“Site-specific factors play a crucial role in determining which ocean-based CDR and storage methods could realistically be considered. Our analysis helps us to understand what scale we are talking about when discussing the deployment of these methods in German waters — and where along the process chains foreseeable bottlenecks or limitations to feasibility might arise,” says co-lead author Dr Wanxuan Yao, who was a climate modeller at ������Ƶ Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel at the time of the study.

Comprehensive Assessment of CO₂ Removal Methods and Their Impacts

For their analysis, the team reviewed current scientific literature and incorporated findings from their own research as part of the CDRmare DAM research mission. For each method, they assessed factors such as the amount of water, materials, energy, land or sea area required, possible by-products and waste streams, necessary infrastructure and transport routes required, operating costs and what is currently known about potential environmental and societal impacts.

“In addition, we looked at whether there are already established processes for measuring and monitoring CO₂ removal rates and potential environmental impacts for each method. Without such monitoring frameworks, none of the proposed approaches has a realistic chance of ever being deployed on a large scale,” explains co-lead author Dr Teresa Morganti, a marine biologist at the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde at the time of the study.

Ten marine CDR methods shortlisted

At the end of the multi-year selection process, five methods of CO₂ removal remained that could potentially be implemented in German North Sea and Baltic waters. A further five approaches would require deployment in international waters or cooperation with other coastal states.

“The options we’ve outlined are intended to raise specific, practical questions and challenges that would need to be addressed in the event of any large-scale application, and to provide a basis for further discussion. It’s important to emphasise, however, that these outlines do not take into account the legal, political or economic frameworks, nor do they address whether the potential environmental impacts of targeted marine carbon removal are consistent with our societal values and ethical principles. These are essential questions that need to be addressed in follow-up studies,” says Dr Nadine Mengis of ������Ƶ Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, co-author of the study and CDRmare co-chair.

Expectations for marine CDR often too high

The research team is therefore working systematically to develop methods and processes that provide a realistic picture of how feasible marine CDR techniques actually are, and what their consequences might be for both people and ecosystems. “Once you scale up marine CDR methods for a particular region, making the true scale of interventions tangible, it becomes clear that earlier expectations were often too high because such practical considerations had not been taken into account. We need many more of these context-specific feasibility studies if we are to arrive at robust estimates of the potential for marine CDR,” says Nadine Mengis.

There is also a risk that high expectations might encourage countries like Germany to place too much hope in future technological solutions, while scaling back existing and proven measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the meantime. “This must not be the outcome of our research,” stresses Nadine Mengis.

The marine CDR and storage methods described in the study include:

Methods to increase the CO₂ buffering capacity (alkalinity) of the ocean:

1. Production of a silicate-based alkaline solution and its distribution in shallow coastal waters along Germany’s North Sea coast

2. Production of a lime-based alkaline solution and its distribution along shipping routes in the German North Sea

3. Spreading of ground basalt of volcanic origin along the German coastline

4. Discharge of sodium hydroxide produced via electrolysis in desalination plants (there are currently no desalination plants in the North Sea or Baltic Sea)

Methods to restore and expand vegetated coastal ecosystems:

5. Establishing and expanding kelp forests around the German North Sea island of Heligoland

6. Restoration and expansion of mangrove forests in Indonesia

7. Artificial upwelling of nutrient-rich deep water to enhance plankton production in the North Atlantic (strengthening the ocean’s biological carbon pump)

8. Offshore Sargassum (algae) farming in the South Atlantic subtropical gyre, followed by biomass sinking

Methods for storing captured biogenic CO₂:

9. Cultivation of large macroalgae, with subsequent conversion of the biomass into biomethane; the CO₂ released during combustion would be captured and stored in saline aquifers in the German North Sea

10. Direct air capture of CO₂ with subsequent storage in subsea basalt crust off the coast of Norway

Original Publication:

Yao, W., Morganti, T. M., Wu, J., Borchers, M., Anschütz, A., Bednarz, L.-K., et al. (2025). Exploring site-specific carbon dioxide removal options with storage or sequestration in the marine environment – the 10 Mt CO₂ yr⁻¹ removal challenge for Germany. Earth’s Future, 13, e2024EF004902.

About: CDRmare

CDRmare is a research mission of the German Marine Research Alliance (DAM). Its full title is “Marine carbon storage as a pathway to decarbonisation”. The mission started in summer 2021 with six research consortia investigating promising ocean-based CO₂ removal and storage methods (alkalinisation, restoration of coastal vegetated ecosystems, artificial upwelling, CCS) in terms of their potential, risks and interactions, and integrating these findings into a transdisciplinary assessment framework. In August 2024, CDRmare entered its second three-year funding phase with five research consortia. CDRmare is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the science ministries of the northern German states of Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein.

“Fine-grained, muddy sediments are important reservoirs of organic carbon and pyrite,” says lead author Habeeb Thanveer Kalapurakkal, a PhD student in the Benthic Biogeochemistry working group at ������Ƶ. “We already knew that sediment resuspension can release significant amounts of CO₂ into the water column. But until now, it was believed that this was mainly due to organic carbon oxidation.” The new study now shows that the major part of the CO₂ release is caused by pyrite oxidation.

Kiel Bight: A Critical Carbon Sink at Risk

The study focused on Kiel Bight, a coastal region in the western Baltic Sea located between the German island of Fehmarn and the Danish islands. This area features a range of sediment types: coarse sandy sediments in shallower waters and fine-grained mud in deeper regions. These muddy sediments are rich in organic matter and play a central role in the carbon cycle of the Baltic Sea. They are affected both by natural forces such as storms and by anthropogenic impacts like bottom trawling.

Laboratory Experiments Reveal New Insights

To study the effects of sediment resuspension, the researchers conducted sediment slurry incubations. They collected sediment samples from different sites in Kiel Bight — ranging from coarse sandy to fine grained muddy sediments — and stirred them in laboratory containers filled with seawater. The experiments simulated both oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor conditions. During the incubation period, the team monitored changes in key chemical parameters, including CO₂ concentrations, pH, sulfate, nutrients and isotope concentrations. These measurements allowed them to identify the underlying processes and assess their impact on the local carbon cycle. The laboratory data were then integrated into a biogeochemical model to better understand the effects of sediment resuspension and oxygen availability.

Pyrite Oxidation: A Key Factor in CO₂ Release

The results show that sediment resuspension leads to substantially greater CO₂ emissions than previously thought — mainly due to the oxidation of pyrite. When this iron-containing mineral, typically found in oxygen-poor, muddy seafloor sediments, is disturbed it reacts with oxygen in the water. This reaction generates acid that converts climate-neutral bicarbonate into the greenhouse gas CO₂. A large fraction of the CO₂ generated by pyrite oxidation is subsequently released into the atmosphere. Modeling results suggest that these processes could significantly reduce the region’s CO₂ uptake capacity. In other words, resuspension can turn the seafloor temporarily from a carbon sink into a carbon source.

Protecting Sensitive Seafloor Areas to Preserve CO₂ Uptake

“Kiel Bight, like other parts of the Baltic Sea, acts as an important sink for atmospheric CO₂,” says Kalapurakkal. “Our experiments and model simulations show that activities such as bottom trawling significantly reduce this capacity by promoting pyrite oxidation and acidification.” The findings underscore the need to protect seafloor areas with fine-grained, muddy sediments — regions typically rich in pyrite. Kalapurakkal: “These areas need to be protected to maintain the CO₂ uptake capacity of the Baltic Sea.”

Original Publication:

Kalapurakkal, H.T., Dale, A.W., Schmidt, M. et al. (2025): Sediment resuspension in muddy sediments enhances pyrite oxidation and carbon dioxide emissions in Kiel Bight. Commun Earth Environ 6(1), 156.

One such solution, falling under the category of Nature-based Solutions and Ecosystem Restoration, is presented in the study by Prof. Robert Arlinghaus and his team: revitalising lakes by creating shallow water zones and adding deadwood structures. Worldwide, millions of fish are stocked into waters every year to support natural fish populations. The Science study reveals that this practice, known as fish stocking, is not always successful — and shows how it can be done better. A particular strength of this research lies in its close link between science and application, conducting repeated, whole-lake experiments in collaboration with angling associations.

Habitat improvements work better than fish stocking

In a unique before-after control-impact experiment, the research team compared, over six years and across 20 gravel pit lakes, how fish stocking and habitat enhancement influenced fish populations.

„This was a unique outdoor experiment where, in close partnership with numerous angling clubs, we tested different management approaches at whole-ecosystem level. There has never been such a large, replicated, and controlled whole-lake experiment of this kind before. I am delighted that our work has now been recognised with the National Frontiers Planet Prize,” said Professor Robert Arlinghaus, project initiator and coordinator.

