘Creating better evidence and new knowledge about our coastal seas’

Question

Marine Infrastructures, Brussels, Dec 2010

‘To what extent can EMECO contribute to the build of a more integrated European observing system that can serve the needs of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive?’

NERC SOFI Workshop

The problem – policy pull

The evidence must be:– Based on sound science– Underpinned with reliable

quality assured data– Transparent and auditable

(from sensor to advice)– Collected efficiently and

cost effectively– Able to withstand legal

scrutiny

National government needs evidence to meet their international and EU policy obligations

Policy drivers:– OSPAR, HELCOM– Nitrates Directive– Urban Waste Water

Treatment Directive– Water Framework Directive– Birds and Habitats

Directive– MSFD– Others


Assessment of eutrophicationAssessments challenged

• Infraction proceedings – UWWTD (France, UK)• National assessments – not universally

approved

Why• Differences in

interpretation of policy e.g. eutrophication

• Lack of consistency and coherence

Needs• More & better information

Outcome to 2nd Application OSPAR CP

Problem Area

Non -Problem Area

Potential Problem Area


MSFD Descriptors

Desc 1 Biodiversity

Desc 2 Invasive Species

Desc 5 Eutrophication

Desc 8 Contaminants & pollution

Desc 10 Marine Litter

Desc 6 Seafloor

Desc 4 Food Webs

Desc 7 Hydrography

Desc 11 Energy

Desc 3 Commercial species

Desc 9 Fish shellfish hygiene

“The marine environment is a precious heritage that must be protected, restored and treated as such with the ultimate aim of providing biologically diverse and dynamic oceans and seas that are safe, clean, healthy and productive.”


Marine Framework Strategy Directive

Policy (and science) questions• “Good Environmental Status”• What indicators – cause and effect• Reference conditions, assessment methods• Setting assessments into context,

distinguishing between anthropogenic and natural causes of measured changes to ecosystem

• Ecosystem based approach• Cross boundary – assessment at the right

scale• Physics to fish• Monitoring and assessment sustained for

time scale of requirements - decades


• 100m & 1.4 billion € spent on monitoring in UK & EU

• Pressure to reduce costs• Pressure for openness,

accountability, sharing and access

• New observational strategies, tools, & technologies

• Many players with diverse ‘systems’ – no common ‘language’

• Partnership & collaboration the way forward

The case for change !

Ferries

Satellites

Research vessels

Gliders

Buoys

Models

Towed bodies

CPR


The science (& technology) push

• Most marine observatories science lead– Hypothesis driven, technology driven– Short term (R&D) funding and goals– Policy uptake an afterthought– Spatial scale relevant to science question

• Primarily science driven papers at ESF observatories meeting

• Thrust of that meeting was observatories for science not for policy !

• Avoid the ‘solution’ in search of a ‘problem’


0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Oct-00 Jun-01 Feb-02 Oct-02 Jun-03 Feb-04 Oct-04 Jun-05

TO

XN

( M

)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

NAS TOXN

WMS TOXN

CTD toxn

WMS SILICA

CTD Si

Liverpool BayLivBay

4°W

4°W

3°W

3°W

53°N 53°N

54°N 54°N

3/5

Integrated monitoringIntegrated monitoring

R.V. Cefas Endeavour

Traditional approach

Autonomous data Autonomous data buoysbuoys

Cefas SmartBuoys

Remote sensing

CPR

Data poor to data rich

Numerical models

Data rich to information rich

Integrated approach

SmartBuoys

Ferries

FerryBox


Integrated assessments

WHY• Efficient use of

resources• Strengthen the

evidence base• Reduce

uncertainty• Add confidence

to assessments• Assessments

able to withstand legal scrutiny

Ass

ess

men

t vari

ab

leThreshold

Above line +

Below line -


EMECO Stakeholder Engagement

• User generated maps

• ‘Agreed’ international map of chlorophyll

• Transparent information product with estimate of confidence

• Step towards EU harmonisation

Towards a Data Integration & Assessment System

Building the partnerships…


EMECO – NOOSNorth Sea

Observatory meeting Lowestoft

June 2009

Western Shelf Observatory

Kick-Off meetingAFBI, Belfast June

2010


EMECO - European Marine Ecosystem Observatory

UK-Cefas, EA, NOC, SAHFOS; NL-Rijkswaterstaat, Deltares, NIOZ, Norway-IMR, NERSC, Met Off; DE-GKSS, BSH, BE – MUMM, F – IFREMER, RoE – Marine Institute, Denmark – NIVA; S - SMHI

• Builds on existing infrastructure

• Multi-scale – time & space• Supports Ecosystem

Based Management• Promotes interoperability• Anticipates EU current &

future policy needs MSFD

EMECO is a an informal European network for integration of monitoring, modelling & research.

www.emecogroup.org

Creating better evidence and new knowledge


EMECO - Western Shelf Observatory

(www.westernshelfobservatory.org)

‘ The EMECO Western Shelf Observatory is an integrated programme of sustained marine observing systems that will improve knowledge and understanding of marine ecosystems. It will strengthen the evidence base for environmental assessments, underpin future research, increase uptake of marine data and information and address gaps in current marine monitoring, modelling and research.’

