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ICES AD HOC REPORT 2015 ICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE

ICES CM 2015/ACOM:52

Report of the Process Service for OSPAR Request on Handling Large Amounts Data

Copenhagen, Denmark

3–4 February 2015

Rosa Barciela, Patrick Gorringe, Hjalte Parner and Dominique Obaton

International Council for the Exploration of the Sea Conseil International pour l’Exploration de la Mer

H. C. Andersens Boulevard 44–46 DK-1553 Copenhagen V Denmark Telephone (+45) 33 38 67 00 Telefax (+45) 33 93 42 15 www.ices.dk [email protected]

Recommended format for purposes of citation:

Barciela, R.M., Gorringe, P., Parner, H., and Obaton, D. 2015. Report of the Process Service for OSPAR Request on Handling Large Amounts Data, Copenhagen, Den-mark, 3–4 February 2015, ICES CM 2015/ACOM:52. 24 pp.

For permission to reproduce material from this publication, please apply to the Gen-eral Secretary.

The document is a report of an Expert Group under the auspices of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and does not necessarily represent the views of the Council.

© 2015 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea

ICES AD HOC REPORT 2015 | i

Contents

Executive summary ................................................................................................................ 2

The Assignment ...................................................................................................................... 4

Understanding OSPAR Monitoring and Assessment Procedures ................................ 5

Data Availability Suitable for OSPAR Monitoring and Assessment Procedures ....................................................................................................................... 7

Models and reanalysis.................................................................................................... 7 Satellite data .................................................................................................................... 8

Merged products based on satellite and in situ observations ................................... 8

Novel in situ observations ............................................................................................. 9

Data handling and exploitation ......................................................................................... 17

Conclusions ........................................................................................................................... 19

Recommendations ................................................................................................................ 20

Annex 1 – OSPAR request .................................................................................................. 21

Annex 2 – List of participants............................................................................................. 22

2 | ICES AD HOC REPORT 2015

Executive summary

An ad hoc group was convened at ICES HQ in February 2015. Its aim was to address a request by OSPAR, related to incorporating novel environmental data in their Com-mon Procedure monitoring and assessment programmes (that focuses on eutrophica-tion and ocean acidification), with an emphasis on:

• How to handle large amounts of data and/or statistics, available from old and new monitoring devices.

• Whether there are any international mechanisms to discover such datasets.

The ad hoc group consisted of experts from ICES DataCentre, ICES Working Group for Operational Oceanographic Products for Fisheries and the Environment (WGOOFE), the MyOcean Consortium, EuroGOOS, and EMODnet. The group was chaired by Rosa Barciela (WGOOFE and MyOcean consortium).

The discussions first focused on potential products for OSPAR’s assessment proce-dures relating to eutrophication and acidification. On the basis of these products, the group identified how novel monitoring methods and data flows could be used to complement traditional monitoring methods. Potential data sources already exist and are distributed across European programmes, such as:

• The Copernicus Marine Environmental Monitoring Service (CMEMS): lead provider of core physical and biogeochemical products (i.e. daily analysis and predictions of the state of the shelf seas, and historical data) for the global ocean and the European shelf seas, including quantitative quality assurance. CMEMS also provides a repository of in situ and satellite data.

• The European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet): pro-vider of in situ data.

• The Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science (SAHFOS): source of plankton taxonomy data, plankton functional types, and group indicator species.

• The Carbon Dioxide Analysis Centre (CDIAC): lead data centre for carbon and pH data.

The ICES DataCentre is well suited to provide a delivery mechanism, building on the above large data mechanisms, for the coordination of data sources and the generation of OSPAR-relevant products, and based on a similar concept developed to assist HELCOM eutrophication assessments and ICES “Ecosystem Overviews” (already underpinned by the utilization of CMEMS products). This mechanism could deliver the required monitoring and observing data of the marine environment, including information about the quality of the service.