„Over six years, around 160,000 fish as well as many other plant and animal species were surveyed before and after the measures, to analyse how different organism groups responded to habitat creation or the release of a total of 40,000 individually marked fish,” added Prof. Johannes Radinger, lead author of the study, former member of Prof. Arlinghaus’ research group, and now Professor at Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences.

Dr Christopher Monk, now Head of the Marine Behavioural Ecology Group at ������Ƶ Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, played a key role in analysing the extensive field data during his postdoctoral time at IGB, and also contributed to editing the manuscript.

“The study demonstrated that ecosystem-based management — particularly through the creation of shallow water zones — sustainably increased fish populations and reproductive success, while also supporting other organism groups such as dragonflies and aquatic plants,” explained Dr Sven Matern, co-lead author of the award-winning study and former doctoral researcher under Prof. Arlinghaus. In contrast, the widely practised method of fish stocking, still common among many angling clubs and conservation actors globally, proved unsuccessful in this experiment. Adding deadwood structures showed positive, but species- and site-specific effects, and was generally less effective than creating shallow water areas.

Angling clubs as key partners

The BAGGERSEE research and implementation project on which the Science paper was based was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the German Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUV), and the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) from 2016 to 2022. It has been carried out in close cooperation with dozens of angling clubs in the Anglerverband Niedersachsen e.V. (AVN). Hundreds of anglers have been actively involved in implementing management measures and collecting data. Fisheries biologists from the AVN planned and co-ordinated the habitat enhancement work.

"These results have direct implications for how angling clubs manage their waters. A follow-up knowledge transfer project is currently underway to share these findings with angling organisations across Germany, beyond the project region of Lower Saxony,” said Prof. Thomas Klefoth from Bremen University of Applied Sciences, who co-initiated and formerly coordinated the BAGGERSEE project as a fisheries biologist at AVN.

Freshwater fish under threat

Freshwater fish are among the most threatened vertebrate groups worldwide. In Germany, for example, half of all freshwater fish species are considered endangered according to the national Red List. One of the main reasons is the loss of suitable habitats. Declines in fish populations have far-reaching consequences for aquatic ecosystems as well as for commercial and recreational fisheries. Effective conservation and restoration measures are urgently needed to halt and reverse these declines.

"One promising strategy is ecosystem-based management, which aims to improve or restore key ecological processes, habitats and species interactions, rather than focusing solely on eliminating individual stressors or stocking fish,” explained Robert Arlinghaus. However, this comprehensive approach is often costly and administratively complex.

Ecosystem-based management is worth it

Policymakers are therefore often hesitant to invest in ecosystem-based management without solid scientific evidence of its effectiveness. “With our large experimental field study, which included control lakes and thus delivered robust results, we have now provided a scientific foundation for the success of ecosystem-oriented measures. Crucially, ecosystem improvements need to target the most limiting habitats. In gravel pit lakes, that’s shallow water zones — though in other water types, restoring floodplains or other key habitats may be more important,” Arlinghaus explained.

National Champions with a chance for major funding

The National Champions for scientific breakthroughs in sustainability were selected by a jury of 100 leading sustainability researchers worldwide, chaired by Professor Johan Rockström of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). The National Champions now advance to the final round of the competition, in which three International Champions will be named in June 2025. Each will receive one million US dollars to further their research and expand its global impact.

Original publication:

Radinger, J., Matern, S., Klefoth, T., Wolter, C., Feldhege, F., Monk, C.T., Arlinghaus, R. (2023). Ecosystem-based management outperforms species-focused stocking for enhancing fish populations. Science, 379, 6635, 946-951.

Background: Frontiers Planet Prize

The Frontiers Planet Prize is an international science award presented annually by the Frontiers Research Foundation since 2022. It honours researchers whose pioneering work has the potential to mitigate the global environmental crisis and help stabilise Earth’s ecosystem.

Each year, one National Champion is selected in every participating country. From these, an independent jury of 100 experts selects three International Champions. Each of these outstanding researchers or research groups receives one million US dollars to advance their work and expand its global influence.

The prize aims to unite global efforts in the fight against the environmental and climate crisis — much like the worldwide mobilisation of resources and expertise seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

High-Level Visit to the M209 Expedition

President Jóse Maria Neves, internationally recognised as a committed advocate for ocean protection and patron of the UNESCO-initiated Ocean Decade Alliance since 2023, took the opportunity for a hands-on visit. He wanted to be present when the ROV KIEL 6000 underwater robot went on a dive to explore the biodiversity on the doorstep of his own home, to interact with the master and the crew, and to hear first-hand from the international research team about the challenges and opportunities of marine research in Cabo Verde.  

“The deep-sea research being carried out here with the R/V METEOR is discovering marine biodiversity, revealing the wealth of Cape Verde”, said president Neves. “We saw the ROV descend to the ocean floor — the researchers are conducting dives, mapping our seabed, and identifying different existing species. This is, in every way, a tremendous contribution to science and to Cape Verde’s future development.” 

Neves also took the opportunity to find out about the work of the three Cabo Verdean marine scientists taking part in the expedition: Rui Freitas from the Atlantic Technical University (UTA) in Cabo Verde, Keider Neves from the Mindelo-based NGO Biosfera 1, and Vanessa Lopes from Projecto Vitó on Fogo Island.

“This is the second and most advanced deep-sea biology survey I’ve taken part in”, says Rui Freitas. “To work with the fantastic scientific team led by Henk-Jan Hoving from ������Ƶ is a great experience. By combining our knowledge of coastal and reef fish with the incredible biodiversity of deep-sea ecosystems, we are strengthening Cabo Verde’s role as a hotspot for marine biodiversity. The METEOR’s advanced underwater observation technologies have made an important contribution to deep-sea research in Cabo Verde and opened up exciting new opportunities.”

Crustacean expert and taxonomist Keider Neves adds: “As a Cabo Verdean scientist interested in the country’s rich marine biodiversity, this is a unique opportunity to explore first hand the mesophotic to deep-sea ecosystems off Cabo Verde and collect samples of species that are little known or new not only to the country but also to science.”

Vanessa Lopes adds: “The presidential visit was a valuable opportunity to share some of our findings from the M209 Basis expedition. We’ve encountered both pristine marine environments and areas impacted by pollution, highlighting the urgent need for improved management. There is significant work ahead, and collaboration among all stakeholders will be essential to ensure effective, ecosystem-based marine management in Cabo Verde“.

M209: Exploring the Deep-Sea Biology of Cabo Verde

The M209 expedition, entitled “BASIS”, is dedicated to exploring deep-sea habitats around the Cabo Verde Islands. It ties in with POSEIDON cruise POS532 in 2019 and a number of other field campaigns. The focus is on biodiversity and food webs across various deep-sea zones, from the mid-water column to the seafloor. Using high-tech tools such as towed cameras, acoustic sensors, and environmental DNA samples, the researchers aim to document the fragile and largely unexplored habitats off Cabo Verde. These data are not only of great scientific value but also provide crucial foundations for local authorities, universities and NGOs for the designation of future implementation of marine protected areas within Cabo Verde’s territorial waters.

Strengthening the Scientific Partnership Between Cabo Verde and ������Ƶ

The visit of the Head of State is a special honour for German marine research – it is the highest ranking visit to a German research vessel in the region so far. President Neves has been a reliable partner in the scientific cooperation between Cabo Verde and ������Ƶ from the very beginning. In addition to joint research projects, this cooperation includes the operation of the Ocean Science Centre Mindelo (OSCM), which acts as a hub for ocean research and knowledge exchange in West Africa. He laid the foundation stone for the OSCM in 2014 with the scientific director Prof. Arne Körtzinger from ������Ƶ. In cooperation with the Atlantic Technical University (UTA) and the Kiel University (CAU), the OSCM strengthens regional scientific capacities through various academic programmes, such as the WASCAL master’s programme.

In autumn 2023, the presidents of both countries, H.E. José Maria Neves and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, met at OSCM and expressed their appreciation for each other and their interest in continuing along this path together. The fact that the President of Cabo Verde took the time to personally experience the expedition highlights the importance of these joint efforts to protect and understand the ocean.

The research, published today in Nature Communications and led by the University of Bristol, provides the clearest ever picture of how the underlying transport system, known as the Transpolar Draft, operates. It also uncovers the various factors controlling this major Arctic surface current, including warmer temperatures which could increase the spread of human-made pollutants.

The Pathways of Arctic Substances: The Transpolar Drift

The Transpolar Drift carries sea ice, fresh water, and suspended matter from the Siberian shelves across the central Arctic towards the Fram Strait channel, which connects to the Nordic Seas.

