SOCIB co-organises the Euro-Argo Political Event for decision-makers and stakeholders
On June 8th, coinciding with the World Ocean Day, the Institute of Oceanology – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IO-BAS) with the assistance of the Euro-Argo European Research Infrastructure Consortium (Euro-Argo ERIC), including the Balearic Islands Coastal Observing and Forecasting System (SOCIB), organised the Euro-Argo Political online Event for decision-makers and stakeholders. Framed within the H2020 Euro-Argo RISE project (Euro-Argo Research Infrastructure Sustainability and Enhancement) in which SOCIB is a partner, this event demonstrated the importance of Argo for the environment and society, and especially in the Marginal Seas (Baltic, Black, and Mediterranean Seas). SOCIB director, Joaquín Tintoré, joined the event as the Spanish representative of the Euro-Argo ERIC Council.
During this online event, Vladimir Ryabinin, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, highlighted the Argo contribution to the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). In addition, leading scientists from the Euro-Argo community and beyond presented their contribution, followed by panelists representing key players involved in the European ocean observing community: Aldo Drago, Head of the Physical Oceanography Research Group, University of Malta; Zoi Konstantinou, Policy Officer, European Commission DG MARE; Pierre-Yves Le Traon, Scientific Director, Mercator Ocean and Copernicus Marine Service; Inga Lips, Secretary General, EuroGOOS; and Sylvie Pouliquen, Programme Manager, Euro-Argo ERIC. This event also provided a platform for discussion and dialogue between ocean science and policy.
SOCIB contribution to Argo
At present, SOCIB is in charge of 7% of the total coverage of Argo floats deployed in the Mediterranean Sea and, since 2011, it has deployed 21 floats in the Western Mediterranean Sea. This has given as result a total of 3,148 profilers and 15,462 sampling days in this area, measuring systematically the physical state of the sea, until 2,000 m depth.
About Argo and Euro-Argo ERIC
Argo is the first-ever global, in situ ocean-observing network in the history of oceanography, providing an essential complement to satellite systems through its open and free data policy. As a major component of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), the Argo programme is actively participating in monitoring and understanding climate change and its impact on ocean health. Euro-Argo ERIC sustains and optimises the European contribution of 12 countries to the international Argo programme, providing deploying and operating nearly 25% of the float network.
