The combined effects of climate change and anthropogenic pressures threaten marine ecosystems, coastal human activities, with significant implications for safety, economy, marine biodiversity, and habitat integrity.
To sustain both ecosystem functioning and ocean-based economic activities, knowledge and forecast in the framework of climate research (WMO), the 2021-2030 UN Ocean Decade and the G7 Future of the Seas and Oceans Initiative have identified as an absolute priority the increase of a sustained, multi-disciplinary integrated ocean observing systems.
Integrated observing systems require data both by global (e.g. GOOS, EMODNET) and regional observation systems to be assimilated into numerical and statistical models, but their sustainability depends on the development of cost-effective technologies to improve the observing capacities (including spatial and temporal resolution) and reduce the costs of observations, aiming for a ‘’more environmentally sustainable ocean observing system”.
The session focuses on marine ecosystems, technological developments for the study of abiotic and biotic factors, with a focus on anthropogenic impacts, climate drivers, and other key indicator/proxies. Multidisciplinary approaches using data coming from multiple sources are encouraged. Integration of mathematical models, in-situ and remote observations is suggested with the aim to develop methods, technologies and best practices to restore, improve resilience, monitor biodiversity and to guarantee sustainable use of marine resources.
The following topics will be discussed: effects of pollution on biota considering their natural and anthropogenic sources; global change effects on marine ecosystem; marine ecosystem restoration; new technology development; advanced methods for collection, data processing, data curation, and information extraction; benthic and pelagic community dynamics; economic evaluation of natural capital.