The ocean network of ICOS (Integrated Carbon Observation System) provides long-term observations of the ocean required to understand the present state and better predict future behaviour of the global carbon cycle and climate-relevant gas emissions. The oceanic sink currently offsets approximately 25% of CO2 emissions from human activities. Quantifying these fluxes for the Atlantic Ocean is critical for determining the European carbon budget and for accurate accounting of land fluxes. Global and subsurface measurements must also be taken into account to assess the role of the ocean in the global carbon cycle.
The objectives of the OTC are to:
- Provide comprehensive coordination of the ICOS network of ocean monitoring stations by providing technical support for observations and data management
- Set and maintain the quality standards of CO2 measurements in the ocean through labelling of stations, training, and data quality control
- Collaborate with the Carbon Portal (CP) for uniform data handling, quality control, and storage in line with standards established across the international community
- Collaborate with members of the ICOS Research Infrastructure (RI) to produce monthly, seasonal, and interannual maps of CO2 sources and sinks in Europe and the adjacent seas
- Collaborate with the Central Analytical Laboratory (CAL) to analyse flask samples
- Ensure high quality calibrations of gas standards for oceanic measurements in collaboration with the CAL
OTC cooperates with the International Ocean Carbon Coordination Project (IOCCP) to cover the global ocean observing systems.
As the observation of the ocean carbon cycle is of global concern, the OTC works with the global observing community to develop global monitoring (e.g SOCAT)
The oceanic uptake of CO2 is responsible for ocean acidification, which has negative consequences for marine ecosystems. Ocean observations within the ICOS network will therefore also monitor the progress of ocean acidification.
Net fluxes of CO2 between atmosphere and ocean vary substantially from year to year and from location to location, and are sensitive to environmental change. Therefore, secure, long-term monitoring is crucial for the understanding of variability from seasonal to inter-decadal timescales, the underlying causes of this variability, and the prediction of future variability under expected environmental change.
Furthermore, the monitoring program implemented under the ICOS umbrella will guarantee the maintenance and operation of the observational system in the long term.
OTC is led by NORCE and Bjerknes Centre of Climate Research in Bergen, which have well-respected reseach groups on ocean climate and inorganic carbon cycle. Thus, OTC builds upon the expertise and results gained during EU-funded science projects (CAVASSOO, CARBOOCEAN, CARBOCHANGE, Euro-Sites, FixO3, ATLANTOS, RINGO, SEACRIFOG and INTAROS).