AUTHOR=Tanhua Toste , Le Traon Pierre-Yves , Köstner Nicole , Eparkhina Dina , Navarro Gabriel , Dunbar Martha Bonnet , Speich Sabrina , Pascual Ananda , von Schuckmann Karina , Liguori Giovanni , Karstensen Johannes , Hassoun Abed El Rahman , van Doorn Erik , Barceló-Llull Bàrbara , Gómez Begoña Pérez , Cusack Caroline , Heslop Emma , Lara-Lopez Ana , Petihakis George , Telszewski Maciej , Palacz Artur P. , Wilmer-Becker Kirsten , Pearlman Jay , Muñiz Piniella Ángel , Heymans Johanna Jacomina , Lips Inga TITLE=Towards a sustained and fit-for-purpose European ocean observing and forecasting system JOURNAL=Frontiers in Marine Science VOLUME=11 YEAR=2024 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2024.1394549 DOI=10.3389/fmars.2024.1394549 ISSN=2296-7745 ABSTRACT=

The EU funded project EuroSea brought together key actors of the European ocean observing and forecasting communities with key users of the ocean observing products and services in order to better integrate existing ocean observation systems and tools, and to improve the delivery of ocean information to users. EuroSea was constructed around the ocean observing value chain that connects observations to users of ocean information, and, just as intended, the value chain concept was a useful prism to improve the system. In this article, we summarize some of the main take-home messages from EuroSea on the needs for developing the European Ocean Observing System and its links with modeling and forecasting systems. During the project, the challenges and gaps in the design and coordination of the European ocean observing and forecasting system were identified and mapped. Many gaps and challenges related to the observations of physical, chemical and biological Essential Ocean Variables were identified. Some of these gaps are related to technological developments, while others are caused by insufficient and short-term funding leading to a not sustainable system, management, and cooperation between different entities, as well as limitations in foresight activities, policies and decisions. This article represents a compilation of the broader needs for advancing the observing and forecasting system, and is meant as a guide for the community, and to funders and investors to advance ocean observing and the delivery of ocean information in Europe. To enhance the sustainability of ocean observations, which is paramount for a reliable provision of quality oceanographic data and services, several recommendations were compiled for ocean observing networks, frameworks, initiatives, as well as the ocean observing funders within the European nations, and the European Commission.