To guide any future work, it is highly desirable that a list of common indicators (and parameters) is agreed that can fulfil both OSPAR and EU (e.g. MSFD, WFD) require-ments. This can better ensure consistent implementation and delivery of monitoring measures, targets and assessments. Such a coordinated approach will also promote that maximum information is extracted from integrated, operational modelling and observational systems. In the context of the discussions of this ad hoc group, this is particularly timely for MSFD descriptors D5 (human induced eutrophication), D7 (hydrographic conditions), and D8 (contaminants). It was therefore recommended that a case study project be initiated to explore how in practice integrate data from

ICES AD HOC REPORT 2015 | 3

models, satellite and in situ observations with existing monitoring and assessment procedures required under the MSFD D5. In addition to producing an operational indicator, the pilot project should endeavour to establish guiding principles for the establishment of other potential indicators using novel monitoring methods, while ensuring interoperability, traceability, and quality assurance that follows common international standards.


The Assignment

ICES received a request from OSPAR for advice on:

“ICES is requested to advice OSPAR (for the benefit of HASEC and the ICG EUT) on options and a possible OSPAR way forward with the handling of data and/or statis-tics, under OSPAR monitoring programmes and for the benefit of OSPAR assessment procedures, from monitoring devices generating large amounts of data, taking ac-count of the increasing reliance by Contracting Parties on such devices, especially in eutrophication monitoring (Eutrophication Monitoring Programme, part of CEMP) and Ocean Acidification (part of pre-CEMP, i.e. voluntary measurements).The re-vised OSPAR Common Procedure for eutrophication assessment makes reference to the use by Contracting Parties of data generated by ‘novel’ monitoring devices such as satellite data, automated moorings. These data may be considered to form part of the Eutrophication Monitoring Programme, although it is recognized that there are e.g. issues related to QA and confidence rating to be addressed in doing so (see COMP Annex 8 which states “Such data are often characterized by a very high meas-urement frequency in space and time but potentially low data accuracy”.).While it may not be appropriate that the raw monitoring data from such devices are reported by Contracting Parties to the ICES database for OSPAR purposes, ICES is requested to advice whether:

• There would be benefits and possibilities for Contracting Parties to report summary statistics and key metadata on such datasets to ICES for OSPAR purposes;

• Whether there are any international mechanisms already in place to dis-cover such datasets and metadata that can inform about the relative confi-dence Contracting Parties can have in using such data from international data sources;

• How OSPAR could address best the traceability of the use of such data under the OSPAR Common Procedure, taking account of the intention of several Contracting Parties to make such datasets part of the data used in the 3rd COMP application.”

In response to this request, and ad hoc group, chaired by Rosa Barciela (Met Office, UK), was set up and a workshop was convened. The composition of the ad hoc group was as follows:

Rosa Barciela (chair, ICES WGOOFE and MyOcean Consortium);

Patrick Gorringe (EuroGOOS and EMODnet);

Dominique Obaton (Mercator Ocean, MyOcean consortium); and

Hjalte Parner (ICES DataCentre).

The workshop was held in ICES HQ, Copenhagen, Denmark, 3–4 February 2015, and its main outcomes are summarized in this report.


Understanding OSPAR Monitoring and Assessment Procedures

One of the aims of the workshop was to understand the current and future require-ments of OSPAR, what the current monitoring and assessment procedures entail and what perceived gaps exist. This discussion was based on publicly available documen-tation acquired via the OSPAR website. These documents were: OSPAR Eutrophica-tion monitoring programme; OSPAR CEMP (Coordinated Environmental Monitoring; Common Procedure for the Identification of the Eutrophication Status of the OSPAR Maritime Area).

Our understanding is that the basic parameters for the assessment of eutrophication of maritime waters, as laid down in the Eutrophication Monitoring Programme, are:

• For nutrient enrichment: temperature, salinity and dissolved inorganic nu-trients, such as, NH4+ (ammonium), NO2- (nitrite), NO3- (nitrate), PO4+ (phosphate) and silicate (SiO4+).

• For direct and indirect effects: phytoplankton chlorophyll-a, phytoplank-ton indicator species and species composition, macrophytes, O2 (oxygen concentration), and benthic communities and group of indicator species.

