GEORGE brings together 28 leading partners from academia and industry alike, including three research infrastructures: EMSO ERIC, Euro-Argo ERIC and ICOS ERIC. Together, these three ERICs cover the whole expanse of European marine waters – from coasts to the open ocean, and from the seabed to the ocean interior and surface ocean. The project is coordinated by ICOS ERIC and co-coordinated by EMSO ERIC.
Using the scientific and technical expertise of its partners, GEORGE will develop new instruments for systematic, long-term autonomous ocean observations. This will significantly improve our understanding of the ocean carbon cycle and spark completely new research.
The new instruments developed by GEORGE will be able to reach parts of the ocean that are currently inaccessible, such as polar areas, the abyssal zone of the deep sea and areas outside of commercial shipping routes. The sensors can be used on floats, moorings and ships, and integrated seamlessly into the Argo float and EMSO Instrument Module (EGIM).
The novel technology developed in the project will enable better measurements and consequent models. The project will establish a full integration of carbon observing systems across marine Research Infrastructures in Europe. The on-site training events and online training platform will ensure that technical staff will receive the best possible training on operating the new instruments.