This cross-Arctic flow influences the delivery of both natural substances, such as nutrients, gases, organic compounds, and human-made pollutants – including microplastics and heavy metals – from Siberian river systems into the central Arctic and the North Atlantic. This material affects Arctic biogeochemistry and ecosystems, while the fresh water itself alters ocean circulation.

As the Arctic Ocean is a highly changeable environment, rather than following a steady course, river-sourced matter takes diverse, seasonally shifting routes shaped by changing shelf conditions and ocean currents, along with the formation, drift, and melting of sea ice. This results in rapid and widespread redistribution of both natural and pollutant matter.

Seasonal Variability and the Role of Sea Ice

Lead author Dr Georgi Laukert, Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow in Chemical Oceanography at the University of Bristol, UK and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, US, said: “We found pronounced changes in the composition of Siberian river water along the Transpolar Drift, demonstrating this highly dynamic interplay. Seasonal shifts in river discharge and dynamic circulation on the Siberian shelf drive ocean surface variability, while interactions between sea ice and the ocean further increase the redistribution of river-borne matter.

“Another key discovery is the increasingly central role of sea ice formed along the Transpolar Drift – not only as a passive transport medium, but as an active agent in shaping dispersal patterns. This sea ice captures material from multiple river sources during growth, unlike most coastal sea ice, creating complex mixtures that are transported across vast distances.”

Geochemical Tracing and the Year-Long Study

To decode these complex pathways, the international research team analysed seawater, sea ice, and snow samples using oxygen and neodymium isotopes, along with measurements of rare earth elements to produce geochemical tracer data. This geochemical fingerprinting allowed the researchers to track the origins of river-sourced matter and follow how it evolved along its route through the central Arctic over a year-long period.

New Insights from the Largest-Ever Arctic Expedition

The study draws on samples from MOSAiC, the largest-ever Arctic expedition and among the most ambitious polar research efforts, involving seven ice breakers and more than 600 global scientists.

Co-author Dr Dorothea Bauch, Researcher at Kiel University in Germany, said: “The findings represent unprecedented year-round observations. Previously, we only had summer data because it was too slow and hard to break through the ice in the winter. This sustained, interdisciplinary Arctic evidence offers important and comprehensive insights, which help us better understand highly complex ocean systems and the possible future implications.”

As summer sea ice continues to retreat due to warmer temperatures, circulation and drift patterns are changing.

Co-author Professor Benjamin Rabe, Research Scientist from the Alfred Wegener Institute and Honorary Professor at the University of Applied Science, in Bremerhaven, Germany said: “These shifts could significantly alter how fresh water and river-derived matter spread through the Arctic, with far-reaching implications for ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles, and ocean dynamics.”

Transpolar Drift Not as Stable as Previously Thought

The research also challenges a long-standing perception of the Transpolar Drift as a stable conveyor of river water. First observed during Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen’s historic Fram expedition in the 1890s, these latest findings discovered more than 130 years later indicate the Transpolar Drift is highly variable in both space and time.

Dr Laukert added: “While the study does not focus on individual compounds, it illuminates the underlying transport mechanisms—a critical step for predicting how Arctic matter transport will evolve in a warming climate. If even this iconic current is so dynamic, then the entire Arctic Ocean may be more variable and vulnerable than we thought.”

Original Publication:

Laukert, G., Bauch, D., Rabe, B., Krumpen, T., Damm, E., Kienast, M. Hathorne, E., Vredenborg, M., Tippenhauer, S., Andersen, N., Meyer, H., Mellat, M., D’Angelo, A., Simoes Pereira, P., Nomura, D., Horner, T.J., Hendry, K., Kienast, S. (2025). Dynamic ice–ocean pathways along the Transpolar Drift amplify the dispersal of Siberian matter. Nature Communications, 24, 28391.

The working group of eleven researchers has now presented its findings and ten key recommendations on the deep sea and ocean health. Under the leadership of Prof. Dr Sylvia Sander, Professor of Marine Mineral Resources at ������Ƶ Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, and Dr Christian Tamburini from the French Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO), the team produced the report, which is being launched today by the EMB in a webinar. The document emphasises, among other points, the urgent need for major investment in deep-sea research to close knowledge gaps and provide a sound scientific basis for decisions such as those concerning deep-sea mining.

“The ocean is an interconnected system stretching from the coast to the deepest depths,” says Sylvia Sander. “Of course, the deep sea cannot be considered in isolation from the photic zone or the seafloor.” Therefore, deep-sea research, use and conservation are intrinsically linked to overall ocean health.

Ten recommendations for sustainable deep-sea protection and better collaboration:

The group presents ten central measures for the sustainable protection of the deep sea:

1. Effectively govern human activities in the deep sea
2. Establish an international scientific committee for deep-sea sustainability and protection
3. Contribute to develop and implement deep-sea Environmental Impact Assessment methodologies
4. Support transdisciplinary research programs to better understand the role of the deep sea in Ocean (and human) health
5. Invest in long-term monitoring in the deep sea
6. Launch large-scale and long-term multidisciplinary natural sciences projects to increase knowledge of global deep-sea processes
7. Support research efforts in specific critical research fields
8. Enhance educational, training and research opportunities for all current and future scientists addressing their unique regional challenges
9. Foster the transfer of marine technology and develop training programs
10. Continue to promote the Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability (FAIR) Data Principles

The deep sea: Indispensable ecosystems for life on Earth

Until the late 19th century, the idea that life could exist in the cold, dark, high-pressure depths of the ocean was met with scepticism. It was only with the onset of deep-sea research that the first living organisms were discovered there. Today, scientists know that the deep sea hosts a remarkable diversity of life forms. Complex ecosystems can be found along continental slopes, on abyssal plains or around hydrothermal vents – so-called black smokers – many of which remain poorly understood.

Knowledge gaps: Much remains unexplored

It is estimated that around 90 percent of all organisms in the deep sea are still undescribed, and their roles within ecosystems remain largely unknown. Physical oceanography also faces considerable gaps – for example, in the modelling of deep currents that are crucial for the transport of nutrients and pollutants. In marine geochemistry, little is known about how biogeochemical cycles in the deep sea are affected by human activities such as mining. For instance, scientists still lack a clear understanding of how sediment plumes from the extraction of manganese nodules spread and what long-term impacts they may have on seabed communities. Technical challenges also remain: many modern sensors and monitoring systems are not yet adequately developed for extreme depths, making it difficult to gather essential data. Closing these knowledge gaps is urgently needed to support science-based decision-making for deep-sea governance, the scientists argue.

The challenge: Threats to the deep sea from human activities

What we do know for certain is that the ocean – of which the deep sea makes up the largest part – stores vast amounts of CO₂ and heat, helping to mitigate climate change. It plays a central role in the global carbon cycle and produces more than 50 percent of the planet’s oxygen. Disruption of these functions could have serious global consequences. Preserving these ecosystem services requires strong protective measures and sustainable use strategies.
Human activities are already affecting the deep sea in many ways. Irreversible changes on human timescales – such as warming, acidification, and oxygen loss – are threatening these sensitive habitats. At the same time, overexploitation of fish stocks and non-renewable resources such as oil, gas, and minerals is jeopardising biodiversity and ecosystem functions.

Urgent action needed for ocean health

The scientists agree that 2025 is a decisive year to take action for ocean health. It is crucial to take effective measures against climate change now in order to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Sylvia Sander explains:
“Climate change is one of the most alarming threats to our life-support systems and to life on Earth itself. Combined with biodiversity loss, it could soon lead to severe and irreversible disruptions to the entire ocean – including the deep sea and ice-covered parts of the planet.”

The role of the EU: How Europe can lead the way in protecting the deep sea

The working group emphasises that Europe should take a leading role in the international protection and sustainable governance of the deep sea, particularly through existing international agreements.
“The EU could play an important role in strengthening international efforts to regulate deep-sea activities,” says Sylvia Sander. “This would require the establishment of scientific committees for deep-sea protection and the development of standardised environmental impact assessments.”

The researchers also call for secured funding of transdisciplinary research and long-term monitoring. Sylvia Sander: “We need to better understand the state of the ocean to protect and use the deep sea sustainably – where are changes becoming visible?” More research and technology are essential. “We also need to support underrepresented nations in deep-sea research and recognise science as a human right. Only then can we safeguard the health of the ocean – and the planet – for future generations.”

Publication: 

Sander, S. G., Tamburini, C., Gollner, S., Guilloux, B., Pape, E., Hoving, H. J., Leroux, R., Rovere, M., Semedo, M., Danovaro, R., Narayanaswamy, B. E. (2025) Deep Sea Research and Management Needs. Muñiz Piniella, A., Kellett, P., Alexander, B., Rodriguez Perez, A., Bayo Ruiz, F., Teodosio, M. C., Heymans, J. J. [Eds.] Future Science Brief N°. 12 of the European Marine Board, Ostend, Belgium.