As the original request also mentioned ocean acidification, we have included pH as a required OSPAR parameter.

Detailed, specific assessment criteria and biochemical parameters are included in Table 1.


Table 1. Harmonized assessment parameters and related elevated levels, taken from “Common Procedure for the Identification of the Eutrophication Status of the OSPAR Maritime Area”, ref-erence number: 2013-8.

TABLE 1: ASSESSMENT PARAMETERS

Category I Degree of nutrient enrichment

1 Riverine inputs and direct discharges (area-specific)

Elevated inputs and/or increased trends of total N and total P

(compared with previous years)

2 Nutrient concentrations (area-specific)

Elevated level(s) of winter DIN and/or DIP

3 N/P ratio (area-specific)

Elevated winter N/P ratio (Redfield N/P = 16)

Category II Direct effects of nutrient enrichment (during growing season)

1 Chlorophyll a concentration (area-specific)

Elevated maximum, mean and/or 90 percentile level

2 Phytoplankton indicator species (area-specific)

Elevated levels of nuisance/toxic phytoplankton indicator species (and increased duration of blooms)

3 Macrophytes including macroalgae (area-specific)

Shift from long-lived to short-lived nuisance species (e.g. Ulva). Elevated levels (biomass or area covered) especially of opportunistic green macroalgae)

Category III Indirect effects of nutrient enrichment (during growing season)

1 Oxygen deficiency

Decreased levels (<2 mg/l: acute toxicity; 2–6 mg/l: deficiency) and lowered % oxygen saturation

2 Zoobenthos and fish

Kills (in relation to oxygen deficiency and/or toxic algae) Long-term area-specific changes in zoobenthos biomass and species composition

3 Organic carbon/organic matter (area-specific) Elevated levels (in relation to III.1) (relevant in sedimentation areas)

Category IV Other possible effects of nutrient enrichment (during growing season)

1 Algal toxins

Incidence of DSP/PSP mussel infection events (related to II.2)


Data Availability Suitable for OSPAR Monitoring and Assessment Procedures

At present, model and satellite data appear to be an untapped monitoring resource in OSPAR procedures. Given the maturity of this environmental information, and un-precedented level of international coordination, the ad hoc group strongly recom-mends the combined exploitation of model data, satellite data and traditional in situ observations. In the last ten years, significant efforts have been dedicated to the coor-dination of model development, the generation of standard metrics and measures of quality standards. For these reasons, the ad hoc group focused on the data available from key, mature international programmes (not projects), mainly the European Co-pernicus Marine Environmental Monitoring Service or CMEMS (www.myocean.eu) and the European Marine Observation and Data Network or EMODnet (www.emodnet.eu). Below is a simple analysis of the readily available, OSPAR-relevant data, the source of these datasets and their generic advantages and disad-vantages. The results are summarized in Table 2 below. Given the time and resources available to respond to the OSPAR request, the information presented here is by no means exhaustive but an initial analysis. For a more comprehensive list of available datasets, the reader is advised to browse through the ICES-WGOOFE portal:

http://groupsites.ices.dk/sites/wgoofe/operationalOcenography/Pages/default.aspx

Models and reanalysis

Models, and particularly reanalyses products, are now sufficiently mature to provide accurate, reliable, traceable and complimentary information to traditional observa-tions. While a large amount of data on the state of the marine environment is gath-ered by in situ and satellite observing networks, it is impossible to obtain direct observations of every ocean variable at all temporal and spatial scales. Models can fill in these gaps, in time and space, to provide a more complete picture of the marine environment while being consistent with the observations.

The international coordination of modelling capabilities, followed by associated product development and service provision, has culminated in the establishment of the European Copernicus Marine Environmental Monitoring Service or CMEMS (www.myocean.eu). This is a mature service underpinned by the prototype MyOcean I and II projects. The quality of the CMEMS models is constantly monitored though international coordinated activities, where agreed standard statistics (e.g. root means square errors and biases) are computed as part of the operational systems within each production centre and are monitored by scientists to check the performance of the systems. Users are given open access to these statistics, along with documentation which describes how the statistics are calculated and explain any unusual perfor-mance. As well as a catalogue of products, metadata documentation also exists.

