GEORGE is a Horizon Europe-funded project that develops novel technologies to improve ocean observations. The technologies developed will represent the next level in systematic long-term autonomous ocean observations.
The 4.5-year project (2023-2027) is aimed at improving marine observations in terms of quality, coverage and continuity, through developing new technologies, particularly autonomous sensors. These new technologies will enable systematic autonomous in situ seawater CO2 system characterisation, and CO2 fluxes on moving and fixed platforms.
The project team consists of 28 partners from industry and academia alike, including three marine research infrastructures: EMSO ERIC, Euro-Argo ERIC and ICOS ERIC. Together, these three ERICs cover the whole expanse of European marine waters. The project is coordinated by ICOS ERIC and co-coordinated by EMSO ERIC.
The project develops technologies for the main ocean observing platforms currently in use in European marine observations, enabling high-precision observations across the water column.
The multi-platform concept created in the project will enable observations across the water column.
On top of sensor and platform technology, the project aims to enhance the integration and quality of ocean biogeochemical data. A fully integrated carbon observing system across European marine research infrastructures will enable better data to support science and decision-making.
To create sustainability for the project results and ensure that technologies will be used to their fullest potential, GEORGE will organise training events for experts, technicians and other staff operating the instruments. The project will also provide online training materials as a massive online course (MOOC) that will remain openly available after the project ends.
The innovations in GEORGE, including advancements in sensor and sampler technologies and enhancements to existing ocean observing platforms, will directly contribute to the global ocean value chain. These improvements will generate higher-quality ocean data, leading to better science and more informed decision-making.
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GEORGE project in the context of the global ocean value chain. Redrawn from Guidi et al. (2020) Big Data in Marine Science. EMB Future Science Brief 6. Doi:10.5821/zenodo.3755793. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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