Partner Programmes• Western Channel Observatory• Irish Sea Observatory• Ship survey, inshore buoy

network, offshore mooring (AFBI)

• Cefas SmartBuoy and Wavenet• Irish (MI) monitoring programme

- instrumenting met buoys• Ellet Line, Tiree mooring• Marine Scotland monitoring• CPR routes• FerryBox lines• PAP Eurosites mooring

NERC SOFI Workshop

EMECO – WSO Science questions• To what extent is the carrying capacity of European shelf

seas determined by exchange of nutrients across the shelf

• Is the outcome to environmental assessments (e.g. eutrophication) influenced by shelf-edge processes

• To what extent is ecosystem health (structure and vigour) in the inner shelf regions influenced by shelf edge processes

• How will this far field forcing be influenced by climate change

• How will understanding of these interactions influence environmental assessments of inner shelf regions and advice to policy end users?

• Can we use the new observations to better determine background and therefore reference conditions for environmental assessments of our shelf seas.

NERC SOFI Workshop

EMECO - Western Shelf Observatory

Map Room

An exercise in scaling !

(www.westernshelfobservatory.org)


Making a difference……..


EMECO – Information & evidence pipeline

ICESDelayed mode

EM

EC

O D

atatoo

l Interface

EMECOAssessment

database

EM

EC

O U

ser Qu

ery

DataXML, CSV

EMECO Web – enabled Datatools

Assessment map

KML–Google EarthCalibration

Validation

Gridded data

Real time

CPR Delayed mode QA’d

Data

Marine Core Service Provision

Delayed mode

Delayed mode

Data ArchiveCentres

UK

Real time & delayed mode

Time-series/trends


EMECO – Information & evidence pipeline

ICESDelayed mode

EM

EC

O D

atatoo

l Interface

EMECOAssessment

database

EM

EC

O U

ser Qu

ery

DataXML, CSV

EMECO Web – enabled Datatools

Assessment map

Time-series

KML–Google Earth

Calibration

Validation

Gridded data

Data ArchiveCentres

Real time

CPR Delayed mode QA’d

Data

Marine Core Service Provision

Delayed mode

Delayed mode

A streamlined ‘on-line’ assessment system that:-“enables rapid integration and assessment of

multi-national, multi-agency multi-platform, and multi-variate data”

UK


An integrated monitoring & assessment system for the North Sea - Objectives

To consolidate a North Sea Observatory to provide a network of routine measurements of biological, chemical and physical variables encompassing ships, moorings, ships of opportunity, satellites and modelling.

To improve coordination and efficiency of current operational programmes to include promoting interoperability of sustained observations in the observatory between partners.

To develop a shared vision and strategy between funders of sustained observations and monitoring programmes by engagement at a national and European level

To ensure the observatory includes all the relevant partners

To demonstrate that the North Sea Observatory can make a positive difference: by improving marine scientific evidence and creating new knowledge


How do we do it• Prepare costed proposal to EMODNET• Tasks

– Build on detailed review of current monitoring and sustained observing programmes e.g. EEA GISC-GMES report and other prior work (EuroGOOS, EDIOS, OOS’s)

• What observations, where, who, why• Current costs• Assess level of interoperability

– Agree requirements• Better scientific evidence – at the scale of policy need• New knowledge• Stakeholder engagement

– Develop agreed plan to meet needs• Fill gaps

– Identify new products• Further develop EMECO datatools

Clarity about information needs is critical !


How do we do it• How

– Workshop - bringing key policy, science, monitoring community together for each country

– User requirement analysis – what do we need to measure, where, how,

– Interoperability survey and gap analysis• Resources

– Approx 50k € for proposal preparation– 250 – 300k € for delivery of proposal– 1 year– Planning and implementation group

• Outcome (Report)– Detailed knowledge of monitoring in North Sea (both policy and

science driven)– Clarity about costs– User needs assessment – policy and science (evidence and

knowledge)– Strategic (and costed) plan to address gaps– Engage (stakeholders) to sustain !


