When it comes to understanding the ocean carbon flux, everyone agrees there is not enough data!
TRICUSO’s partners Siv Kari Lauvset (NORCE) and Toste Tanhua (GEOMAR) joined their GLODAP colleagues for an intense workshop toward the delivery of GLODAPv3 2025, which culminated in an insightful event in Brussels with stakeholders from international and intergovernmental organisations, initiatives and projects. The programme highlighted the urgent demand to better understand the dynamics of the carbon flux and increase the capacity of ocean observation, particularly in the deep sea—the true ocean carbon sink.
To ensure access to high quality historical observational data from the ocean and to strengthen the infrastructure of ocean observation, key areas were discussed:
- Integrating non-scientific vessels from industry and citizen science to increase ocean observation
- Optimising the implementation of new platforms and new methods
- Encouraging the development of a new generation of highly skilled scientists through long-term research commitments
- Ensuring production and access to certified reference material
- Securing the commitment of funding for ship-based hydrography to ensure deep ocean observation
- Criteria around filling the most critical gaps limiting our knowledge of the deep ocean carbon sink
- How the EU can play an important role fostering international collaboration for deep ocean observation
The Global Ocean Data Analysis Project (GLODAP) is a synthesis activity for ocean surface to bottom biogeochemical data collected through chemical analysis of water samples. Visit their website for more info and check out the paper: ‘A vision for FAIR ocean data products‘ published in Nature.
