MERCATOR OCEAN JOURNA: 
SEPTEMBER 2021 
che tool, but also demands a regular review, and 
update in-line with new indicator developments (see 
also step (1) and (2)). 
5. Operational production: The operational 
äroduction demands the establishment of the 
°egular Implementation into the Indicator tool 
see implementation phase (4)), and should be 
linked to activities on step (3). This step is the key 
alement for assuring a regular update to meet the 
ındicator criterium (6) (see section 2). In addition, 
*he operational production is tightly linked to the 
-elease of products used to evaluate the indicators. 
Any changes in this operational chain will have direct 
‚Mplications on this step (5). 
5. Added value & communication: An important step for 
:he recognition and dissemination of the indicators Is 
the establishment of scientific added-value, including 
3a regular update of application context, thus tightly 
‘inked to developments linked to step (1) and (3). 
Moreover, this step also demands the contribution of 
communication experts, including graphic designers, 
science writers and experts for the development of 
visualization tools on the web. In addition, a regular 
hulletin to disseminate information close to real time 
would be an asset. 
All these steps are needed to satisfy the indicator criteria 
1-6 as introduced in Section 3.1. The criterion 7 is included 
to provide a tool to limit and frame the indicator activity, 
supporting the need of a roadmap establishment for this 
activity. 
ADDED VALUE & COMMUNICATION 
OPERATIONAL PRODUCTICN 
TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION 
TECHNICAL 
DEVELOPMENT 
QUALITY CONTROL 
& EVALUATION 
SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENT 
DEVELOPMENT OF RELEVANCE 
] 
Figure 5: Representation of the complexity of ocean indicator development: Co-construction of indicator concepts through scientific 
development and development of relevance with stakeholders are needed to establish a theoretical baseline for an indicator concept, which 
then needs to go through technical development, including quality control and uncertainty evaluations. Once an indicator is then established, 
3 rigorous technical implementation is needed, including the establishment and provision of numerical values and documentation. In a 
next step, the indicator will run through operational production to follow the timeliness criteria. Finally, outcomes need regular scientific 
assessment and interpretation, and communication tools assure a provision of ocean information to a wide audience.