Background: European Marine Board

The European Marine Board (EMB) is a partnership of 38 organisations from 19 European countries that are active in marine research. Founded in 1995, its mission is to strengthen cooperation in European marine science and develop joint research strategies. The EMB acts as a bridge between science and policy, supports knowledge exchange, and provides recommendations to national authorities and the European Commission to advance marine research in Europe. Its members include leading oceanographic institutes, research funders, and universities with a marine focus.

“Answering whether and how a CO₂ removal option should be implemented should take its effectiveness, economic viability and its impact on people and the environment into account. However, existing assessment frameworks do not allow doing so. Our framework solves this problem by offering a structured guide for evaluating marine CO₂ removal projects. Stakeholders can use it to analyse all the key issues and make evidence-based decisions,' says Prof. Dr Christian Baatz, a climate and environmental ethicist at the Kiel University (CAU) and co-author of both new articles.

29 criteria for a comprehensive assessment of marine CO2 removal methods

The new framework includes 29 criteria that help to analyse seven key issues. These include questions about the technical, legal and political feasibility of the methods to be assessed, as well as questions about economic efficiency, equity and environmental ethics. Due to this complexity, the researchers recommend that experts from academia, industry, public administration, interest groups and affected populations be involved in the evaluation process.  In line with this principle, the researchers tested the practical suitability of the new evaluation guidelines in a series of transdisciplinary workshops attended by numerous representatives from public administration and interest groups.

“Our experience in testing the assessment framework shows that no one should attempt to assess a marine CO₂ removal method or a specific project on their own. Due to the high complexity of the issue, an assessment requires the expertise of many people,” says co-author Dr Lukas Tank, also a climate and environmental ethicist at Kiel University.

Ideally feasible and desirable

In addition to the list of criteria, the researchers defined five guiding principles to help ensure that the best possible information is collected during the evaluation process. These guiding principles aim to ensure that the evaluation process is transparent and involves all potentially affected parties.

“Ultimately, it is up to political and societal decision-makers to decide whether a particular marine CO₂ removal project should go ahead. At best, they will choose options that are effective, technically, legally and politically feasible, as well as economically, equitably and environmentally sound. Our assessment framework can help them do this”, says Prof. Dr Gregor Rehder, a chemist at the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW). He was also an author on both papers and led the CDRmare research network ASMASYS, under which the research for both papers took place.

Original Publications:

Tank, Lukas; Lieske Voget-Kleschin, Matthias Garschagen, Miranda Boettcher, Nadine Mengis, Antonia Holland-Cunz, Gregor Rehder & Christian Baatz (2025): Distinguish Between Feasibility and Desirability When Assessing Climate Response Options. NPJ Climate Action, DOI: 10.1038/s44168-025-00237-2

Christian Baatz, Lukas Tank, Lena-Katharina Bednarz, Miranda Boettcher, Teresa Maria Morganti, Lieske Voget- Kleschin, Tony Cabus, Erik van Doorn, Tabea Dorndorf, Felix Havermann, Wanda Holzhüter, David Peter Keller, Matthias Kreuzburg, Nele Matz-Lück, Nadine Mengis, Christine Merk, Yiannis Moustakis, Julia Pongratz, Hendrikje Wehnert, Wanxuan Yao and Gregor Rehder (2025): A holistic assessment framework for marine carbon dioxide removal options. Environmental Research Letters, DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/adc93f

About: CDRmare

CDRmare is a research mission of the German Marine Research Alliance (DAM). The mission started in summer 2021 with six research consortia investigating promising methods for marine CO2 removal and storage (alkalinisation, expansion of vegetation-rich coastal ecosystems, artificial upwelling, CCS) with regard to their potential, risks and interactions, and bringing them together in a transdisciplinary assessment framework.

In August 2024, CDRmare entered its second three-year funding phase with five research consortia. CDRmare is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the science ministries of the northern German states of Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein.

In addition, Germany's national legal framework must be updated to permit offshore CO₂ storage in the German North Sea seaward of coastal areas. Plans for such reforms are currently under discussion as part of coalition negotiations in Germany.

A Comprehensive Overview of Offshore CO₂ Storage

A total of 36 experts from eight research and partner institutions contributed to the new interim report. Their goal was to present the research methods and results from 2021 to 2024 in a way that is accessible to policymakers, professionals, and the interested public.

“Storing CO₂ beneath the North Sea is a controversial topic in Germany. This makes it all the more important for us as a research association to communicate our results in a transparent and comprehensible way. For this reason, we have written this report in German and summarized all the core results in an easily understandable form in the introduction,” says Klaus Wallmann.

Assessing Storage Capacities, Associated Risks, Use Conflicts, and Possible Solutions

The report comprises 15 chapters covering a wide range of topics related to geological CO₂ storage: from static and dynamic storage capacities and potential risks to marine ecosystems and offshore infrastructure, to newly developed monitoring systems, projected costs of selected storage scenarios, necessary legislative changes, and anticipated conflicts that need to be solved if CO₂ is to be stored under the already intensively used North Sea.

The full report, written in German, is available for free download at:

Background:

CDRmare is a research mission of the German Marine Research Alliance (DAM). Its full title is “Marine Carbon Sinks as a Pathway to Decarbonisation.” Launched in summer 2021, the mission originally brought together six research consortia to explore promising approaches for marine CO₂ removal and storage—such as ocean alkalinisation, the restoration of vegetated coastal ecosystems, artificial upwelling, and offshore CCS. These methods are being evaluated for their potential, risks, and interactions within a transdisciplinary assessment framework. In August 2024, CDRmare entered its second three-year funding phase with five research consortia. It is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the science ministries of the northern federal states: Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein.

Publication:

Wallmann, K. und das GEOSTOR-Konsortium: CO2-Speicherung unter der deutschen Nordsee? Ergebnisse aus drei Jahren Forschung, pp. 1-142, DOI 10.3289/CDRmare.49

Contact:

Sina Löschke, Pressereferentin CDRmare, Tel: 02353 70 71 527; media@cdrmare.de

Beyond her scientific work, Alexandra has a creative streak. She plays the French horn in an orchestra and enjoys drawing. This talent even supports her research – she creates illustrations of copepods, the tiny crustaceans she studies, for which there are no high-quality visual representations. Her drawings not only look impressive but also leave a lasting impression on her audience during presentations. 

What is the focus of your research, and how do you approach it? 

Alex: I study copepods in the Baltic Sea. These are tiny crustaceans, and I am studying how they adapt to different environmental conditions, such as different salinities. I’ve taken part in several expeditions aboard ALKOR and a Finnish research vessel to collect copepods. My aim is to cover as much of the Baltic Sea as possible to include the whole salinity gradient up to the coast of Finland. I then keep the copepods in culture rooms for my experiments.

Next, I extract DNA and RNA in the molecular lab. I work with transcriptomics, which involves analysing all RNA molecules expressed at a given time. RNA is essentially the transcription of DNA, and by studying it, I can identify which genes are activated under specific stress conditions – in my case, low salinity. In the final phase of my PhD, I will also examine how the genomes of copepod populations differ across various locations.

What motivates you? 

Alex: I want to understand how copepods adapt to extreme environmental conditions, as the Baltic Sea is a challenging habitat for a marine species due to its low salinity, which decreases further east. I also want to investigate how climate change might affect them. Some projections predict that the salinity of the Baltic Sea will continue to decrease, and I want to understand if this will impact these little copepods. This question is crucial because copepods form a significant part of the Baltic Sea’s zooplankton and are therefore a fundamental link in the food chain.

How did you come to focus on copepods as your research subject? 

Alex: I’ve always been interested in environmental changes and climate change and how it affects organisms. However, copepods weren’t my initial focus. My interest began when I got a job as a student assistant at ������Ƶ, where I sorted copepods by species. I analysed long-term zooplankton samples from the Kiel Fjord – samples were collected every two weeks, and I identified species and tracked their abundance. This made me something of a ‘copepod person’. Then, a junior professor, Reid Brennan, who was also working on copepods, joined the institute, and someone suggested I ask him about a Master’s project – so I did!

For the past two years, you’ve been a Young Ambassador for the European Marine Board (EMB). What motivated you to take on this role? 

Alex: I applied because I’m interested in the interface between science and policy. Every year, the EMB selects two early-career researchers (ECRs) from its member organisations to act as Young Ambassadors and strengthen the links between ECRs and the EMB. When I saw the ������Ƶ call for applications, I applied on a whim – and I was selected.

