EMECO
European Marine Ecosystem
Observatory
Dave Mills
Rodney Forster, Jon Rees
Kathryn Keeble
www.emecogroup.org
Introduction
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Why do we need EMECO
Overview of Defra funded EMECO project
Policy Rationale
What is EMECO
Web – based data tools and products
Overview of current status
Future plans
– Western Shelf Observatory
• Summary
Why do we need EMECO
• Further need to strengthen evidence base for
eutrophication assessment
• Promote consensus (e.g. North Sea) by
generating ‘agreed’ maps of eutrophication
assessment variables (e.g. chl)
• UK and Europe not ‘joined up’
• MSFD requires new types of evidence
(ecosystem based, cross-boundary, physics to
fish, wide time and space scales)
• Improve knowledge capture
• Facilitate jointed up working
• Whole greater than the sum of the parts
Defra funded project – aims and
objectives
Aim
To strengthen the evidence base for assessment of eutrophication
status in a transparent manner that promotes consensus
internationally using eutrophication as an example and in Europe
and anticipates future requirements for achieving good
environmental status.
Objectives
1. To develop the tools to integrate data from multiple sources in a
transparent way to create maps and other visual products of
eutrophication related variables for the North Sea
2. To seek and gain consensus from responsible authorities in North
Sea border states on the validity of the ‘eutrophication’ related
products and provide a common starting point for agreement on
background values
3. To extend the EMECO consortium where required to include
representation from relevant agencies in the UK and in Europe
and engage on-going relevant European and national initiatives
(e.g. NCOF, Kopernicus)
4. To encourage stakeholder engagement and improve public
outreach
Planned outputs
 Consortium extended to include key UK monitoring and
assessment agencies
 Tools for integrating and assessing spatial and temporal
multivariate data sets derived from multiple platforms (buoys,
FerryBoxes etc)
 Agreed information products including maps and other visual
 Web-based (Google Earth) tools for visualisation that display
monitoring platforms, data availability and integrated products and
provide interface to data download options
 Website developed to reflect wider stakeholder requirements, a
key point of entry for members of the public interested in up-todate reporting on our marine environment.
 Implementation of new web-based tools for engaging with
stakeholders such as pod and videocasts and use of social
networking sites
Policy rationale
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Policy driven – eutrophication then ecosystem health
(GES)
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Policy questions
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OSPAR, UWWTD, ND, WFD, MSFD
Environmental status
Reference conditions, TBNT, setting assessments into context,
distinguishing between anthropogenic and natural causes of
measured changes to ecosystem
Better met by building partnerships
Extending and increasing effectiveness of monitoring
leading to more robust assessments based on more and
better science based evidence
EMECO - European Marine
Ecosystem Observatory
EMECO is a an informal European network for
integration of monitoring, modelling & research.
• Builds on existing
infrastructure
• Multi-scale – time & space
• Supports the Ecosystem
Approach
• EuroGOOS-NOOS project
• Anticipates EU current &
future policy needs
www.emecogroup.org
UK-Cefas, EA, NOC, SAHFOS, AFBI, PML, POL; NLRijkswaterstaat, Deltares, NIOZ, Norway-IMR, NIVA;
NERSC, Met Off; DE-GKSS, BSH, BE – MUMM, F –
IFREMER, RoE – Marine Institute, Denmark–DHI, S - SMHI
SmartBuoy – operational network
Historic
sites
POL COBS
SmartBuoys
Celtic Seas (New)
AFBI & MI Galway
Oyster Grounds joint
UK/NL SmartBuoy
 SmartBuoy – 5 (7) buoy + ODAS
 Wavenet – 11 Waverider buoys
Dowsing
(new)
Gabbard
Warp
Anchorage
SmartBuoy measurements
CTD, I(PAR) (1 and 2 m), Chl
fluorescence, turbidity, O2, nutrients,
phytoplankton, SPM
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Daily averaged (< 1 h – daily)
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Surface and subsurface
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Satellite telemetry
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QA’d data – assessment to sensor
www.cefas.co.uk/monitoring or wavenet
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Oyster Grounds joint UK/NL SmartBuoy site
European Marine
Ecosystem
Observatory
Ferries
Research vessels
Gliders
Towed bodies
Satellites
Buoys
EMECO ecosystem modelling
capability
• Widespread capability in ecosystem modelling
• Collaborative infrastructure in place - OSPAR
• Bolstering formal
assessments of
eutrophication
• Carrying out nutrient
reduction scenarios
• Evaluating indicators
• Validation with national
marine monitoring
programme data
• OSPAR Working Group
on Eutrophication
Modelling –
www.cefas.co.uk/eutmod
Norway
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WHY
Efficient use of
resources
Strengthen the
evidence base
Reduce
uncertainty
Add confidence
to assessments
Assessments
able to
withstand legal
scrutiny
Assessment
variable
Integrated assessments
Web and Google Earth tools
1. Visualisation
SmartBuoy –
Cefas/RWS
Mulit-platform,
mulit-agency,
multinational
Lander Cefas
2. Data
extraction
RV - RWS
FerryBox –
GKSS;CPR SAHFOS
3. integration
DIAS
4. Assessment
EMECO example product – regional
scale ‘assessment’ map
Data Integration & Assessment System
• User generated
‘indicator’ maps
• ‘Agreed’
international map
of chlorophyll
• Transparent
information
product with
estimate of
confidence
• Step towards EU
harmonisation
EMECO Data Tool (EDT)
Data
Sources
Satellite
WaveNet (QA)
WaveNet (non-QA)
SmartBuoy (QA)
SmartBuoy (non-QA)
ICES
EMECO
Database
User
Interface
EMECO
Outputs
KML (Google
Earth)
Online
Query
Tool
Charts
XML (Data)
Assessment
Maps
“Will enable rapid integration and visualisation of multi-national,
multi-platform, and multi-variate data”
EMECO data tool outputs
• The EMECO data tools allow rapid data integration and visualisation
on the web. Users are able to generate maps, time series charts,
and / or data (kml, xml, csv) of data "mash-ups" from a variety of
sources/parameters.
