Marine Research Infrastructures as a Factor in Regional Competitiveness

1. Marine Research Infrastructures as a Factor in Regional Competitiveness Professor Peter Herzig Director, IFM-GEOMAR German Marine Research Consortium KDM

2. Marine Research Infrastructures European Strategic Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) roadmap currently includes (but is not limited to) • European Multidisciplinary Seafloor Observatory EMSO • EUROArgo • European Marine Biological Resource Centre • Aurora Borealis

3. Value-Added of Marine Infrastructures: The Example of the Observatories EMSO (European Multidisciplinary Seafloor Observatory) is a planned European-scale network of seafloor observatories and platforms • long-term, real-time monitoring of environmental changes • early-warning of natural hazards • geographically distributed infrastructure • European waters: Arctic, North Sea, Atlantic, Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea

4. European Multidisciplinary Seafloor Observatory

5. Value-Added of Marine Infrastructures: The Example of the Observatories • Argo and EUROArgo (Global Ocean Observing Infrastructure) • global array of >3.000 free-drifting profiling floats • measure continuously temperature and salinity of the upper 2.000 m of the ocean • document seasonal to decadal climate variability • improve our capability for prediction • data being relayed and made publicly available within hours after collection

6. Argo and EUROArgo

7. Marine Observatories: Gaps and Needs Major Needs • reducing loss of life and property from natural and human-induced ocean disasters • improving management of ocean energy resources • understanding, assessing, predicting, mitigating and adapting to climate variability and change • improving weather information, forecasting and warning • improving the management and protection of coastal and marine ecosystems • understanding, monitoring and conserving biodiversity

8. Marine Observatories: Gaps and Needs Major Gaps geographical areas often not well covered critical areas are not well covered early warning systems are not installed: earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, submarine slides, tsunamis long-term observation of critical parameters is lacking secured funding, master plan and overall coordination are missing

9. Requirements and Roadmap Strategic Orientation • develop long-term strategic plan for European infrastructures • analyse existing & indentify additionally needed infrastructures • maximise synergies at EU level and within member states Financial Implementation • secure long-term financing for construction, installation and operation of infrastructures

10. Requirements and Roadmap Operational Sustainability • document long-term value-added of the infrastructures for coastal states and regions and the EU as a whole Sustainable Management Structures • establish effective and efficient management structures • involve scientists, operators and users (e.g. society and industry)

11. Benefits to the Regions • disaster prediction, mitigation and/or prevention: earthquakes, submarine slides, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis • maritime and environmental services as delivered by coastal observatories for windpark impacts, water quality, coastal erosion, for sustainable fishing • climate change data: regional changes in precipitation, storm intensity, loss of biodiversity • cooperation & networking between scientists and operational services (hydrographic and shipping services, coast guards) • innovation: technology development and job creation in SMEs

12. Ocean and Seafloor Observatories as European Marine Infrastructures

13. THE EUROPEAN OCEAN – • 3 million km2 • 68.000 km of coast line • four seas, two oceans • surface area equal to total landmass of Europe more than 50% of the territory under the jurisdiction of EU Member States is under water