The EMSO Generic Instrument Module (EGIM): Standardized and Interoperable Instrumentation for Ocean Observation

• DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2022.801033
• Publication Date: 2022-03-18T09:23:35Z
• Authors: Nadine Lantéri; Henry A. Ruhl; Andrew Gates; Enoc Martínez; Joaquin del Rio F...; Jacopo Aguzzi; Mathilde Cannat; Eric Delory; Davide Embriaco; Robert Huber; Marjolaine Matabos; George Petihakis; Kieran Reilly; Jean-François Rolin; Mike van der Schaar; Michel André; Jérôme Blandin; Andrés Cianca; Marco Francescangeli; Oscar Garcia; Susan Hartman; Jean-Romain Lagadec; Julien Legrand; Paris Pagonis; Jaume Piera; Xabier Remirez; Daniel M. Toma; Giuditta Marinaro; Bertrand Moreau; Raul Santana; Hannah Wright; Juan José Dañobeitia; Paolo Favali
• Keywords: Instrumentation; Ocean observations; Marine ecosystem

The oceans are a fundamental source for climate balance, sustainability of resources and life on Earth, therefore society has strong pressing interest in maintaining and, where possible, restoring the health marine ecosystems. Effective, integrated ocean observation is key to suggesting actions reduce anthropogenic impact from coastal deep-sea environments address main challenges 21st century, which summarized UN Sustainable Development Goals Blue Growth strategies. European Multidisciplinary Seafloor water column Observatory (EMSO), Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC), with aim providing long-term observations via fixed-point observatories environmental locations across seas Arctic Black Sea. These may be supported by ship-based autonomous systems such as gliders. In this paper, we present EMSO Generic Instrument Module (EGIM), deployment ready multi-sensor instrumentation module, designed measure physical, biogeochemical, biological ecosystem variables consistently, range environments, over long periods time. Here, describe system, features, configuration, operation data management. We demonstrate, through series oceanic pilot experiments that EGIM valuable standard can significantly improve capacity existing provides basis new observatories. diverse examples use included monitoring fish activity response upon oceanographic variability, hydrothermal vent fluids particle dispersion, passive acoustic mammals time variation column. With available all Regional Facilities, will reaching milestone standardization interoperability, marking capability advancement addressing issues resource habitat management oceans.