European Plate Observing System

European Plate Observing System
Name	European Plate Observing System
Abbreviation	EPOS
Formation	2006 (project), 2018 (legal entity)
Type	Research infrastructure
Region served	Europe

European Plate Observing System The European Plate Observing System is a pan-European research infrastructure that integrates observational facilities and data to study the solid Earth, seismicity, volcanism, geodynamics, and tectonics. It connects national institutes, observatories, and databases across the continent to provide interoperable services for researchers, emergency managers, and policy makers. The infrastructure supports collaborations among institutions involved in plate boundary studies, earthquake hazard assessment, and volcanic monitoring.

Overview

EPOS unites a network of national organizations such as the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (Italy), British Geological Survey, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Instituto Geográfico Nacional (Spain), and Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris to deliver integrated data from seismic, geodetic, geochemical, and geological observatories. The infrastructure interfaces with European Commission frameworks like Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, and policy instruments tied to the European Research Area and European Space Agency initiatives. EPOS services cater to stakeholders including the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), UNESCO, and regional agencies addressing hazards in the Alps, Apennines, and Iberian Peninsula.

History and Development

The initiative originated from collaborations among institutions such as the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology partners in Europe, INGV, CNRS, and ETH Zurich following major events like the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami and regional crises in the North Anatolian Fault and Hellenic arc. Early funding and coordination involved projects under FP7 (Framework Programme 7), consortia including European Geosciences Union members, and networks such as ORFEUS. The legal establishment as an ERIC-style infrastructure saw participation from ministries of science in countries including Italy, France, Germany, Greece, Portugal, and Spain. Major milestones include integration of observatories affiliated with INGV, OASP, LMU Munich, and data centers such as EMSC and EMODnet collaborations.

Infrastructure and Observing Networks

EPOS coordinates heterogeneous infrastructures: seismic networks like Italian National Seismic Network, Greek Seismological Network, and IberArray; geodetic services including EUREF, European Plate Boundary Observatory (EPBO)-linked stations, and dense GNSS arrays managed by institutions like GFZ and UNAVCO partners. It integrates volcanic observatories such as Etna Observatory, Icelandic Meteorological Office stations on Eyjafjallajökull, and monitoring at Vesuvius and Santorini. Complementary facilities include rock deformation laboratories at ETH Zurich, magnetotelluric campaigns by BGS, borehole observatories like Borehole Observatory in Iceland and tsunami early-warning sensors coordinated with Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC)]. Data repositories and computational platforms involve EPOS-DC, high-performance computing centers such as BSC, PRACE resources, and software stacks from groups at KNMI and OCCAM.

Research and Scientific Objectives

EPOS aims to advance understanding of processes along plate boundaries exemplified by studies in the Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, and Caspian Basin through integrated experiments involving institutions like Scripps Institution of Oceanography partners, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry collaborations on gas fluxes, and paleo-seismic investigations linked to the NATO-funded field campaigns. Scientific goals include multi-disciplinary research on earthquake nucleation informed by laboratory work at Rock Deformation Laboratory (GFZ), volcanic eruption forecasting developed with INGV and USGS exchange programs, and long-term geodynamic modelling using codes from Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur and University of Cambridge teams. EPOS supports novel interdisciplinary projects with European Southern Observatory synergies for geochronology, CERN-style data management best practices, and cooperation with IPCC-related hazard assessment methodologies.

Governance and Funding

EPOS governance comprises a central board including representatives from participating countries such as Italy, France, Germany, Greece, Portugal, and Spain, national nodes like INGV, GFZ, and coordinating bodies including ECCSEL-style consortia and advisory panels featuring members from European Commission directorates. Funding streams have included Horizon 2020 grants, national research agencies such as ANR (France), DFG (Germany), MIUR (Italy), and contributions routed through agencies like CNR and CONICET for international linkages. Strategic planning aligns with roadmaps from organizations such as ESFRI, oversight from committees linked to European Research Council practices, and audits referencing standards from ISO technical committees.

Education, Outreach, and Capacity Building

EPOS facilitates training and capacity building with workshops hosted by INGV, summer schools co-organized with University of Bergen, and e-learning modules developed with EGU and UNESCO programs. Outreach partnerships include collaborations with museums like the Natural History Museum, London, public engagement events during European Researchers' Night, and hazard communication exercises with Civil Protection Department (Italy) and Greek Ministry of Infrastructure. EPOS supports data access for students at institutions such as University of Cambridge, ETH Zurich, and University of Oslo and fosters early-career researcher networks linked to EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.

Category:European research infrastructures