What were your tasks as a Young Ambassador? 

Alex: One of our main tasks was to set up a network for ECRs within the EMB, called the EMB ECOP Network. We regularly shared updates on EMB activities, launched a social media series to highlight researchers in our network, and organised monthly webinars on science policy. A particular highlight was organising a workshop on the science-policy interface – a huge task involving travel logistics, planning talks, and preparing content. This culminated in a conference where we presented the results in a keynote speech to 250 participants.

What have you taken away from your time with the EMB? 

Alex: I learned that there are many ways to get involved, but that time and support are often the biggest challenges. For ECRs, it’s not always easy to balance research with activities like science communication or policy work. One solution could be to incorporate these activities into research funding proposals, so that they’re part of the scientific career from the start. Overall, it was a fantastic experience that I would do again in a heartbeat. The EMB secretariat was incredibly supportive, and I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in science policy.

In February, we celebrated the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. What do you think about having a specific day for women and girls in science? 

Alex: Ideally, it wouldn’t be necessary because gender shouldn’t play a role in a career. But since it does, it’s important to raise awareness of these inequalities.

What advice would you give to young girls who want to become scientists? 

Alex: Don’t be discouraged and seek out women in science who inspire you. Many female researchers are happy to help – so don’t hesitate to ask!

About: European Marine Board (EMB) 

The European Marine Board (EMB) is a think tank with 38 member organisations from 19 European countries. ������Ƶ is part of this network, which aims to make scientific knowledge accessible to policy makers, e.g. through policy briefs and reports on current marine science issues. 

“Floating University” is the name of the project, which forms the shipboard component of the Master's programme “Climate Change and Marine Sciences” at the Universidade Técnica do Atlântico (UTA) in Cabo Verde. The educational voyage PS147/2 will use the ship's transit from Mindelo, Cape Verde, to Bremerhaven, Germany.

“The Floating University is much more than just a training cruise. It’s an intensive learning experience for everyone involved, as the previous two expeditions have shown,” says Dr Björn Fiedler, marine chemist at ������Ƶ and chief scientist of the expedition. “The students will work with state-of-the-art marine instrumentation, collect and analyse data, and experience first-hand how an international research team works together. This experience is invaluable for a scientific career in ocean and climate research”.

Research and Education at Sea

During the voyage, the students will collect valuable data for international marine research as well as for their own master's theses. They will be supported by an international team of experienced scientists from various fields, including Dr Corrine Almeida, Professor of Biological Oceanography at UTA, who directs the WASCAL master's programme. “After many lectures in the classroom and laboratory work on land, our students will finally get the chance to work practically at sea. They will learn how to handle technical equipment, samples and the resulting ocean data. These experiences are essential for future roles in research, industry, or policy in their home countries”.

For example, the students will use hydroacoustic systems to get a detailed picture of the distribution of fish in the ocean using sound. They will capture and analyse small organisms using nets. Meanwhile, sensors on board the ship will continuously measure the carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the water. These data are crucial for understanding how the ocean acts as a climate buffer and the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems.

The PAMOS device will analyse the composition of the air and the students will be able to track how aerosols and trace gases change along the route — a visible sign of the influence of industry, shipping, and natural sources such as Saharan dust.

A highlight of the journey will be a stop at two important long-term ocean observatories: the Cape Verde Ocean Observatory (CVOO) and the European Time Series Oceanographic Station of the Canary Islands (ESTOC). Here, students will help collect physical, biogeochemical, and biological data to document long-term changes in the ocean. They will also deploy an Argo deep-sea drifter — an autonomous measuring device that will collect temperature, salinity, and current data from great depths for years to come. Long after the expedition, they will be able to track the data sent by “their” drifter online.

Explaining the own Research

The students will also learn to present their findings in a way that is understandable not only to experts but also to a wider audience. As they will be doing this on board, interested parties will be able to follow the expedition remotely.

In addition to the theoretical and practical work, there will be time for exchange, discussions about career paths, the master's theses, and the students' home countries.

“For many, the Floating University is one of the most memorable and impressive experiences of their studies,” says Fiedler. “At sea, the human-induced problems in the ocean become visible and tangible.” It is an experience that will stay with the future West African marine and climate scientists as they tackle the pressing issues of climate change and marine conservation.

Expedition at a glance:

Name: PS147/2 (WASCAL III) "Floating University"

Duration: 01 April – 14 April 2025

Chief Scientist: Dr Björn Fiedler

Departure: Mindelo (Cabo Verde)

Destination: Bremerhaven (Germany)

Background:

Participating Institutions

In addition to participants from ������Ƶ and UTA, scientists from the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW), the Kiel University, the Thünen Institute of Sea Fisheries, the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) in Bremerhaven, the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) in Odense, and the Centre de Recherche Océanographique de Dakar Thiaroye (CRODT-ISRA) in Senegal will participate. In addition to the WASCAL students, a Master’s student in International Maritime Law from the Utrecht University and a pupil from the Johannes-Althusius-Gymnasium in Emden are taking part. In total, there are participants from 15 nations with five mother tongues on board.

Seminars in Mindelo and Kiel

Before embarking on POLARSTERN, all participants meet for a pre-cruise seminar at the Ocean Science Centre Mindelo (OSCM).

After the expedition, the students will travel to Kiel for a two-day follow-up seminar at ������Ƶ from 14 to 16 April. They will meet other young researchers involved in the “Foster Young Ocean Researcher Development” (FYORD) programme, a joint programme of the priority research area Kiel Marine Science at Kiel University and the ������Ƶ to promote and train early career researchers and to strengthen the collaboration with international marine science students.

About WASCAL

The WASCAL programme (“West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use”), funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), strengthens research infrastructure and academic training on climate change and its impacts in West Africa. The two-year Master's programme “Climate Change and Marine Sciences”, coordinated by the Universidade Técnica do Atlântico (UTA) in Mindelo and closely supported by ������Ƶ, provides students with scientific expertise for research, environmental management, and industry. Since 2021, the programme is part of the international “UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development”.

The WASCAL alumni network and the “Floating University” also contribute to the international FUTURO project, currently being prepared by ������Ƶ. FUTURO aims to develop sustainable management strategies for the West African marine ecosystem.

Research in Cabo Verde

The Cape Verde Islands, located some 600 kilometres off the coast of Senegal, have been an independent state since 1981: the Republic of Cabo Verde. The region offers a unique range of scientifically current and highly relevant research topics, many of which relate to the ocean. For more than 20 years, ������Ƶ has been conducting research in Cape Verde in collaboration with national and international partners, and aims to further strengthen its cooperation in the region. In 2017, the Ocean Science Centre Mindelo (OSCM) was opened as a regional science and education hub for the international scientific community. The OSCM is jointly operated by ������Ƶ and the Cape Verde Institute of the Sea (IMar).

Support for European solutions

“I hope that this project will finally lead to a European approach to stop the dramatic overfishing in our ocean,” says Professor Dr Katja Matthes, Director of ������Ƶ. “Previous phases of the AWZFISCH project have already produced internationally recognised publications. I am delighted that we are now further strengthening our collaboration with the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation.”

The cooperation contributes to achieving internationally binding goals for the protection of marine biodiversity and the climate. Regionally developed solutions for ecosystem-based fisheries management will subsequently be introduced at national, EU level- as well as in international projects.

Improvement of ecosystem-based fisheries management

“Large, healthy fish stocks and sustainable, ecosystem-based fisheries management are fundamental provisions of the Common Fisheries Policy of the EU and therefore also of Germany. However, these provisions have not yet been implemented,” says Dr Rainer Froese, marine ecologist and fisheries scientist at ������Ƶ. Froese played a key role in the development of the new co-operation agreement. Professor Thorsten Reusch, project leader, adds: “With the new agreement, we primarily want to create the basis for ecosystem-based management of fisheries in German marine areas, especially in and around existing protected areas.”

In ecosystem-based fisheries management, the entire marine ecosystem is taken into consideration. This means that not only the status of individual fish stocks is assessed, but also the interactions between species, their habitats and environmental factors such as climate change and water quality. Compliance with the recommendations could restore the stocks of commercially relevant fish species and populations of protected species, such as the endangered harbour porpoise.

Background: Project “AWZFISCH”

The project ‘Ecosystem-based fisheries management in the German Exclusive Economic Zone’ (AWZFISCH) is funded by a cooperation agreement between ������Ƶ and the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN). As part of this cooperation agreement, ������Ƶ

For decades, marine scientists have sought to understand in detail how coastal waters are transported offshore and how this process affects productivity in the open ocean, especially as eddy activity is expected to change significantly due to climate change. 

