Guidelines towards an integrated ocean observation system for ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles

Abstract

The observation of biogeochemical cycles and ecosystems has traditionally been based on ship-based platforms. The obvious consequence is that the measured properties have been dramatically undersampled. Recent technological advances in miniature, low power biogeochemical sensors and autonomous platforms open remarkable perspectives for observing the “biological” ocean, notably at critical spatio-temporal scales which have been out of reach until present. The availability of this new observation technology thus makes it possible to envision the development of a globally integrated observation system that would serve both scientific as well as operational needs. This in situ systemm should be fully designed and implemented in tight synergy with two other essential elements of an ocean observation system, first satellite ocean color radiometry and second advanced numerical models of biogeochemical cycles and ecosystems.