Scientific Objectives
The Ocean Thematic Centre (OTC) supports a coordinated European observing system designed to deliver the long-term ocean measurements required to understand the present state and predict the future behaviour of the global carbon cycle and climate-relevant gas emissions.
The ocean plays a fundamental role in regulating climate by absorbing approximately 25% of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, thereby mitigating the pace of climate change. However, this uptake also contributes to ocean acidification, with potential impacts on marine ecosystems. Continuous and consistent observations are therefore essential to monitor these changes and their consequences.
A key priority of the ocean network in ICOS is the quantification of air–sea CO₂ fluxes in the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas, which is central to determining the European carbon budget and improving estimates of terrestrial carbon exchange. At the same time, the system integrates global surface and subsurface measurements to provide a comprehensive understanding of the ocean’s role within the global carbon cycle.
Because ocean carbon fluxes vary significantly across regions and over time — from seasonal to decadal scales — it is essential with long-term, high-quality monitoring to capture variability, identify underlying drivers, and improve predictions of future change under evolving environmental conditions.
Core Objectives of the OTC
The ICOS Ocean Thematic Centre aims to:
- Coordinate the European ocean carbon observing network, providing technical and scientific support to ocean stations
- Ensure high-quality, standardised CO₂ measurements through station labelling, training, and rigorous data quality control
- Harmonise data handling and access in collaboration with the ICOS Carbon Portal and international standards
- Produce consistent regional products, including maps of CO₂ sources and sinks across European part of Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas on monthly to interannual timescales
- Support laboratory analysis and calibration, ensuring traceability and accuracy of oceanic measurements
- Contribute to global observing systems, working with international initiatives such as SOCAT and the wider ocean carbon community
Scientific Impact
Through these activities, the OTC contributes to:
- Improved understanding of the global carbon cycle and ocean–atmosphere interactions
- Better constraints on carbon budgets at regional and global scales
- Enhanced ability to predict future climate change and ocean response
Reliable, standardised data to support climate policy, reporting, and mitigation strategies