The CMEMS already routinely generates some of the parameters required by OSPAR, such as: dissolved nutrients (nitrate or N, phosphate or P, and silicate or Si), total dissolved nutrients (N, P and Si), riverine nutrient (N, P, Si) discharges, oxygen, tem-perature, salinity and chlorophyll. Several other OSPAR parameters, such as ammo-nium (NH4+), pH and phytoplankton Functional Types (a proxy for species composition) are routinely calculated by the models but are currently not served as products because there is no explicit requirement for them. This could be easily ad-dressed by requesting the routinely provision of such products to the CMEMS.

http://www.myocean.eu/

http://www.emodnet.eu/

http://groupsites.ices.dk/sites/wgoofe/operationalOcenography/Pages/default.aspx



Satellite data

Satellite observations have the advantage of providing fine spatial and temporal cov-erage while their quality is continuously monitored. The accuracy of these observa-tions has improved in recent years although it widely varies depending on the parameter measured.

Temperature from satellites is highly regarded due to its accuracy. http://www.esa-sst-cci.org/. Salinity products however are still immature and their accuracy is low (http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/SMOS/Data_products). Ocean colour (a proxy for chlorophyll) is generally more accurate in the deep ocean than in the shelf seas, and has a generic accuracy of typically 30%, or below, com-pared to in situ observations. http://www.esa-oceancolour-cci.org/.

One of the limitations of satellite products is that they only provide information at the surface of the ocean and that, depending on the instrument, the numbers of observa-tions can be severely limited by the presence of clouds. Ocean colour measurements can’t be taken if there is cloud cover and so satellite images usually have gaps for this reason.

Merged products based on satellite and in situ observations

Another source of environmental information relevant to the OSPAR procedures is merged products. These are based on the combination of multiple satellite and in situ measurements, using statistical interpolation techniques, which are not derived from numerical models. Merged products are gap-free and have fine spatial and temporal coverage, but only at the surface.

The Operational Sea Surface Temperature and Sea Ice Analysis (OSTIA) is a reliable, accurate and widely used source of sea surface temperature. OSTIA products are continuously monitored and validation/verification activities demonstrate that SST products have zero mean bias and an accuracy of under 0.6 K compared to in situ measurements (Donlon et al., 2012)1. OSTIA data are free of charge and publicly available via the CMEMS (www.myocean.eu).

Novel merged ocean colour products include the European Space Agency GlobCol-our and the Ocean Colour Climate Change Initiative (OC-CCI). GlobColour datasets are publicly available via Copernicus and will be superseded by OC-CCI data in the near future. OC-CCI merged products, and associated documentation, are currently available here – http://www.esa-oceancolour-cci.org.

The CMEMS also provides numerous in situ and satellite observations from multiple monitoring devices such as moorings, buoys and floats, scientific cruises, etc. These observations are collected from, and delivered by, EuroGOOS Regional Ocean Ob-serving Systems Operational Oceanographic Systems (ROOSs). The CMEMS assem-bles all this information in one place under its in situ Thematic Assembly Centre (TAC). The observations are subject to rigorous, automated quality controls and doc-umentation on quality standards is regularly produced.

1 Donlon, C. J., M. Martin, J. D. Stark, J. Roberts-Jones, E. Fiedler and W. Wimmer (2012). The Operational Sea Surface Temperature and Sea Ice analysis (OSTIA). Remote Sensing of the Environment. doi: 10.1016/j.rse.2010.10.017.

http://www.esa-sst-cci.org/


http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/SMOS/Data_products

http://www.esa-oceancolour-cci.org/




Novel in situ observations

EMODnet is a programme dedicated to assembling European marine in situ data and products. There are seven themed data portals: physics, bathymetry, geology, chem-istry, biology, seabed habitats, and human activities. At the time of the workshop, the physics portal was the only one providing near-real-time data. The EMODnet-physics data portal contains physical parameters (i.e. temperature and salinity) of interest to OSPAR but other physical parameters also available. Hence, this is a useful resource for novel in situ, physical observations from platforms such as gliders, HF Radars, Argo floats, Ferrybox, drifting buoys and fixed moorings. Some of these datasets compliment the CMEMS catalogue and would be useful for OSPAR monitoring pur-poses.