While it was previously known that ocean eddies transport large quantities of organic carbon and nutrients, the exact composition and nutritional quality of this material for zooplankton and fish has remained largely unexplored. Using high-resolution mass spectrometry, a team of researchers from ������Ƶ and MARUM has now analysed the lipidome – the entire spectrum of lipid molecules including essential fats – in and around an ocean eddy. The results of their work have been published in the journal Communications Earth and Environment. 

Cutting-edge analysis reveals lipid diversity in eddies 

“These eddies are basically the food trucks of the ocean,” explains Dr Kevin Becker, geochemist at ������Ƶ and lead author of the study. “They transport nutrients from the highly productive coastal upwelling regions to the open ocean, where these nutrients are released and are likely to influence biological productivity.”

For their study, the researchers analysed samples collected during the ������Ƶ-coordinated REEBUS project (Role of Eddies in the Carbon Pump of Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems) on the METEOR M156 Expedition off the coast of Mauritania (West Africa). Almost 1,000 different lipids were identified. Lipids can make up to 20 percent of the carbon content of phytoplankton and are essential building blocks of cells, performing critical biological functions as energy stores, membrane components, signalling molecules, and electron transporters. 

“Lipids also contain chemotaxonomic information that allows us to determine the composition of microbial communities,” adds Dr Becker. “Based on their chemical signatures, we can, for example, distinguish between lipids from phytoplankton, bacteria, and archaea species.” 

The results of the study showed that the lipid signature within the mesoscale eddy was significantly different from that of the surrounding waters, indicating a distinct microbial community. In particular, energy-rich storage lipids and essential fatty acids were enriched – nutrients that higher marine organisms such as zooplankton and fish cannot synthesise on their own and must ingest through food. 

Calculations show that coastal eddies in the upwelling region off Mauritania transport up to 9.7 ± 2.0 gigagrams (about 10,000 tonnes) of labile organic carbon to the open ocean each year. “Our study highlights the central role of mesoscale eddies in the local carbon cycle and provides a basis for future investigations of their importance on a global scale,” concludes Prof. Dr Anja Engel, lead scientist of the study and head of the Marine Biogeochemistry Research Division at ������Ƶ. 

Original Publication: 

Becker, K.W., Devresse, Q., Prieto-Mollar, X., Hinrichs, K.U., & Engel, A. Mixed-layer lipidomes suggest offshore transport of energy-rich and essential lipids by cyclonic eddies. Commun Earth Environ 6, 179 (2025).

About: REEBUS 

The REEBUS project (Role of Eddies in the Carbon Pump of Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems) was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF, funding code 03F0815A) and coordinated at ������Ƶ. The aim of Work Package 4, led by Prof. Dr Anja Engel, was to understand the surface dynamics of organic carbon in coastal upwelling systems and the role of eddies in transporting it to the adjacent open ocean. 

Cape Verdean scientists on board

Three scientists from Cabo Verde are also part of the expedition, each with a different research focus: Rui Freitas, a fish expert with an interest in coral reefs, and works at the Universidade Técnica do Atlantico (UTA) and Keider Neves, who works at Biosfera1 and is a specialist in crustaceans and hopes to describe new species from Cabo Verde. Also on board is Vanessa Lopes from Projecto Vito, who studies whales and seabirds during M209 and investigates scientific need assessment for small island developing states.

“The M209 expedition will support data collection and learning about deep-sea biodiversity in various regions in Cabo Verde, some of which are under proposal for a marine protected area. In addition, the experience is supporting knowledge exchange and knowledge sharing with young Cabo Verdean biologists who hope to continue to study the deep sea in their own home,” says Vanessa Lopes, who is doing her PhD research at the University of Edinburgh.

Large parts of the Cape Verde archipelago still unmapped

An important objective of the cruise is to map the seabed around the islands and on underwater mountains. “In many regions of Cabo Verde, we still don't know how deep the seabed actually is, and what the seafloor morphology is,” says Mareike Keller of the ������Ƶ Deep Sea Monitoring Group and deputy chief scientist on M209. This basic knowledge is important for marine traffic in Cabo Verde but will also be important for future campaigns that plan to deploy instruments on the seafloor. An example is the upcoming international observation campaign FUTURO (Future West African Marine Ecosystems) off the West African coast from 2028 to 2030.

Parallel to the M209 expedition, the research vessel OceanXplorer is also spending a few days off the Cape Verde islands. The stay is part of the 2.5-month ‘Around Africa Expedition’ with African scientists, a collaborative effort conducted by two global ocean exploration nonprofits – OceanX and the newly established OceanQuest. During their joint stay off the coast and at the underwater mountain Nola (Seamount Nola), the scientists on board the METEOR and the OceanXplorer will carry out joint measurements and be in direct contact. Such a joint scientific operation with a multitude of oceanographic tools is also envisioned for the FUTURO research campaign.

Fragile and elusive animals and their foodwebs

Deep below the surface in the middle of the water column lives a large diversity of organisms consisting of jellyfish, crustaceans, lantern fishes and cephalopods. This community is the food for many commercially exploited fishes such as tuna. However, it is largely unknown what they feed on. Some may consume dead material (marine snow) that sinks down from the overlying water column, others eat living prey. To investigate the foodweb, the researchers want to collect gelatinous plankton, e.g. jellyfish, to find out what role these transparent, sensitive organisms play in the food web. To collect and study fragile animals, they are using a combination of different methods. As gelatinous plankton is almost impossible to catch with nets and bring on board undamaged, the remotely operated underwater robot ROV KIEL 6000 will be used to capture deep-sea organisms. The captured animals will be photographed in the lab and samples will be used for foodweb studies. In addition, towed cameras with acoustic sensors will be used to study the distribution and biomass. Finally, water from different depths will be filtered to capture environmental DNA which animals leave behind. This genetic tool allows detection of animals that are avoiding the instruments.  

Where two worlds collide: interactions between midwater animals and the seafloor

Another objective of the expedition M209 is to study the interaction between animals in water column and the seabed. “In some places around the islands and seamounts, two worlds potentially collide. We expect that marine organisms in the middle of the water column of 400-500 metres also occur in some regions close to the seabed,” says Hoving. Many organisms also perform vertical migration, where they migrate from deep to shallow at night to benefit from food in shallow waters. Henk-Jan Hoving: “Afterwards these organisms may interact with the seafloor during their downward migration, and hence become food for seafloor organisms. The steepness of the slops of the islands and underwater mountains may make these interactions particularly intense.”

Currently, only around 7.7 per cent of the total area of the oceans is under protection. Cabo Verde is known as a hotspot of ocean biodiversity. The aim of marine protected areas is to preserve natural habitats, sustainable management and biodiversity. With the collection of basic biological data, the expedition M209 aims to collect information requested by Cabo Verde scientists on board and their institutes, and contribute to the design and proposal of marine protected areas in Cabo Verde waters.

Background: Research on Cabo Verde

The Cape Verde islands, around 6000 kilometres off the coast of Senegal, offer a unique range of scientifically current and highly relevant research topics in which the ocean usually plays a decisive role. ������Ƶ has been conducting research there for 20 years together with regional and international partners, and since 2017 it has been operating the Ocean Science Centre Mindelo (OSCM) together with the Instituto do Mar (IMar) in Mindelo, which is available to the international scientific community with its infrastructure. Another important component is the WASCAL programme for West African Master's students, which is supported by ������Ƶ and has been established since 2019. WASCAL stands for West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use. In addition to lectures and practical courses, the programme also includes a two-week, sea-based ‘Floating University’ training component, which is coordinated at ������Ƶ.

Project funding:

The expedition is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the German Research Foundation (DFG).

Expedition at a glance: 

Name: METEOR-Expedition M209 „BASIS“

Chief Scientist: Dr Henk-Jan T. Hoving

Duration: 21.03.2025 – 23.4.2025

Start: Mindelo, Cabo Verde

End: Ponta Delgada, Azores

Cruise Area: Tropical Atlantic

“The award-winning research on physical, biological, and chemical processes demonstrates the diversity of marine science at ������Ƶ. These contributions significantly enhance our understanding of the ocean. We are proud to honour, for the first time, three female scientists who completed their research at ������Ƶ,” said Professor Dr Katja Matthes, Director of ������Ƶ.

“The recipients of this year's Annette Barthelt Award are outstanding examples of the potential within the next generation of marine researchers,” said Professor Dr Arne Körtzinger, Chairman of the Annette Barthelt Foundation, at the award ceremony. “Their work provides deep insights into the complex interactions between the ocean, climate, and biological processes. It is a pleasure to recognise their achievements and to support their research.”

