Measurement Systems for 21st Century Oceanography

Advanced sensor technologies are the key to unlocking a marine research infrastructure that is cutting-edge, resilient to changes in the ocean system, reliable and responsive to future user requirements. FMRI therefore commissioned the National Oceanography Centre and Defra to co-host a community engagement exercise exploring the challenges and opportunities in Measurement Systems for 21st Century Oceanography.

Two workshops were held in October 2023 that brought together diverse user, developer, operator and commercial perspectives in order to challenge established thinking and identify new opportunities. These workshops built on the work of the Net-Zero Oceanographic Capability Scoping Study (2021) Future Sensor Systems work package that identified advancements in scientific sensors and instrumentation will be critical to the success of any future research infrastructure. They examined the priorities for biogeochemical (BGC) and biological measurement systems within the context of building a future research infrastructure.

You can now download the report prepared by Prof. Matt Mowlem (NOC) and Dr. Rohan Allen (Defra) via the link below.

Understanding which new sensors should be prioritized alongside which ones might become available over the coming decade allows us to make informed, strategic decisions about how we can best support the UK's marine science community.