Data from monitoring at designated stations provide time-series of data of a number of OSPAR-relevant parameters. These stations, however, are not centrally coordinat-ed or stored, and availability and delivery of their datasets varies and is subject to the individual data policy. For more details on these data, the reader is referred to the WGOOFE web portal.

The Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) collects information on various aspects of plankton taxonomy as it is a useful source of information of plankton functional types and group indicator species. CPR also qualitative, not quantitative, measure the “greenness” of the ocean, which is a proxy for chlorophyll (http://www.sahfos.ac.uk/).

The Carbon Dioxide Analysis Centre (CDIAC) archives ocean carbon data from a variety of platforms (e.g. research ships, commercial ships, buoys, moorings, etc.). The archive includes discrete and underway measurements of many carbon parame-ters, including pH, from deep and coastal waters (http://cdiac.ornl.gov/oceans/).

http://www.sahfos.ac.uk/

http://cdiac.ornl.gov/oceans/


Table 2. Summary of environmental data available, from models and observations, to assist OSPAR monitoring and assessment procedures.

Method Parameter Advantages Disadvantages Access

Satellite Temperature - Global and regional coverage

- High spatial resolution.

- High temporal resolution

- High accuracy

- Quality routinely reported (root mean square error and bias)

- Long time-series (1980s’)

- Daily, monthly, seasonal, annual data, multiyear

- Surface only - GHRSST project office (https://www.ghrsst.org/)

- ESA SST CCI (http://www.esa-sst-cci.org/)

Ocean colour - Global and regional coverage



- High accuracy

https://www.ghrsst.org/






- Time-series from 1997


- Surface only

- Reduced quality in coastal waters

- Data gaps due to cloud cover

- GlobColour (www.myocean.eu/)

Salinity - Immature data

- Surface only

- Coarse spatial resolution


Merged products

Temperature - Global coverage

- Combines in situ and satellite observations.



- High accuracy






- Gap-free



- Surface only OSTIA (www.myocean.eu/)

Ocean colour - Global coverage

- Combines multiple satellite observations.



- Suitable accuracy (30%)


- Gap-free



- Surface only - GlobCOlour (www.myocean.eu/)





- ESA OC CCI (http://www.esa-oceancolour-cci.org/)

In situ

(many time-series exist from individual observatories. These are not included here)

pH http://cdiac.ornl.gov/oceans/

Temperature - Surface and profile data

- From gliders, drifters, Ferrybox, moorings etc.

Spatial and temporal gaps EMODnet (http://www.emodnet-physics.eu/)

Salinity - Surface and profile data


As above EMODnet (http://www.emodnet-physics.eu/)

Oxygen - Surface and profile data



Chlorophyll-a - Surface and profile data






http://cdiac.ornl.gov/oceans/

http://www.emodnet-physics.eu/










Chlorophyll a (CPR) - the CPR data are Longest biological time-series (1930s to present day, with some gaps)

- Qualitative

- Near surface only


Phytoplankton Species Composition - the CPR data are Longest biological time-series (1930s to present day, with some gaps)

- Near surface only


Models Temperature - Surface and profile data

- Gap free

- Quality controlled

- Daily, monthly and annual data

- Long time-series (reanalyses) from 1985 to present day.

