On 29 September 2021, the European Commission launched five new European Union (EU) Missions which aim to tackle big challenges in health, climate and the environment, and to achieve ambitious and inspiring goals in these areas. These five EU Missions address the following topics: Adaptation to Climate Change, Cancer, Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030, 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030 and A Soil Deal for Europe. The following actions are included under the Ocean and Waters Mission [1]:
- The Horizon Europe programme will provide EUR 344.16 million in the period 2021-23 to support the implementation of the Mission, with other funding including from the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, Invest EU and other programmes;
- Launch of ‘lighthouses’ in major sea and river basins to pilot, demonstrate and deploy solutions to achieve the Mission objectives;
- Conclusion of lighthouse implementation charters to ensure governance and political commitment;
- Establishisment of EU-wide ‘Blue Parks’ to provide new restoration and conservation opportunities, as well as expand networks of marine protected areas;
- Put in place a digital ocean and water knowledge system which includes preparation of the Digital Twin Ocean, an action contributing to the activities of the Destination Earth Initiative, and improved environmental monitoring of ocean health, supporting effective water management;
- Connect, mobilize and empower European citizens and local communities to take action for the restoration of the ocean and waters in a more inclusive way.
The Communication from the Commission on European Missions points out that the Ocean and Waters Mission will for example pilot and test ground-breaking research and innovation to map, monitor, predict, manage and restore the ocean and waters under adverse climate change and anthropogenic pressures. It indicates that the Mission will build on and extend existing and planned European infrastructures and services such as Copernicus and the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet).
The data presented in many map layers in the European Atlas of the Seas are provided by EMODnet as can be seen from the Atlas overview. Copernicus Marine Service is also the data provider of several maps on global mean sea level regional trend, global sea surface temperature regional trend and global ocean chlorophyll. Chlorophyll-a is a pigment produced by many organisms for realising photosynthesis. Ocean surface chlorophyll is measured by satellites and is a proxy for ocean productivity. [2] The Map of the Week shows daily global surface ocean chlorophyll-a concentration. This product is derived from multiple optical satellite sensors (SeaWiFS, MODIS-Aqua, MERIS, VIIRSN and OLCI-S3A) and calculated using the Copernicus GlobColour processor.
Wish to know more?
- Read the latest Copernicus Marine Service Ocean State Report.
- Learn more about phytoplankton and its importance with a previous Map of the Week.
The data in this map are provided by Copernicus Marine Service.
[1]https://ec.europa.eu/info/files/communication-commission-european-missions_en
[2] https://marine.copernicus.eu/access-data/ocean-state-report