Ocean observation, mapping and forecasting are therefore critical for the sustainable growth of economic activity in the Atlantic area and for furthering our understanding of the oceanic processes in the Atlantic which play an important role in determining our climate.

Calls for a more structured approach to marine observations in order to deliver more accurate indicators of local changes in climatic parameters such as sea-level rise and ocean acidification to the CLIMATE-ADAPT platform and therefore help the process of adapting to climate change.

The growing vulnerability of coastal areas, increasingly crowded coastal waters, the key role of the oceans in the climate system and the continuous deterioration of the marine environment all call for a stronger focus on our oceans and seas.

- More and better focussed research should be directed to further improving knowledge on climate change, including the links to ocean processes, to addressing global and regional impacts, developing cost-effective adaptation and mitigation strategies, including non CO2 gases.

Research will focus on: understanding and quantification of changes in the carbon and nitrogen cycles; the role of all sources of greenhouse gases and atmospheric pollutants and their sinks in the biosphere; their effects on climate dynamics and variability, ocean and atmospheric chemistry, and their interactions; future stratospheric ozone levels and ultraviolet radiation; prediction of global climatic change and impacts; associated phenomena (e.g. the North Atlantic oscillation, El Niño and changes in sea level and ocean circulation); and mitigation and adaptation str ...[+++]ategies.

Research will focus on: understanding and quantification of changes in the carbon and nitrogen cycles; the role of all sources of greenhouse gases and atmospheric pollutants and their sinks in the biosphere; their effects on climate dynamics and variability, ocean and atmospheric chemistry, and their interactions; future stratospheric ozone levels and ultraviolet radiation; prediction of global climatic change and impacts; associated phenomena (e.g. the North Atlantic oscillation, El Niño and changes in sea level and ocean circulation); and mitigation and adaptation str ...[+++]ategies.