On 5 February 2025 OceanICU colleagues gathered in Brussels for a workshop on the Global Ocean Data Analysis Project (GLODAP) focusing on the delivery of GLODAPv3 2025. GLODAP is a synthesis activity for ocean surface to bottom biogeochemical data collected through the chemical analysis of water samples.
The three-day workshop culminated in a presentation and panel discussion titled: The Importance of the Deep Ocean Carbon Sink.
Co-hosted by OceanICU alongside two other Horizon Europe projects, EuroGO-SHIP and TRICUSO, this event attracted stakeholders from international and intergovernmental organisations, initiatives and projects.
Led by Dr. Siv Lauvset (NORCE), the programme featured a panel discussion moderated by Nathalie Van Isacker (SSBE), with contributions from Toste Tanhua (GEOMAR), Marta Álvarez (CSIC-IEO), Ryan Woosley (MIT) and Siv Lauvset. The discussions underscored the critical need to enhance our understanding of carbon flux dynamics and expand ocean observation capacities in the deep sea—the true ocean carbon sink.
With a focus on ensuring continued access to high-quality historical observational data, panellists stressed the importance of
addressing the infrastructures required to sustain deep-sea data collection and expand ocean observation capacities. Another key theme throughout the discussions was the importance of securing on-going production and access to reference materials for inorganic carbon data, crucial steps in quantifying the ocean carbon sink. Moreover, the need for long-term investment in training and talent development to ensure the continuity of expertise required to maintain the quality of ocean observations was also highlighted.
For those interested in learning more about the significance of deep ocean carbon sinks and the ongoing efforts to ensure robust ocean data, the newly released GLODAP paper: A Vision for FAIR Ocean Data Products, published in Nature, offers further insights into the future of ocean biogeochemistry observations.
