EMSO : European Multidsiciplinary Seafloor Observatories Research Infrastructure.
Concept
A network of deep-sea floor observatories will be deployed to allow
continuous monitoring of the ocean margin environment around Europe.
Expected results :
 | Major advances across marine sciences. |
| Better knowlegde-based support to european policies in environment and security (GMES). |
To better undestand sea floor active processes, we need long time series of data at key provinces around european margin for
| Geohazards |
| Climate change |
| Ecosystem life and evolution |
These active sea floor processes are presently studied and observed through conventional, even if recurrent, oceanographic campaigns.
| Earthquakes |
| Submarine slides, turbidity currents |
| Tsunamis |
| Benthic storms |
| Bio-diversity changes |
| Pollutions |
| Hydrothermal vents, cold seeps |
| Anthropologic impacts on deep ecosystems |
A continous monitoring is now needed :
Scientific objectives : To measure cyclic
changes and to capture episodic events
relative to long term deep-sea processes and ecosystems.
Technological development : Seafloor instrumentation is needed to acquire
simultaneously long time series of data
relative to active sea floor processes as :
seismology, geodesy, sea level, gas vents, physical oceanography, biodiversity
imaging at several scales, particle dynamics, slope failure, turbitidy currents,
pollution…
The permanent infrastructure proposed is a network of cabled deep-sea
observatories deployed on 5 specific sites
| as a response to critical needs of decision-makers on issues related to management and conservation of marine resources, geohazards and climate change in the deep-sea. |
| it will reinforce European research communities by structuring and
disseminating data on sea floor active processes on a permanent basis and
providing access as well to others communities. |
=> This new tool of pan-European interest is the
biggest scientific and technical challenge of the 21st century for
oceanographers, marine geoscientists and biologists.
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Esonet NoE | |
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Emso | |
