Over the past decades, the European Union (EU) has made significant investments to stimulate the development and use of ocean observations.

EU4OceanObs will thus promote the EU’s extensive global capacity for ocean observation, data-handling and sharing, modelling and forecasting and development of marine applications and services.

By targeting potential users within and beyond the EU, EU4OceanObs will enhance the impact and uptake of European ocean observation programmes and data beyond Europe. Through its actions in the G7 Future of the Seas and Oceans Initiative (G7 FSOI) and GEO Blue Planet, EU4OceanObs will work to foster international commitment and collaborative partnerships to increase data coverage, improve sharing of and access to ocean data, coordinate regional international efforts, and use data and knowledge for a comprehensive global ocean observing system.

How is the EU contributing to the global ocean observing system?

The EU plays a leading role in international decision-making bodies working to improve the coordination and governance of the global ocean observing system (through the EU4OceanObs coordination actions in the G7 Future of the Seas & Oceans Initiative and GEO Blue Planet, the EU International Ocean Governance Forum, EU regional programmes, etc.). Read more here.

The EU is supporting the collection of ocean data through its Copernicus Earth Observation programme, in situ ocean observing infrastructures  (Eurofleets+, EuroArgo, JERICO-RI, EMBRC, EMSO, etc.), EU H2020 and Horizon Europe research and innovation projects (TechOceans, Nautilous, Blue-Cloud 2026) and  EU-funded coordination networks, projects and programmes (EuroGOOS, EOOS, AtlantOS, EuroSea, etc.). Read more here.

Through the EU’s data management and sharing infrastructures (Copernicus Marine Service, EMODnet, Blue-Cloud, SeaDataNet, etc.), the EU supports the sharing of ocean data & information on the principals of making data and information findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable. To read more, click here.

The EU supports the transformation of ocean data principally through the EU Copernicus Marine Service, which transforms satellite and in situ data into fit-for-purpose data and information products (Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs), indicators, assessments, forecasts, visualisation tools, etc.). Relying on a network of European forecasting and monitoring services and operational oceanography centres, the Copernicus Marine Service transforms collected ocean observations into a portfolio of ocean data products, vital for early-warning systems, climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, weather forecasts, ocean forecasts, and understanding ecosystem changes and drivers. To read more, click here.

The EU supports the international user uptake of ocean data and information for the development of marine applications for sustainable practices at sea and sustainable blue growth through EU uptake programmes (Copernicus uptake initiatives), targeted use cases and demonstrator projects (EMODnet, Copernicus Marine, EuroSea, Blue-Cloud, etc.) and ocean literacy initiatives (EU Atlas of the Seas), to mention a few. To read more, click here.

How to access EU global ocean data

 

The European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) and the EU’s Copernicus Marine Service provide much-needed open and free access to harmonised and standardised data sets and data products, information and knowledge to underpin evidence-based decision-making for the sustainable management and protection of the marine environment, operations at sea and weather and climate predictions and forecasts. With the launch of the European Digital Twin of the Ocean in 2022, and Horizon Europe project EDITO-infra is upgrading the marine data game by creating one of the most innovative data lakes in the marine data sector, integrating key service components of Copernicus Marine and EMODnet. 

The European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet)

emodnet.eu

The EMODnet web portal provides access to European marine data across seven discipline-based themes: bathymetry, geology, sea habitats, chemistry, biology, physics, human activities. For each of these themes, EMODnet has created a gateway to a range of data archives managed by local, national, regional and international organisations. Through these gateways, users have access to standardised observations, data quality indicators and processed data products, such as basin-scale maps. These data products are free to access and use.

The Copernicus Marine Service

copernicus.eu

Copernicus Marine Service provides oceanographic products and services for maritime safety, coastal and marine environment, climate and weather forecasting and marine resources users. The Copernicus Marine Service offers all users worldwide information on the physical and biogeochemical state of the global ocean and the six regional seas in Europe, freely and openly, simply and instantaneously. These digital data are scientifically qualified and regularly updated. Subscribers of the Copernicus Marine Service have access to a catalogue of ocean data and monitoring indicators that they can download from a web portal or via a Copernicus Data and Information Access Services (DIAS).

European Digital Twin of the Ocean public infrastructure (EDITO-infra)

edito-infra.eu

The European Commission has mandated the primary operators of Copernicus Marine and EMODnet (Mercator Ocean International and the Flanders Marine Institue (VLIZ), respectively) to collaboratively design the public core infrastructure for the European Digital Twin of the Ocean (EDITO-Infra). EDITO-Infra will serve as an EU public infrastructure enabling the creation and operation of a wealth of local digital twins and innovative applications, catering to a diverse range of users. As a core component of the infrastructure, EDITO-Infra is stepping up the marine data game by creating one of the most innovative data lakes in the marine data sector, integrating key service components of Copernicus Marine and EMODnet.