ABSTRACT
Europe spends €1.4 billion p.a. for marine data collection: €0.4 billion for satellite data and €1.0 billion for in-situ observations, respectively. In the case of the latter, the traditional and expensive practice of vessel-based data-gathering is progressively giving way to monitoring via “observatories” - complexes of distributed, autonomous, real-time sensor systems. Burgeoning technology and pressing societal needs have such observatories the backbone of European marine observing activity because of their ability to provide copious quantities of diversified data over large areas at reasonable costs. But to be useful for research and decision-making at a transnational level, all the incoming data have to be comparable and amenable to fitness-for-purpose assessments in relation to specific user-group requirements. This will require measurements to be metrologically sound, and instruments to be working within known specifications at all times despite prolonged deployment in harsh conditions. Supporting the development of the operational oceanography in Europe, a metrology community dedicated to oceanography has been collaborating from the very early days in order to sustain and promote the quality of measurements made in marine environments. However, up to now, this quality insurance relies on ten or so metrology laboratories all over Europe, and the number of metrology laboratory creations is scarce despite an important increase of metrology needs. Responding to the need, 10 years ago, in the framework of EU projects (JERICO, FixO3), several metrology laboratories from oceanographic institutes (HCMR, OGS, IFREMER, SYKE) initiated discussions on possible ways to structure the community, enhancing collaboration, promoting integration and adopting best practices. Parallel to this, national metrology institutes (LNE, PTB, INRIM, IPQ, YMPARISTO, ...) started to address the oceanographic metrology topic through dedicated metrology calls (EURAMET). This dispersion of effort was rapidly identified as the main cause of lack of progress in the thematic and laboratories decided to engage in a sustained effort for collaboration. This paper illustrates how metrology is a key player in the current environmental and political context, why it is so important to agree quickly about solutions to build a European sustainable structure and what are the different collaborative opportunities afforded by Europe.