Physical Oceanography networks (water column. Integrated operational monitoring and forecasting systems, such as the MERSEA system, are able to simulate and anticipate ocean conditions. The operational monitoring and forecasting of the ocean physics, bio-geochemistry and, to a certain extent ecosystem, will be completed within 2-3 years (objective of FP6 –MERSEA IP project); Satellite Remote sensing and in- situ Lagrangian data are providing most of the necessary assimilation input to the models, but Eulerian data are needed. Indeed, the development of the algorithms for the models, the checking of these models during their development and their validation when operated (especially when forecasting is aimed at) are all needing time series. In-situ quantities in critical or representative locations need to be collected in a mode that delivers temporal variability on scales of hours to months. ESONET XxX will provide data on key parameters from the subsurface down to the seafloor at representative locations and transmit them in real time to shore. The strategies of deployment, data sampling, technological development, standardisation and data management will be integrated with projects dealing with the spatial and near surface time series. The contribution of ESONET will come through GMES for several key parameters of the water column. During the next 4 years, the target of GMES is clearly to prepare an operational phase in ocean physical oceanography. ESONET will contribute to “Initial Operational Phase of GMES Marine Core Services” (Figure 15) planned for 2008 as well as a regional policy on the Downstream Services. ESONET XxX regional development will take into account the geographical policies of GOOS regional task teams: Arctic, North-West Atlantic shelf NOOS, Mediterranean MedGOOS (reference projects MFSTEP, MOON), Iberia-Biscay-Ireland Shelf IBI-XXXX, Black SeaGOOS (Figure 14). Figure 14 : Map of European regions envisaged by MERSEA project for their Downstream activities Figure 15 : Figure from GMES report representing Ocean Services (ongoing MERSEA project).
