General Objective: To integrate the existing European deep ocean observational capacity in order to produce a more reliable network and hence to foster model development and validation.

Current priorities:

• To develop the European network of deep ocean observatories (EuroSITES) established during the Monaco workshop.
• To synthesise data from all existing EuroSITES deep ocean Eulerian observatories around Europe in the context of the main environmental drivers.
• To carry out an intercalibration exercise of existing and novel techniques for ocean observation. This should involve a range of experts from all observational fields.
• To promote and develop the forthcoming workshop on in situ sensors.

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An EU grant of 3.5 million Euros has been awarded to the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton to integrate Europe’s deep ocean observatories. The EU Framework 7 Collaborative Project, EuroSITES started on 1st April 2008 and is a consortium of 13 partners across 8 countries involving many of the leading oceanographic institutions across Europe. The aim of EuroSITES is to continue the work carried out in EUR-OCEANS WP2.1 and to integrate and enhance the existing array of in situ, fixed-point observatories and mooring equipment in the deep seas around the Europe. Visit www.eurosites.info for more details.