• The tool is fully interactive and users can explore different ways of
viewing the data by switching off some platforms, changing time
periods and averaging periods, change parameters, changing output
types etc.
• In version 1.0 of the tool (to be released shortly) the map is of the
North Sea, which is divided into OSPAR polygons. However, the
map could be developed further to be at different scales and
different sets of polygons e.g. ICES. It could also have a zoom
facility to allow downscaling for more localised end users.
Figure 1. North Sea map of monthly averaged chlorophyll a concentration (mg/l)
generated from a variety of monitoring platforms using the data tool for the
period 1 January 2004 till 31st December 2005. Information is displayed for
each OSPAR water body as the cursor is held over a specific water body.
Figure 2. North Sea map of monthly averaged nitrate concentration (uM)
generated from a ICES data using the data tool for the period 1 January 2004
till 31st December 2005. Information is displayed for each OSPAR water body
as the cursor is held over a specific water body.
Figure 3. North Sea map of monthly averaged nitrite concentration (uM)
generated from a ICES data using the data tool for the period 1 January 2004
till 31st December 2005. Information is displayed for each OSPAR water body
as the cursor is held over a specific water body.
Selection of time period
Selection of output type
Can select by
parameters or by
platforms
Parameter selection
Note all available
temperature data
sources selected
Figure 4. Average monthly temperature time series (Chart option) from the
North Sea from all available of monitoring platforms. A platform can be a ship
or buoy. In the future platforms will include satellites and FerryBoxes.
EMECO data and GES
EMECO partners data products ‘mapped’ on to the anticipated
requirements of the MSFD. The MSFD descriptors are presented
by their numerical identification only.
Western Shelf Observatory
A new observatory for the south west
approaches and Celtic Seas
Western Shelf Observatory
• Defra funded workshop March 09 in Lowestoft agreed to
launch Western Shelf Observatory
• Cefas, SAHFOS, PML, NOC, POL, AFBI, SAMS, Marine
Inst. Galway, NERC participated
• Outline proposal submitted to Defra - ‘green light’ for
funding – final proposal to be submitted
• Builds on current infrastructure – CPR, SmartBuoy,
FerryBox, Western Channel Observatory, Liverpool
Bay/Irish Sea Observatory, AFBI Marine Monitoring
Programme (Ship/Buoys)
• Opportunities for other partners
• Domain western English Channel, SW Approaches,
Celtic and Irish Seas, Malin Shelf - to be finalised
• Part of EMECO family – North Sea Observatory
State of play
• Strategic partnerships in place within EMECO – more
partners interested
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Netherlands-UK SmartBuoy programme
FerryBox-CPR joint network (North Sea, Channel..)
BSH (Germany) to participate
Strong interest from Adriatic and Baltic
Irish Marine Institute Met Buoys to be equipped with SmartBuoy
sensors (Defra funded)
• EMECO adopted as EuroGOOS project by NOOS
• Bottom-up approach provides immediate multi-national,
multi-agency monitoring infrastructure
• Tools for integration and rapid assessment being put in
place
• Defra funding for 18 months pilot project secured by Cefas
– ends March 2010
• Defra to fund Western Shelf Observatory
Benefits of EMECO
• Improving partners ability to deliver robust
assessments/improved advice to governmental agencies
(National advice will be improved through collaboration in
EMECO)
• Engagement with international partners, profile raising,
vehicle for attracting new external funding
• Achieving consensus in international policy fora
• Building on existing infrastructure
• Bottom up ‘European’ approach
• Increasing effectiveness of monitoring and return on
investment
• Timely, with whole greater than sum of parts
• End to end solution
Summary
• EMECO established and recognised in UK and
Europe
• Web based tools for rapid integration of data to
meet policy and other user defined purposes to
be released shortly
• Data tools will provide basis for efficient and
timely reporting of environmental status for
eutrophication and has potential to meet needs
of MSFD and other Directives
• Western Shelf Observatory will extend EMECO
domain, mainly with UK partners
• Defra seeking view on future of EMECO