EuroSITES

EuroSITES formed an integrated European network of nine deep-ocean observatories sited in waters off the continental shelf and of greater than 1000m depth, measuring variables from sea surface to sea floor. It involved 13 Partners across Europe and the Cape Verde Islands. EuroSITES integrated and enhanced the existing European open-ocean observational capacity to encompass the ocean interior, seafloor and subseafloor. It produced a more reliable ocean observatory network with common funding streams and data management systems. The network also enhanced the development of more sophisticated sensors to measure more complex properties of the oceans. This allowed a greater understanding of the impact of the changing global Ocean and Earth on mankind and ecosystems at large. This has implications for policy makers, production industries (e.g. fisheries, agriculture) service industries (e.g. insurance) and society at large.