UK-MECO

NERC SOFI Workshop

Smart BuoySmart Buoy

WNWN

CPR eCPR e

Fish TagFish Tag

Other sitesOther sites

DowsingDowsing

WarpWarp

NodesNodes

NodesNodes

NodesNodes

NodesNodes

NodesNodes

CPR Route 1CPR Route 1


CPR Route …CPR Route …

Bottom LanderBottom Lander

NodesNodes

Fish Vess 1Fish Vess 1 Fish Vess 2Fish Vess 2

VesselVessel

SatellitesSatellites

UK Integrated Observatories e-Infrastructure

Fish Vessel

FV

CPRFB Endeavour

Observing systemObserving system

Sensor

WCOISO

GMES

ModelsModels

ICES

FBFB

Cefas

Mon NetMon Net

NOCFBFB

PAPPAP

AFBI

BuoysBuoys

RV surveyRV survey

DAC - Fish DAC - Fish

DAC - MermanDAC - Merman

DAC – Oceanog.DAC – Oceanog.

MEDIN

Community Hub

GIS

EMECO

DAC – SpeciesDAC – Species

DAC – BathyDAC – Bathy

DAC

Services

MarSc

NERC SOFI Workshop

Smart BuoySmart Buoy

WNWN

CPR eCPR e

Fish TagFish Tag

Other sitesOther sites

DowsingDowsing

WarpWarp

NodesNodes

NodesNodes

NodesNodes

NodesNodes

NodesNodes



CPR Route …CPR Route …

Bottom LanderBottom Lander

NodesNodes

Fish Vess 1Fish Vess 1 Fish Vess 2Fish Vess 2

VesselVessel

SatellitesSatellites

Fish Vessel

FV

CPRFB Endeavour

Observing systemObserving system

Sensor

WCOISO

GMES

ModelsModels

ICES

FBFB

Cefas

Mon NetMon Net

NOCFBFB

PAPPAP

AFBI

BuoysBuoysRV surveyRV survey

DAC - Fish DAC - Fish

DAC - MermanDAC - Merman

DAC – Oceanog.DAC – Oceanog.

DAC – SpeciesDAC – Species

DAC – BathyDAC – Bathy

DAC

MarSc

Tools & Services

• Data discovery• Data catalogue

• Mashup tools

• Community models• GIS/Mapping tools

• Auto cal/val

UK Integrated Observatories e-Infrastructure


Marine Information and Evidence Pipeline

Datato

ol In

terface

Assessmentdatabase

User Q

uery

DataXML, CSV

Assessment map

Time-series/trends

KML–Google Earth

Gridded data

Sea Level

Ocean Color

SST

Sea Ice & Wind

In Situ

Physics

Chemistry

Geology

Biology

Bathymetry

Ur-EMODNET Lots

GMES MCS TAC

CPR


Marine Information and Evidence Pipeline

Datato

ol In

terface

Assessmentdatabase

User Q

uery

DataXML, CSV

Assessment map

Time-series/trends

KML–Google Earth

Gridded data

Sea Level

Ocean Color

SST

Sea Ice & Wind

In Situ

Physics

Chemistry

Geology

Biology

Bathymetry

Ur-EMODNET Lots

GMES MCS TAC

CPR

A WISE Move !


Summary• Major challenges to address

– Better evidence – policy pull– New knowledge – science push– How do we align ?

• Pressure on resources (UK up to 30% budget reductions)

• Do more with less • Quick wins

– Build on progress, modernisation, make best use of all resources, engage to sustain

• EMODNET can play a key role in meeting the challenge.

• And the answer to the question……..

‘To what extent can EMECO contribute to the build of a more integrated European observing system that can serve the needs of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive?’


• EMECO already hold the vision of why the community needs to work together – To meet EU policy evidence needs– To address key science question with a strong policy relevance– To make a difference !

• Addressing the challenge – From physics to fish - an ECOSYSTEM observatory– Building partnerships at the spatial (regional) scale required for

policy delivery– Build an open and transparent ‘integration and assessment

system’ to meet policy needs

• EMECO provides a solution to a problem – not a homeless solution!


The End

Integrating physical, chemical and biological data

• What does it mean

• What does it entail

• How does it serve the needs of the MSFD


What does it mean• The act of combining parts to make a

unified and harmonious whole.– The parts are things that we measure (or

simulate)– At what point do you combine the parts data

and in what order– Combining same data for same variable

• Measured using same method/platform

• Measured using different methods/platform

• Disparate in time and space


What does it entail

• Depends on requirements !• Demonstrate intercomparability –

intercalibration– Does same method use by different, people,

laboratories give an acceptable level of agreement

• When do we do it in the work flow• Render data into same format (e.g. XML)• Integrating across time and space scales


Why do we want to integrate

• Science (better knowledge)– Want to understand relationships between

bits

• Policy (better evidence)– Increasing pool of data for assessment may

lead to an increase in confidence – Assessment methodology – we have to do it

to meet end-user needs


But what’s the real reason?

• The world is unity – when we measure it we break it into bits or parts

• In order to understand it we reassemble (integrate) those bits (according to theory)

• So integration is required to understand the world ie to interpret what the bits mean when joined together

• Important to do this in an open and transparent way !


Documents

EMECO (European Marine Ecosystem Observatory) & Western Shelf Observatory