Deep Ocean Observing Strategy: Science and Implementation Guide.

Abstract

1. Identify Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) and evolve their specifications to fully consider deep-ocean perspectives across physical, biogeochemical, biological, and ecological variables over the next decade. This includes adding the deep-ocean perspective to existing Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) EOVs and adding additional deep-ocean EOVs (Table 1). The development of these EOVs will improve understanding of the state of the deep ocean, characterize existing conditions, constrain the deep ocean state in ocean climate models, and quantify its response to climate variability and human disturbance. 2. Showcase the value of integrating deep-ocean observing efforts towards maturing capability and capacity, technology readiness, and deep-ocean data findability (discovery), accessibility, interoperability, and reusability (FAIR). Demonstration projects can help mature nascent platforms and sensors, develop strategies for global-scale deployment, and work to integrate observing efforts across disciplines. Demonstration projects are currently proposed for the Clarion Clipperton Fracture Zone, the Northeast Pacific, and the Azores Archipelago. 3. Serve as a communication hub for a broad spectrum of stakeholders in the deep-ocean science, data, and information user communities. Specifically, these efforts focus on facilitating cross-disciplinary information transfer among physicists, biogeochemists, biologists, engineers, technology experts, data managers, law and policy specialists, and social scientists addressing the deep ocean. 4. Provide an avenue through which the deep ocean research community and the data they produce can reach policy makers and inform policy decisions