Building a Synchronous Southern Ocean Observatory
SYNCHRONY (Synchronous Southern Ocean Observatory) is a Horizon Europe research and innovation project dedicated to strengthening our understanding of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean—one of the most important yet least observed regions of the Earth system. The Southern Ocean plays a vital role
in regulating the global climate by absorbing excess heat and carbon dioxide, supporting unique marine ecosystems, and influencing sea level. However, rapid environmental change and growing human pressures are placing these critical systems at increasing risk.
News & Events
Press Release 31. July 2026
A new observing system for the Southern Ocean
The EU is funding the SYNCHRONY project, involving 27 international partners, to carry out coordinated observations, to harmonise data, and to improve our understanding and ability to predict climate and ecosystem changes around Antarctica
SYNCHRONY Workshop during the
SCAR SOC 2026 15th August 2026
13:15 – 18:00
This workshop will take place in the framework of the SCAR Open Science Conference and is open to all participants interested in SYNCHRONY, the new EU-funded project aiming to advance coordinated Antarctic and Southern Ocean observing systems.
New open positions:
Join SYNCHRONY
The position will focus on biodiversity & ecosystem connectivity to monitor climate-change and human impacts on Southern Ocean biodiversity. Jointly within the Beyond Arctic Passion Project, the position will contribute to polar biodiversity monitoring, data synthesis, indicator development, and the translation of ecosystem observations into accessible products for research, management and policy.
We are seeking a physical oceanographer with experience running and analysing ocean models. This post will focus on contributing to the Observing System Optimisation work package within the Horizon Europe SYNCHRONY project; specifically through producing target maps for observations of essential variables and relevant indicators for Southern Ocean warming and the Southern Ocean carbonate system. This will involve running and analysing adjoint sensitivity experiments using an ocean state estimate, complemented by analysing and comparing observational air-sea flux products. These will contribute towards the deliverable of an optimal air-sea flux measuring strategy and an optimal carbon and biogeochemical measurement strategy.observations into accessible products for research, management and policy.
At the Earth and Climate Center of the Earth and Life Institute at UCLouvain (ELIC/ELI), you will join a vibrant and internationally recognized team with a long-standing reputation for excellence in polar research. The successful candidate will:
- Analyze satellite observations, reanalysis data and climate model output to characterize the spatiotemporal variability of Southern Ocean sea ice thickness, on seasonal to interannual time scales;
- Develop innovative approaches to guide strategies for optimal temporal and spatial distribution of sea ice measurements in the Southern Ocean;
- Participate to the analysis of CMIP7 sea ice analyses in the Southern Ocean;
- Study sea ice thickness co-variability with ocean heat content, freshwater content and interpret recent changes in the coupled ocean-sea ice system.
The position is part of SYNCHRONY (Synchronous Southern Ocean Observatory), a Horizon Europe project advancing a coordinated, multidisciplinary and sustainable observing system for the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. You will combine drift trajectories from a wide range of autonomous ice-tethered platforms with satellite-derived sea ice motion and model output, using AI-supported approaches where appropriate, to identify optimal deployment regions, seasons and observing strategies. The resulting recommendations will support the development of a harmonized and sustainable Antarctic sea ice observing system.
Partners
CNRS ,France
UoB ,France
IFREMER, France
UC, New Zealand
International Cooperation Partners