The Annette Barthelt Prize Winners 2025:

Dr Mareike Körner completed her PhD thesis, “Physical drivers of seasonal variability in the tropical Angolan upwelling system” in March 2024 in the department of Physical Oceanography. She was supervised by Prof. Dr Peter Brandt and Prof. Dr Stefan Juricke. Mareike Körner studied the ocean dynamics in the upwelling region off the coast of Angola in the tropical South Atlantic. Her research provides valuable insights into currents, temperature, nutrients, and turbulent mixing, which are crucial for improving predictions of biological productivity in this economically important region. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Oregon State University, USA.

Dr Vanessa Stenvers defended her PhD in Marine Ecology in December 2024 with her thesis, “Midwater invertebrates in the deep ocean: Adaptations, interactions and impacts of stressors”. Her supervisors were Dr Henk-Jan Hoving, Dr Karen Osborn, and Dr Helena Hauss. Vanessa Stenvers investigated the adaptations and interactions of gelatinous organisms and amphipods (small crustaceans) in the deep sea. She demonstrated the effects of global warming and deep-sea mining on these organisms. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher at ������Ƶ.

Juliane Katharina Tammen was recognised for her Master's thesis, “Mapping Nutrient Regimes through the South Pacific via Assessment of Phytoplankton Photophysiology”, which she completed in March 2023 in Biogeochemistry. She was supervised by Prof. Dr Eric Achterberg and Dr Thomas Browning. Her research investigated the effects of nutrient limitation on the photophysiology of phytoplankton in the subtropical South Pacific. By analysing the active fluorescence of phytoplankton, she identified nitrogen and iron limitation. Juliane Tammen is currently a PhD student at ������Ƶ.

Funding:

The Annette Barthelt Prize includes a research grant of 6,000 euros, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, which this year was divided into 2,000 euros each.

MUNI-RISK: Asking the right questions

Developing appropriate guidelines is one of the tasks of the MUNI-RISK project (Mitigation of Risks Due to Submerged Munitions for a Sustainable Development of the Baltic Sea). Since the end of last year, this EU-funded project, led by the University of Aarhus, has been bringing together experts from a variety of research fields to develop concrete tools and guidelines that will enable the Baltic Sea countries to better assess the risks posed by munitions.

The project is working closely with local authorities, environmental agencies, and experts from industry and business. This also applies to Bornholm, where local stakeholders met with researchers aboard the ALKOR on Tuesday, 18 March 2025. “We want to know what concerns people have about munitions in the sea. What questions do they think science should answer?” explains project leader Dr Hans Sanderson, an environmental and climate risk expert at Aarhus University. These questions are being asked not only on the Danish island, but also in Estonia and Poland, where wind farms are also planned and dumped munitions could pose a potential risk.

Underwater robots dive into the investigation

Expedition AL628 is the first of three missions to collect data for three major munitions projects: CONMAR, which investigates munitions management in German waters; MUNI-RISK, which focuses on the entire Baltic Sea; and MMinE-SwEEPER, a nine-country European research effort. In addition to scientific and technological objectives — such as assessing munitions contamination and improving autonomous mapping and analysis methods — the expedition also promotes international cooperation.

“We rely on the exchange of knowledge and data,” says chief scientist Prof. Dr Jens Greinert, marine geologist and munitions expert at ������Ƶ. “Where could old munitions be located?” Looking out over the vast ocean around the ship, the challenge is evident: where to start searching? Even when there are clues, the search remains complex and often time-consuming.

For the area south-west of Bornholm, there were such indications. Jens Greinert explains: “On the other side of the island, chemical munitions were dumped in 1947, and this area here is classified as a relocation area. In the past, when fishermen found remnants of chemical warfare agents in their catch, they were instructed to dispose of them here".

Seeing through the eye of KÄPT’N BLAUBÄR

While ALBERT and TIFFY scan the seabed in the area, KÄPT’N BLAUBÄR’s camera allows the research team to monitor the conditions in real time: lots of rocks, some covered in marine growth, but no sign of chemical munitions. Chemical analysis of the water samples also shows no evidence of explosives. “That is good news", summarises Greinert. 

Next, ALKOR will head to munitions dumping sites in the Bay of Lübeck, where researchers from the Polish institute IOPAN and the German Federal Police will join the expedition. The final destination will be off the coast of Boltenhagen, where a barge loaded with conventional munitions was sunk after the Second World War. The contents of the barge, which is lying on the seabed, will be cleared by an explosive ordnance disposal company from Rostock in June and July.

The next expedition is planned for October 2025 and will focus on investigating chemical munitions in Polish waters.

About: Unexploded Ordnance in the Baltic Sea

An estimated 40,000 tonnes of chemical munitions from World War II, along with over one million tonnes of unexploded ordnance (UXO), lie submerged in the Baltic Sea. Containing hazardous substances like mustard gas and arsenic compounds, often in corroding containers, these munitions pose serious risks to marine ecosystems, human health, and industries such as fishing and offshore wind energy. Researching these legacy munitions is a complex challenge, beginning with the mapping of munitions dumping sites and former battle zones. Reliable technologies are still lacking for the automated detection of hazardous objects and for accurately assessing their risk potential. The expeditions with the research vessel ALKOR aim to gather data to further develop such technologies, improve understanding of the environmental impacts of munitions contamination in the Baltic Sea, and ultimately contribute to long-term solutions for safe handling.

About: MUNI-RISK

MUNI-RISK, or Mitigation of Risks Due to Submerged Munitions for a Sustainable Development of the Baltic Sea, is an EU-funded project dedicated to addressing the risks posed by old munitions on the seafloor of the Baltic Sea. These remnants of past conflicts, including World War II, can pose serious environmental and safety hazards. The project aims to identify the most critical areas for remediation and improve risk assessments, especially in locations where new infrastructure, such as offshore wind farms, is planned. By compiling and analysing data from Baltic Sea countries, MUNI-RISK will help fill knowledge gaps, promote a science-based approach to managing underwater munitions, and support public and private entities in incorporating munitions risks into environmental impact assessments. The project’s findings will be shared with national and international stakeholders, ensuring that the methods developed can also be applied to other regions, such as the Black Sea.

Standardized Experiments at 19 Locations Worldwide

The “Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement Pelagic Impact Intercomparison Project (OAEPIIP) is coordinated by Prof. Dr Lennart Bach, a marine biologist at the University of Tasmania, Australia. Nineteen research groups from locations including New Zealand, Kenya, Chile, and Croatia will conduct standardised experiments in enclosed 55 liter containers, known as microcosms, throughout 2025. The microcosms are carefully controlled experimental systems that allow researchers to track changes in plankton community composition and biogeochemical parameters in response to alkalinity enhancement.

������Ƶ’s contribution: Research in the Baltic Sea and in Tropical Waters

������Ƶ is contributing to this project with two studies in contrasting environments: Dr Giulia Faucher, a researcher in the Biogeochemical Processes working group, will examine OAE impact on a temperate plankton community from Eckernförde Bay in the Baltic Sea. For this purpose, she started the experiment on 7 March 2025 by filling the microcosms aboard the research cutter LITTORINA at the Boknis Eck time-series station. “The containers used, the way they are filled, the way the alkalinity is added and the measurements taken – all of this is standardised to ensure comparability across the studies,” says Giulia Faucher.

Her colleague in the same research group, Dr Leila Kittu, will conduct the same experiment in tropical waters off Kenya from May onwards. To facilitate this, she has established a new collaboration between ������Ƶ, the Kenya Marine Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), and the Technical University of Mombasa (TUM).

Why Standardization Matters in OAE Research

OAEPIIP is the first globally coordinated study on ocean alkalinity enhancement. “These standardized experiments enable us to assess its ecological effects across diverse environmental conditions, from temperate to tropical waters, from nutrient-rich to nutrient-poor regions” says Giulia Faucher. The results will contribute to a comprehensive meta-analysis, offering new insights into potential ecological impacts of ocean alkalinity enhancement — critical information for policymakers considering large-scale deployment of this approach as part of climate change mitigation strategies.

About: Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement

Ocean alkalinity enhancement mimics natural rock weathering processes that gradually increase ocean alkalinity over geological timescales. However, since human-caused CO₂ emissions occur approximately a hundred times faster than these natural weathering processes, OAE accelerates this mechanism through the direct addition of alkaline minerals to seawater. This addition increases seawater's pH and carbonate ion concentration, enhancing its capacity to chemically bind more CO₂. This enhanced carbon sequestration pathway effectively accelerates a natural carbon sink to help counterbalance rapid human-induced CO₂ emissions. While OAE is primarily aimed at increasing CO₂ uptake and storage, the resulting increase in pH could simultaneously provide a buffering effect against ocean acidification at local scales where alkalinity is added.

