ICOS: Integrated Carbon Observation System Norway and Ocean Thematic Centre (OTC), phase 2

ICOS is now mature and will be signed to become a legal entity under ERIC (European Research Infrastructure Consortium). Norway is now a full member of ICOS ERIC. Through the current proposal, ICOS-Norway will be upgraded towards the highest quality of stations and activities, and OTC (Ocean Thematic Centre) will be established as one of the important Central Facilities (CF) in ICOS research infrastructure dedicated to collect, process, and store data measured by ICOS marine stations, and provide them technical support and training.

Norwegian scientists are crucial in on-going SOCAT and GLODAP activities, which fit intimately into the ICOS CF mission for OTC, skills that cannot easily be replaced. ICOS builds a network conducting standardized, long-term, high precision measurements of key Greenhouse Gas concentrations. The infrastructure integrates terrestrial, oceanic and atmospheric observations at various sites into a single, coherent, precise data product. ICOS contributes to the implementation of the Integrated Global Carbon Observation and Analysis System.