Unlocking a safe operating space for Antarctica and the Southern Ocean

Di cosa tratta questo bando?

The topic funds research to improve understanding and projections of the Southern Ocean and Antarctic cryosphere and to inform their protection and sustainable management.

Cosa finanzia questo bando?

Scope

Projects reduce uncertainty in projections of how the Southern Ocean and Antarctic cryosphere will change in the near term (around 2030), mid term (2050 to 2060) and long term (after around 2060), and how these changes affect the global climate, sea level, ocean circulation and carbon budget.

Activities

• Study interactions between ocean, atmosphere, sea ice, ice shelves and land ice, with focus on Antarctic continental shelves and bottom water formation.
• Improve understanding of Southern Ocean and sea ice dynamics, including tipping elements, overturning circulation and extreme events.
• Assess the vulnerability of Southern Ocean ecosystems and support long-term monitoring of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
• Develop ways to separate human-induced from natural change and assess conservation measures.
• Improve monitoring indicators and Earth System Models, and provide evidence and recommendations for protection and sustainable management.

Data and coordination

Projects should contribute to the EU Digital Twin of the Ocean and Destination Earth, interface with the Southern Ocean Observing System, and make in-situ data openly available through Copernicus and EMODnet under INSPIRE and FAIR principles. Coordination with ESA Polar Science Cluster projects and support for the European Polar Coordination Office are expected.

Expected outcomes

Better scientific understanding, improved monitoring indicators, informed conservation and climate policies, and contributions to global assessments such as IPCC, IPBES and the World Ocean Assessment.

Further expectations

• International cooperation is strongly encouraged, especially with partner countries of the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance.

Quando scade il bando?

23 settembre 2027 (321 giorni)

23 September 2027 (single-stage call).