Overview of the Euro-Argo Preparatory Phase

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Overview of Euro-Argo Preparatory Phase and
status AST-10 Hangzhou, March 22 P.Y. Le
Traon, Ifremer
Euro-Argo A new European Research Infrastructure
Coordinator
Institut Français de Recherche pour
l'Exploitation de la Mer - France
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Euro-Argo A new European research infrastructure

• European contribution to a global ocean
  observatory
• A significant component of the global Argo array
  of 3.000 floats in operations
• Requires strong international and European
  cooperation
• Proposal Europe establishes an infrastructure
  for ¼, i.e. 800 floats in operation
• Requirement 250 floats per year including
  regional enhancements (Nordic seas,
  MediterraneanBlack seas) (about 50 floats per
  year for regional enhancements)

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Euro Argo Preparatory Phase (2008-2010) FP7
funding. New European research infrastructure
(ESFRI roadmap)

• Main expected outcomes
• Agreement for long term (10-20 years) operation
  of Euro-Argo (financial, governance,
  organisation, technical). Member States and
  GMES.
• Most technical and organizational issues to be
  solved.

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Euro Argo Preparatory Phase partnership12
countries, 15 partners

• France IFREMER (representing the multi-agency
  Coriolis project) SHOM
• Germany BSH Konsortium Deutsche
  Meeresforschung (KDM)
• UK Met Office and NERC.
• Netherlands KNMI
• Spain IEO
• Italy OGS

• Ireland Marine Institute
• Norway IMR
• Portugal FCCUL
• Greece HCMR
• Bulgaria USOF
• Poland IOPAS

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EURO ARGO PP in 2008/2009

• Kick Off 14/15 January, Ifremer, Brest
• First European Argo User Group meeting (June,
  2008 Southampton)
• National discussions (ministerial level)
• Define infrastructure and overall cost (almost
  done)
• Interactions with GMES bureau (2 meetings)
• Interactions with ESFRI (update of roadmap
  published in 2008)
• Meetings and conferences (Eurogoos, GMES forum,
  GODAE, ESFRI)
• Legal and organization structure (to be decided
  mid 2009)
• Links with international structure (Argo, Jcomm)
• First annual meeting (Hamburg) (20-22 January)
• Joint discussion with GMES, DG Research and DG
  Mare (April, 2009)
• Second European Argo User Group meeting (Trieste,
  June 17-19, 2009)
• Decision on legal and governance structure
  (September 2009)
• Decision/commitments on long term funding (EC,
  Member States) (end of 2009).

see http//www.euro-argo.eu/
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Euro-Argo progress

• Several reports on infrastructure description,
  costs, float technology, deployement issues, data
  processing issues and improvements, impact of
  Argo data
• Float technology tests Arvor-Iridium, Argos3,
  Sea Ice and O2 sensors
• Strengthening the user community in Europe
• Trying to secure national funding and attracting
  new countries
• EC long term funding and GMES
• Definition and agreement on the future governance
  and legal structure

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Towards a long term Euro-Argo Research
Infrastructure (RI)

• Objectives of the RI
• Better, more efficient coordination and
  cooperation
• Significant increase of European Argo
  contribution
• attract EC funding and secure sound funding base
  (national and EC)
• Improve the links with the international
  structure
• A central facility (Central RI) Distributed
  national facilities
• Gouvernance model defined (council, board,
  scientific and technical AG).
• Coordination of European contribution to Argo
  (floats procured at national and through the
  central facility).
• Need a legal structure for the central RI
• To receive EC (GMES) and national (member states)
  funding.
• To procure floats (includes logicitics and test
  facilities).
• To provide funding to the AIC
• The centralized structure
• 2 (minimum) to 4-5 people funded by Euro-Argo
  members and by the EC

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Long term plan from Euro-Argo partners

• France - 65 floats (50 Ifremer, 15 SHOM). Yearly
  budgets but stable
• Germany - 50 floats (5-year) operational line
  10 research mode
• United Kingdom - 30 floats (aspiration 45
  floats).
• Spain 20 floats in 2009 (inc. 8 Med Sea). Long
  term plans under discussion.
• Greece 2 floats in 2009/2010. Plan for 4-5
  floats/year
• Italy 3 floats in 2009. Initial plan of 30
  floats/year not accepted.
• Poland 2 floats in 2009. Plan for 2/3
  floats/year
• Portugual setting up of a consortium
  (proposal). Good prospects.
• Ireland, Norway, Netherlands no commitments
  for 2009.
• Bulgaria 1 or 2 floats (goal) Black Sea.
• A minimum target of 150 floats/year is realistic.
  EC funding needed to reach our goal (250
  floats/year)

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Euro Argo and GMES

• Argo is the single most important global/regional
  in-situ observing system for the GMES Marine Core
  Service.
• Delivers critical data for assimilation in ocean
  forecasting models, climate monitoring and
  seasonal to decadal forecasting.
• Feasibility demonstrated. Maturity. Ready for
  pre-operational implementation.
• It is thus essential for GMES (as it is for
  satellite data) to ensure that over the next 10
  to 20 years, Argo will continue to provide the
  required global temperature and salinity
  observations. 
• Float technology will also evolve in the coming
  years to include new sensors (e.g. oxygen,
  biology) and new capabilities (e.g. under ice
  measurements) that are essential to the MCS.

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Funding issues

• Estimation of Euro Argo cost is about 7.5
  Meuros/year. Based on planned Member States
  contributions (4-5 Meuros/year), a direct EC
  funding (through GMES and DG Research) of about 2
  to 3 Meuros/year focused on activities of
  European relevance will be needed (see below)
  from 2010.

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Towards a long-term direct funding from the EC

• EC fully recognizes the need and importance to
  fund part of Euro-Argo. Good prospects for the
  post 2013 funding phase (GMES). Situation more
  difficult/complex in the short term.
• 2009-2013 several EC funding lines are explored
  
• FP7 funding through GMES (FP7 Space) in a 2010
  call
• DG Research / FP7 Capacities for post preparatory
  phase funding.
• DG Mare
• 2014 -2020
• Euro-Argo part of a proposed operational GMES
  funding line (depends on decisions on long-term
  funding for GMES).
• Meeting end of April in Brussels with the EC