- Traceability

- Long-term archive

Spatial resolution of ~7 km at present CMEMS (www.myocean.eu/)

Salinity As above As above CMEMS (www.myocean.eu/)

Chlorophyll a As above As above CMEMS (www.myocean.eu/)

Dissolved NO2-








Dissolved NO3- As above As above CMEMS (www.myocean.eu/)

Dissolved NH4+ As above As above Could be made available on request

Dissolved PO4 As above As above CMEMS (www.myocean.eu/)

Dissolved SiO4 As above As above CMEMS (www.myocean.eu/)

Total Dissolved N As above As above CMEMS (www.myocean.eu/)

Total dissolved Si As above As above CMEMS (www.myocean.eu/)

Total dissolved P As above As above CMEMS (www.myocean.eu/)

Phytoplankton Indicator Species As above As above Could be made available from CMEMS on request

Oxygen As above As above CMEMS (www.myocean.eu/)

pH As above As above Could be made available from CMEMS on request

Phytoplankton Species Composition Could be made available from CMEMS on request

Macrophytes N/A

Benthic communities N/A









Data handling and exploitation

The CMEMS and EMODnet programmes offer different ways of accessing their products: via http download, ftp and via a Web Map Service (WMS) that allows users to visualize and plot a product without downloading the datasets. The CMEMS also offers practical, hands-on training courses to end-users and a manned “service desk” that centralizes users’ requests.

If downloading the datasets is required, then the user can experience difficulties be-cause some of these novel datasets are often complex and amount to large volumes (Terabytes and more) and so traditional data processing techniques may not be ade-quate. In this case, we would recommend OSPAR to explore with ICES DataCentre the possibility to adopt a joint mechanism for streamlining multiple data and for the flow of information between ICES and OSPAR, similar to the model set up by ICES to assist with HELCOM’s operational eutrophication assessments (Figure 1) and to the model for the “operationalization” of ICES “Ecosystem Overviews”, underpinned by the utilization of CMEMS products, and currently being implemented.

Figure 1. HELCOM EUTRO-OPER data flow illustrated. Grey: HELCOM contracting parties. Blue: HELCOM web portal, Orange: ICES DataCentre. Green: Other (unspecified) end-users.

Details of the operationalization of ICES “Ecosystem Overviews” can be found in ICES OOPS (Supply of Operational Oceanographic Products and Services ) Invitation To Tender (published in 2014), which can be found at:

http://www.ices.dk/news-and-events/news-archive/news/Pages/Call-for-Operational-Oceanographic-Products-and-Services.aspx

The ICES DataCentre will ingest the following parameters from the CMEMS: sea temperature and salinity (monthly means, integrated over the water column), water




column stratification (timing of annual onset), nutrients (winter concentrations of dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus), oxygen concentration, ice coverage, water flux estimates (in and out ICES regions), spring bloom (timing and intensity), and abun-dance of copepods.


Conclusions

A large number of the parameters required by OSPAR for their monitoring and as-sessment procedures are routinely available from European coordinated pro-grammes, such as the Copernicus Marine Environmental Monitoring Service and EMODnet.

CMEMS generates and supplies marine products for European Seas, from observa-tions (in situ and satellite) and model reanalysis. EMODnet offers complimentary observational datasets. Between them, most of the physical, biological and chemical parameters required by OSPAR are routinely produced, publicly available and free of restrictions to use. The model products are fully traceable, have no gaps, span the last two decades and are continuously monitored through validation/verification activi-ties include the quantification of the products’ accuracy (e.g. statistical room mean square error and bias), following internationally accepted quality and metadata standards. The CMEMS and EMODnet products are available through various deliv-ery mechanisms such as via http download, ftp and via a WMS that allows users to visualize and plot a product without downloading it. If direct access to the products is required, the streamlining of multiple datasets and products could be facilitated by the ICES DataCentre, building on their experience to assist monitoring in the Baltic Sea with HELCOM, as well as the imminent development of capacity to streamline CMEMS data for ICES own “ecosystem overviews” process.

The momentum gathering from the above internationally coordinated activities pro-vide an unprecedented, complementary resource of model data, in situ and satellite observations. At a time when increasing pressure on funds provides an additional challenge to collecting observations, it is crucial that the maximum information is extracted from integrated, operational modelling and observational systems for OSPAR and similar monitoring procedures.

