In this instalment of the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance interview campaign, two experts offer complementary perspectives from both sides of the Atlantic on the importance of ocean observing and modelling. As they outline the scientific gaps that still challenge our understanding of the marine environment, they also reflect on how we observe and interpret the ocean.
Humans are curious by nature, always seeking to understand the unknown. Yet even though around 70% of our planet is covered by water, we still know remarkably little about our oceans. As the world undergoes rapid and unprecedent changes, improving this understanding has become more important than ever. The All-Atlantic Ocean and Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA) has placed itself in the center of the ocean observing and modelling topic for the Atlantic Ocean by declaring it one of its two main areas of actions.
To explore this topic, we spoke with Meredith Kurz, Management & Program Analyst, Research Office of International Activities National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Lucie Cocquempot, Oceanographic observation coordinator, IFREMER, who both reflected on a fundamental truth: “We cannot protect what we do not understand”. Ocean observing and modelling are the tools that allow us to “see” the ocean, and therefore understand it better.
From establishing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the high seas to ensuring sustainable fisheries, decisions rely on data that reveal how the ocean works. As Lucie stated: “We cannot go everywhere, but we need to protect everywhere!”. Meredith added that, historically, management decisions have not fully integrated ecosystem data, but this is beginning to change as we deepen our understanding of when and where to fish, and how to safeguard the marine ecosystems we depend on for our own food security.
Nevertheless, enormous data gaps remain. Looking at an ocean map, we may see a dense pattern of lines and dots indicating many variables being measured, but as Meredith highlights, this can be misleading: we have only observed a tiny fraction of the ocean, and despite efforts accelerating toward autonomous technologies and satellite observations, costs remain high. There is a need to make ocean observing more accessible and widespread.
In Europe, Lucie notes a cultural shift: from trying to collect any data to identifying the right data. Sometimes, she argues, less is better: fewer vessels at sea, less pollution, fewer new instruments, and more value extracted from what already exists. Many data are already collected by private industry, research institutes, or citizen science groups, yet often remain invisible simply because no one knows they exist. For Lucie, AAORIA offers an opportunity to break silos, harmonise standards, and make shared data truly accessible across regions.
Both experts pointed to concrete examples of how ocean observing and modelling directly inform decisions. From forecasting storms to shaping fisheries policies, ocean data saves lives and guides climate adaptation.
To learn more on the Alliance work and perspectives on this topic we invite you to read the experts recommendations report on ocean observing and modelling, build upon the work of five expert groups, focusing on:
- Ocean productivity across trophic levels;
- Productivity in the deep sea including connections to the upper ocean;
- The dynamics of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and how they may change;
- Connections between coastal land, coastal ocean, and open ocean;
- Methods to improve Atlantic ocean data management across zones with FAIR and CARE principles.
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