EPOS: European Plate Observing System
Research Infrastructure and E-Science for Data and Observatories on Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Surface Dynamics and Tectonics.
EPOS is an initiative in response to the EU policy for a coordinated approach to support and develop research infrastructures. EPOS has been included in the European roadmap for research infrastructure coordinated by the European Strategic Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) on December 2008. The Preparatory Phase (PP) proposal is presently under negotiation with the EC in the framework of the Seventh Research Framework Plan (FP7). EPOS PP will likely start on November 1st 2010 and will last four years.
EPOS will:- Create a single sustainable, permanent observational infrastructure, integrating geophysical monitoring networks (e.g. seismic networks), local observatories (e.g. volcano observatories) and experimental laboratories in Europe and adjacent regions.
- Provide open access to distributed geophysical and geological data and modelling tools, enabling a step change in multidisciplinary scientific research into natural hazards, environmental change, and energy resources.
- Build a strongly competitive European research infrastructure providing a radically new landscape and widening horizons for solid Earth science research in Europe through a comprehensive e-infrastructure.
- Foster trans-national coordination of solid Earth observing systems at the European level.
- Promote cross-disciplinary approaches to challenging scientific and technological issues in Earth sciences through links with marine and space observations.
