Science strategy
Lead: CEFAS (Suzanne Painting)
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Task 1.2 will define a science strategy for the JERICO-RI. It will address the need to optimise observations in time and space, in order to address key scientific questions or specific societal needs related to coastal processes and environmental status in Europe. Task 1.2 will also capitalize on the existing resources and infrastructure in order to achieve a long-lasting performance for the JERICO-RI. The science strategy, will specifically focus on the 6 JERICO Scientific Research areas, by including operational provision of information in relation with the Joint Research Activity Projects (JRAP) carried out in WP4. Task 1.2 will mobilize the know-how within the JERICO-NEXT consortium to optimize each of the observation schemes required to tackle a large variety of environmental questions taking place at relatively small spatial and temporal scales. Besides advances in technology, to optimize implementation of a European network of coastal observatories, including physical, chemical and biological observations clearly requires an a priori consideration of: (1) the integration between physico-chemical and biological data in terms of spatio-temporal sampling and measurement of key coupled processes, and (2) the transition between local to regional and pan-European observations. JERICO-NEXT will adopt a nested approach to tackle these two questions.
- SubTask 1.2.1: Designing, and gaining experience from a set of joint research activity projects (JRAPs) each performed at a local/regional scale and aiming at demonstrating the ability of JERICO (FP7) and JERICO-NEXT developments to efficiently monitor key environmental parameters, compartments and processes with a particular focus on the environmental quality and ecosystem health assessment. This will be achieved through tight interactions with the JRAPs carried out in WP4. The activity of the team will be coordinated with those of the JRAPs, during the first 6 months of the project in order to improve each JRAP sampling and monitoring strategy in view of: (1) the question tackled, and (2) the specific characteristics of the studied site(s), and (3) the mechanism through which the questions will be addressed by making use of the data either existing or produced. A particular attention will be paid to the coupling between the spatio-temporal scales of the acquisition of both physic-chemical and biological data to enable cross analysis. A dedicated workshop will be organized during the first months of the project to produce a report (D1.2) describing the optimization process of the design of each JRAP (WP4) and the description of the resulting strategies.
- SubTask 1.2.2: Will feed task 1.1 by addressing the European dimensions of the key JERICO Scientific Topics. We expect the JRAPs to address scientific questions at local to regional scales, in different coastal areas of Europe. Task 1.2.2 will contribute to the analysis and synthesis of the experience gained from the JRAPs (WP4) from a European perspective that will then be integrated into the JERICO-NEXT science strategy. More specifically, it will:
- Establish the present level of understanding of the role of physics in determining the ecosystem response to natural, climatic and anthropogenic pressures;
- Use observation and model results to define eco-hydrodynamic regions in European regional seas based on the concept of eco-hydrodynamics;
- Evaluate the effectiveness of selected coastal observatories in monitoring of coastal seas;
- Propose strategies to increase the effectiveness of coastal observatories in monitoring coastal waters.
The outcomes of the two subtasks will be presented in a dedicated report on the science strategy that will be elaborated and consolidated through two iterations during the course of the project.
Deliverables:
D1.2: Report on the science strategy required to answer the targeted scientific questions, policy requirements, and societal challenges within JERICO-NEXT. (Two iterations at M18, M44)
