The MISSION ATLANTIC project aims to assess the status and health of the Atlantic Ocean ecosystem by performing a number of Integrated Ecosystem Assessments (IEAs) at case studies (CSs), which are preselected sites of interest, to analyse the risks caused by natural hazards and human activities to the ecosystem. To perform the IEA in CSs, data are required to assess which sectors or pressures are likely to have the most significant impact on the ecosystem. Information, i.e. results of data processing, is reused by CS experts for communication and interpretation, such as maps, products, model outputs, graphs, etc. Also, research activities are conducted for mapping, modelling and computing a suit of indicators for assessing ecosystem present status.

Data requirements vary between CSs. This review is a synthesis of data knowledge and it allows CSs to understand which data and sources are used by other CSs. To carry this out, existing and available data are identified from data sources covering large marine disciplines: atmosphere, biological oceanography, chemical oceanography, cross-discipline, environment, human activities, marine geology and physical oceanography. During this process, CS leaders and data experts identified more than 200 available datasets and highlighted knowledge gaps. It has been found that research institute databases and data repositories provide the vast majority of data required. Particular attention has been directed to the suitability of data in terms of quality and accessibility by analysing metadata, i.e. information about data. Collated data are stored in a meta-database. The compilation of available data in the meta-database is important for data management. It provides information on the conditions of reusing these input data for research activities. This is needed to make output data Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR). However, some data are still missing. The identified data gaps are useful to guide further research and pinpoint strategies and models to fill these gaps.