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International audience; Ireland occupies a unique location in the NE Atlantic - an important carbon sink and an area most vulnerable to changes in Atlantic circulation. Ireland has actively participated in European ocean observation projects from the EC Sixth Framework Programme through to Horizon 2020 leading to the development of ocean and climate observing systems from the coast to open ocean. However, infrastructure gaps remain which impact the capability to address scientific questions of national and global importance. Ireland’s longstanding scientific interaction at a European level coupled with significant state investments in ocean observation infrastructures has led to the development of EirOOS (the Irish Ocean Observing System). We demonstrate how EirOOS has developed, at a national level, into a key Research Infrastructure to further develop scientific and technical research capacity in sea level science, ocean circulation, and carbon sequestration to understand the connection between Ireland, its coastal seas and the Atlantic. The data infrastructure underpinning EirOOS is discussed and how it links the disparate elements of the distributed infrastructure together through harmonisation and interoperability of its data platforms.The multi-level interaction and cooperation between EirOOS and other key marine European Research infrastructures like EMSO, EuroArgo and JERICO RI in terms of developing cohesive and impactful science, user and business cases for EirOOS to ensure it is delivering services and outputs defined by its stakeholders is discussed. Finally, the role of EirOOS as an effective and sustainable component in a distributed European Ocean Observing System with a description of the framework for integration is considered.

Results of a cost and feasibility study of the present and planned integrated Atlantic Ocean Observing System, including assessing the readiness and feasibility of implementation of different observing technologies