To guide any future work, it is highly desirable that a list of common indicators (and parameters) is agreed that can fulfil both OSPAR and EU (e.g. MSFD, WFD) require-ments. This will ensure consistent implementation and delivery of monitoring measures, targets and assessments. Such a coordinated approach will also promote that maximum information can be extracted from integrated, operational modelling and observational systems. In the context of the discussions of this ad hoc group, this is particularly timely for MSFD descriptors D5 (human induced eutrophication), D7 (hydrographic conditions), and D8 (contaminants).


Recommendations

Within the OSPAR region there exists large variation in novel monitoring methods (models, satellite and in situ observations). They all generated data that can be at dif-ferent resolution and quality. These data are often fed into existing international data management programs. In order to ensure that OSPAR is able to capitalize on these data sources for future assessments the following is recommended:

A case study project should be initiated to integrate data from models, satellite and in situ observations with existing monitoring and assessment procedures required un-der the MSFD D5. In addition to producing an operational indicator, the pilot project should endeavour to establish guiding principles for the establishment of other po-tential indicators using novel monitoring methods, while ensuring interoperability, traceability, and quality assurance that follows common international standards. Novel monitoring methods data sources should be used to complement existing monitoring by filling in gaps and bringing added value to assessments. To avoid duplication of effort, the project should draw as much as possible on existing Euro-pean coordinated programmes (such as the CMEMS and EMODnet).

If requested, the ICES DataCentre, as the CEMP data host to OSPAR, is in the posi-tion to provide advice on options as to how to streamlining multiple data sources and products, building on ICES experience with reviews of eutrophication and contami-nant data flows in the HELCOM monitoring program (via the BALSAM project), and CMEMS in the ICES Ecosystem Overviews.


Annex 1 – OSPAR request

2 – Advice on possible OSPAR way forward with the handling of data and/or statis-tics, under OSPAR monitoring programmes and for the benefit of OSPAR assess-ment procedures, from monitoring devices generating large amounts of data

ICES is requested to advice OSPAR (for the benefit of HASEC and the ICG EUT) on options and a possible OSPAR way forward with the handling of data and/or statis-tics, under OSPAR monitoring programmes and for the benefit of OSPAR assessment procedures, from monitoring devices generating large amounts of data, taking ac-count of the increasing reliance by Contracting Parties on such devices, especially in eutrophication monitoring (Eutrophication Monitoring Programme, part of CEMP) and Ocean Acidification (part of pre-CEMP, i.e. voluntary measurements).

The revised OSPAR Common Procedure for eutrophication assessment makes refer-ence to the use by Contracting Parties of data generated by ‘novel’ monitoring de-vices such as satellite data, automated moorings. These data may be considered to form part of the Eutrophication Monitoring Programme, although it is recognized that there are e.g. issues related to QA and confidence rating to be addressed in doing so (see COMP Annex 8 which states “Such data are often characterised by a very high measurement frequency in space and time but potentially low data accura-cy”.). While it may not be appropriate that the raw monitoring data from such devices are reported by Contracting Parties to the ICES database for OSPAR purposes, ICES is requested to advice whether: - There would be benefits and possibilities for Contracting Parties to report

summary statistics and key metadata on such datasets to ICES for OSPAR pur-poses;

- Whether there are any international mechanisms already in place to discover such datasets and metadata that can inform about the relative confidence Contracting Parties can have in using such data from international data sources;

- How OSPAR could address best the traceability of the use of such data under the OSPAR Common Procedure, taking account of the intention of several Contracting Parties to make such datasets part of the data used in the 3rd COMP application.


Annex 2 – List of participants

Name Address Email

Rosa M. Barciela Fernandez National Centre for Ocean Forecasting Met Office Fitzroy Road EX1 3PB Exeter UK

[email protected]

Patrick Gorringe EUROGOOS Avenue Louise 231 1050 Brussels Belgium

[email protected]

Hjale Pjarner ICES H.C. ANdersens Boulevard 44-46 1553 Copenhagen V Denmark

[email protected]

Dominique Obaton MERCATOR OCEAN

8-10 Rue Hermes

Parc Technologique du Canal

31520 Ramonville St Agne

France

[email protected]

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