ESA Open Invitation to Tender AO10546
Open Date: 17/11/2020
Closing Date: 22/01/2021 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 20.155.17
Prog. Ref.: EarthScience Block 4;EO-Science for Socie
Budget Ref.: E/A105-01 – EarthScience Block 4;E/E105-E5 – EO-Science for Socie
Special Prov.: AT+BE+CZ+DK+EE+FI+FR+DE+GR+HU+IE+IT+LU+NL+NO+PL+PT+RO+ES+SE+CH+GB+CA+SI+LV
Tender Type: C
Price Range: > 500 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / Other
Technology Domains: Others
Establishment: ESRIN
Directorate: Directorate of EO Programmes
Department: Science, Applications & Climate Dep.
Division: Data Applications Division
Contract Officer: Boisard, Nathalie
Industrial Policy Measure: N/A – Not apply
Last Update Date: 17/11/2020
Update Reason: Tender issue

This activity responds to the following drivers:- This ITT is part of the ESA Atlantic Regional Initiative aiming at providing a dedicated response to the community recommendations collected at the Atlantic from Space Workshop organised by ESA in January 2019. – Activities resulting from this ITT will be an integral part of the ESA Ocean Science Cluster complementing existing on-going ESA research activities on the Ocean scientific exploitation domain.- They will also contribute to the ESA-EC joint Earth System Science Initiative aiming at ensuring a coordinated response of ESA and EC (DG-RI) to major scientific and societal challenges of our times. In particular, activities in this ITT will contribute to the ESA-EC Flagship Action on Ocean Health. Finally, with this activity ESA wants to contribute to some important international initiatives and programmes:- The All Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance promoted by the EU.- The EU Destination Earth initiative.- The United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) – The scientific efforts of major international science groups such as CLIVAR, IMBeR and SOLAS.Responding to the above drivers, with this ITT ESA aims at advancing capacity in Member States (MSs) to observe and understand the Atlantic Ocean and its complex processes, and to transfer that capacity and knowledge into novel solutions for society.To this end, based on an effectiveintegration of novel observations (satellite, in situ, citizen data), latest technologies and a deepened understanding and sound representation of the Earth system, 4DAtlanctic shall provide an advanced 4D reconstruction of the Atlantic sea-air-land system, its different components, process and interactions to address major scientific challenges and related societal needs.In particular the ITT will focus on three separate Themes or science cases:- Theme 1: Eastern Boundary Upwelling System (EBUS);- Theme 2: Ocean HeatContent (OHC);- Theme 3: Atmospheric dust deposition and ocean biochemistry (Dust);For each of these Themes, the following goalsshall be pursuit:1. Capitalise on the increasing and unprecedented European EO satellite observational synergistic capacity to develop the next generation of ocean geo-information products and consistent multivariate datasets enabling the development of an enhanced 4D reconstruction of the Atlantic Ocean and its complex ocean-atmosphere processes. 2. Exploit this novel observation capacitytogether with an integrated approach to science to address mayor knowledge gaps in ocean sciences enhancing our fundamental understanding of the complex processes governing the role of the Atlantic Ocean in the Earth and climate system.3. Transfer this new knowledge and science results into innovative solutions for society demonstrating the role of Earth system science as a tool to providenovel and advanced science-based alternatives for the protection, restoration and better management of the oceans, marine ecosystems and coastal areas.The outputs of these three Themes are expected to provide valuable scientific inputs to contribute to the EU Destination Earth Initiative and develop a Digital Twin of the Atlantic in close collaboration with EC and other European stakeholders.To this end, coordination and cross-fertilisation with relevant projects and initiatives shall be ensured during the duration of the project.