Multi-scale harmonized geological maps of the European seas - third phase of the EMODNET-Geology project

Abstract

Accelerating increase in marine and maritime activities around the globe are highlighting the amount of conflicting economic and environmental interests and the necessity of good tools for spatial planning of the maritime areas. Similarly there is a need to support the objectives to achieve Good Environmental Status in Europe's seas by 2020, set up by the European Commission's Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Consequently the European Commission established the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet), which is now in the beginning of its third phase (2017-2018, with an option of 2 more years). It is designed to assemble existing but fragmented and partly inaccessible marine data and to create interoperable, contiguous and publicly available information layers which are interoperable and free of restrictions on use, and which encompass whole marine basins. The whole package of separate EMODNET- projects (lots) covers the marine disciplines geology, chemistry, biology, bathymetry, seabed habitats, physics and human activities as well as sea basin check-points from all European regional seas. The third phase of the EMODnet-Geology project will deliver integrated geological map products that include seabed substrates, sediment accumulation rates, seafloor geology including lithology and stratigraphy, coastal behavior, geological events such as submarine slides and earthquakes as well as marine mineral resources and as a new feature map products on submerged landscapes of the European continental shelf at various time-frames. All new map products will have a resolution of 1:100,000 all over but finer where the underlying data permit. A multi-scale approach will be adopted whenever possible. There will be a close cooperation between the EMODnet lots. To begin with the seabed substrate maps produced by the EMODnet geology lot will be transferred to the EMODnet seabed habitats lot as soon as they are ready. Geomorphology will be a topic for cooperation between the EMODnet geology lot and the high resolution seabed mapping project (EMODnet bathymetry).