Understanding and protecting our ocean depends on having the right information available, connected, and easy to use. OceanSOS will bring together many different sources of knowledge, from ocean observations and computer models to expert insights and ecosystem assessments, to create a shared knowledge base that improves our understanding of emerging threats and supports better decisions for the future of our ocean.

A key ambition of OceanSOS is to ensure that the knowledge and data generated by the project can be easily found, accessed, and reused. By following international open science principles, including the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) and INSPIRE principles, OceanSOS will organise, standardise, and share its research outputs through trusted repositories and global data platforms. This will enable scientists, policymakers, and other stakeholders to access and build on OceanSOS knowledge beyond the lifetime of the project.

OceanSOS will contribute to major international observing and data initiatives, including the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), and Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON). By bringing together key indicators of climate, ocean health, and biodiversity – including Essential Climate Variables (ECVs), Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs), and Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) – the project will help strengthen our ability to monitor and understand changes taking place in marine ecosystems.

OceanSOS will apply robust data management approaches to ensure that research outputs remain reliable, accessible, and useful over the long term. By connecting project outputs with established scientific repositories and international data systems, OceanSOS will support transparency, traceability, and reproducibility in ocean research.

New digital tools will help transform scientific knowledge into practical insights. A “What-If” application, integrated into the EDITO platform, will allow users to explore possible future scenarios by visualising how different emerging pressures and activities could influence ocean carbon cycling and marine food webs. By testing potential changes and outcomes, decision-makers will be better equipped to understand risks, compare options, and support proactive management of marine ecosystems.

The OceanSOS project will also provide training and guidance to the project consortium on metadata standards, data publication, and best practices for research data management, strengthening capacity for open and reproducible ocean science.

OceanSOS’ work on data management and integration is led by Astrid Wittmann at the Alfred-Wegener-Institut (AWI-P), supported by Leo Chiloane at the South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON).