Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) are a collection of ocean properties selected in a way so as to provide the best, most cost-effective suite of data that enables quantification of key ocean processes. They are selected based on their Relevance, Feasibility, and Cost effectiveness. They fall into four categories - physics, biogeochemistry, biology and ecosystems, and cross-disciplinary. Their consistent usage is promoted by agencies such as GOOS and
Southern. The EOVs are: •
Physics •
Sea state •
Ocean surface stress •
Sea ice •
Sea surface height •
Sea surface temperature • Subsurface temperature •
Surface currents • Subsurface currents • Sea surface salinity • Subsurface salinity • Ocean surface heat flux •
Biogeochemistry •
Oxygen •
Nutrients •
Inorganic carbon • Transient tracers •
Particulate matter •
Nitrous oxide • Stable carbon isotopes •
Dissolved organic carbon •
Biology and Ecosystems •
Phytoplankton biomass and diversity •
Zooplankton biomass and diversity • Fish abundance and distribution • Marine turtles, birds, mammals abundance and distribution • Hard coral cover and composition •
Seagrass cover and composition •
Macroalgal canopy cover and composition •
Mangrove cover and composition • Microbe biomass and diversity (*emerging) •
Invertebrate abundance and distribution (*emerging) •
Cross-disciplinary •
Ocean color • Ocean Sound ==See also==