Atlantic Observatory

Project facts

Project promoter:
Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere(PT)
Project Number:
PT-INNOVATION-0002
Status:
In implementation
Initial project cost:
€2,000,000
Donor Project Partners:
Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research(NO)
Norwegian Institute of Marine Research(NO)
Norwegian University of Science and Technology(NO)
The Marine and Freshwater Research Institute(IS)
Other Project Partners
Fundo Regional para a Ciência e Tecnologia(PT)
Oceanic Observatory of Madeira(PT)
Regional Agency for the Development of Research
Technology and Innovation of Madeira(PT)

Description

The project “Atlantic Observatory – Data and Monitoring Infrastructure” aims to create an infrastructure for the acquisition, aggregation and dissemination of oceanographic data contributing to the improvement in the research and monitoring of the Atlantic Ocean, whilst supporting the sustainable management of marine resources. It will focus on:
1. Strengthening a digital infrastructure for data collection,
2. Aggregation and brokerage of entities operating in the Portuguese, continental and autonomous regions (including the integration of information made available by relevant datasets produced by international or regional initiatives relevant to the Atlantic
environment), and
3. Strengthening of existing means for ocean monitoring in the Portuguese marine research community.

The AO intends to easy the  access  to  high  quality  marine environmental data covering the Atlantic Ocean basin, including deep ecosystems with critical scientific value, promoting the share of experimentation facilities and monitoring instruments  and  builds  on  top  of  previous and  ongoing  initiatives. This initiative shall also promote networking between national and international marine research groups, fostering synergies between a large diversity of scientific and technological communities and agendas, including marine robotics, marine biology, marine geosciences, renewable energies, biotechnology,  climate   research,   business,   economy   and   related   social sciences.

The project also has a bilateral objective –which means the promotion of the cooperation between partners from Norway, Iceland and Portugal focused on the Atlantic environment. This objective will be achieved through the involvement of all project partners in the planning and implementation of the project as well as their contribution to   the work-packages   according   to   their   expertise. Four   technical work packages were established being their work based on the best expertise of each partner.

Information on the projects funded by the EEA and Norway Grants is provided by the Programme and Fund Operators in the Beneficiary States, who are responsible for the completeness and accuracy of this information.