Due to the extreme conditions in the deep sea, its ecosystems and high biodiversity (made up mostly of small organisms living in the sediment) are particularly sensitive to disturbances. Since 2015, the European JPI Oceans project MiningImpact, coordinated by the ������Ƶ Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, has been investigating the potential environmental impacts of deep-sea mining. Previous analyses of decade-old disturbance traces in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone and the Peru Basin indicate that mining will cause long-term damage: biodiversity and essential ecosystem functions will be affected for many centuries.

A major but poorly understood risk is the spread of suspended sediment plumes generated during mining operations. To better understand this process, the scientists closely monitored the test of a remotely operated pre-prototype nodule collector developed by the Belgian ISA contractor Global Sea Mineral Resources. The study, now published in Nature Communications, provides the first detailed data on the far-field spatial footprint of mining-induced plume dispersion and redeposition beyond the mining area itself.

“While the main sediment fraction resettles within a few hundred metres from the source, we could detect small changes in sediment concentration up to 4.5 kilometres away” says lead author Iason-Zois Gazis, a researcher in the DeepSea Monitoring Group at ������Ƶ.

Monitoring a Mining-induced Sediment Plume in 4,500 Metres Depth

On 19 April 2021, a nodule collector was deployed for 41 hours at a depth of 4,500 metres. During this time, the vehicle travelled approximately 20 kilometres and covered an area of 34,000 square metres (roughly the size of five football pitches). The sediment plume generated by the vehicle was measured using numerous calibrated sensors mounted on stationary platforms placed on the seafloor, as well as remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles.

The study found that a flow of dense suspended particles (a gravity current) developed behind the collector, travelling downslope through steeper sections of the seabed for up to 500 metres. Subsequently, the further spread of the sediment plume was driven by natural near-bottom currents. Near the mining site, sediment concentrations were up to 10,000 times higher than under natural conditions, and returned to normal levels after 14 hours. Most suspended particles remained within 5 metres above the seafloor, resettling relatively quickly aided by particle flocculation. A low-concentration plume of fine sediment particles left the monitored area at 4.5 kilometres distance.

Using high-resolution 3D mapping of the seafloor, the researchers mapped the mining imprints with millimetre-resolution and estimated the amount of sediment removed in the mining area and subsequently redeposited on the seabed. In the mined areas, nodules were removed with at least the top five centimetres of the seafloor. Meanwhile, the redeposited layer reached a thickness of about three centimetres, completely covering the nodule habitat in the close vicinity (up to ~100 m distance), and thinning out with increasing distance from the mining area.

The study provides valuable information for the ongoing development of international regulations by the International Seabed Authority (ISA), including state-of-the-art technologies and strategies for the monitoring of potential future deep-sea mining operations. MiningImpact researchers are continuing their analyses of the environmental impacts, and the results of this study help to accurately link physical impact types with ecological effects.  

Original Publication:

Gazis, I.-Z., de Stigter, H., Mohrmann, J. et al. (2025). Monitoring benthic plumes, sediment redeposition and seafloor imprints caused by deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining. Nature Communications, 16, Article 1229.

Background: MiningImpact project 

Since 2015 the European collaborative project “MiningImpact” is investigating and assessing the environmental impacts of potential future deep-sea mining operations. A key objective is the transfer of its scientific results into recommendations for international and national policy. Funding for the project is provided under the framework of the Joint Programming Initiative "Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans" (JPI Oceans).

To fill these gaps, the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam and the ������Ƶ Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel will equip existing telecommunications cables on the seabed with innovative sensor technology. These so-called SMART cables will provide valuable real-time data on climate and geological hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis.

The project’s name SAFAtor stands for “SMART Cables And Fibre-optic Sensing Amphibious Demonstrator”. SAFAtor is led by GFZ scientist Professor Fabrice Cotton. At ������Ƶ, the project is coordinated by Professor Heidrun Kopp (Head of the Research Division Dynamics of the Ocean Floor), Professor Laura Wallace (Marine Geodynamics), Professor Peter Brandt (Physical Oceanography), and Professor Morelia Urlaub (Marine Geomechanics).

The SAFAtor research infrastructure is part of the portfolio of major Helmholtz infrastructures and is funded with 30 million euros as a strategic expansion investment. It will be officially launched tomorrow with a kick-off meeting at the GFZ in Potsdam.

Filling the Ocean Data Gaps

The ocean covers 70 per cent of our planet and plays a central role in the climate system. The seafloor is home to unique ecosystems, and tectonic plate boundaries that can trigger severe earthquakes and tsunamis. However, little is known about these processes, because the deep sea is difficult to access and poorly equipped with measuring stations. “SAFAtor offers us an excellent opportunity to fill this data gap, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the climate system and to better investigate the causes of geological hazards,” says Heidrun Kopp.

SMART Cables and Real-Time Data

Over the next five years, the project partners plan to equip an undersea telecommunications cable with sensors that will continuously provide real-time data on temperature, pressure, and seafloor movement. Such cables equipped with intelligent sensor technology are called SMART (Science Monitoring and Reliable Telecommunications). “Telecommunications cables cross the ocean and need to be replaced every 25 years,” says Laura Wallace. “By using SMART cables, we have the opportunity to achieve simple and relatively cost-effective sensor coverage of the ocean and coastal regions.”

Deep-Sea and Coastal Coverage

During the project, a deep-sea telecommunications cable will be equipped with about 40 sensor stations at a distance of about 20 to 30 kilometres before it is laid. The aim is to demonstrate that telecommunications traffic will not be disrupted.

It is not yet clear where the cable for SAFAtor will be laid. Possible regions around the world are being explored, including the Mediterranean, the Arctic and off New Zealand. The system can then serve as a model for future projects, supporting international initiatives to establish this measurement system on other cables with practical and scientific experience.

In addition, a permanent coastal monitoring system is planned at three selected observatories: near the seismically active North Anatolian Fault Zone, which threatens the city of Istanbul; at Mount Etna, one of Europe’s most active volcanoes; and at the North Chilean subduction zone, where strong earthquakes regularly occur. The coastal monitoring will use fibre-optic measurement techniques, where the cable itself acts as a sensor. This technology allows light pulses within individual optical fibres to detect even the smallest ground movements, such as those caused by seismic waves.

New Data for Climate Research and Early Warning Systems

The new data have the potential to revolutionise our understanding of ocean currents and the role of the ocean in climate change. At the same time, it will be crucial for understanding geological hazards (earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, volcanic eruptions) and will significantly reduce early warning times for extreme events. In addition to these core applications, the data will also support marine ecosystem research.

“Real-time monitoring of seafloor processes is key to protecting society from natural hazards and the impacts of climate change,” says Morelia Urlaub. “With SAFAtor, we can provide high-resolution data not only for earthquake and tsunami studies but also for oceanography and climate science—all with an infrastructure that leaves only a minimal environmental footprint.”

Central Data Platform

All newly collected cable data will be centrally compiled and made available. The GFZ-led data service will serve as a platform for future cable data. “The Helmholtz Association has the opportunity to play a leading role worldwide in the development of these cable-based sensor systems and in the dissemination of the new observation data,” says PI Fabrice Cotton.

Expertise of the Participating Centres:

������Ƶ has extensive experience in deep-sea research and marine natural hazards. With its expertise in developing underwater technologies, it will take the lead in integrating the necessary SMART sensor technology into deep-sea cables.

GFZ researchers will be primarily responsible for the extension of the coastal observatories, but will also contribute to the selection and equipping of a demonstrator cable with SMART sensors. In addition, GFZ will provide the infrastructure to process, archive, and make available the newly acquired data according to the FAIR principles – Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable.

The associated project partners – the Helmholtz Centres AWI and Hereon – will provide their underwater infrastructure COSYNA near Helgoland for development purposes.

SAFAtor also benefits from broad national and international support from scientific consortia and institutes, industry, and network operators.

Toxins Found in Almost Every Sample

A new study from the ������Ƶ Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel highlights the long-term environmental contamination caused by unexploded ordnance in the south-western Baltic Sea. Water samples were taken from the region in 2017 and 2018, including from the Bay of Kiel and the Bay of Lübeck. Ammunition-related chemicals were detected in almost every water sample. The concentrations detected were generally well below drinking water limits or toxicological thresholds for marine organisms. In some cases, however, concentrations approached critical levels.

“Unexploded ordnance contains toxic substances such as TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene), RDX (1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine), and DNB (1,3-dinitrobenzene), which are released into the seawater when the metal casings corrode,” explains lead author Dr Aaron Beck, a geochemist at ������Ƶ. “These compounds pose a threat to the marine environment and living organisms as they are toxic and carcinogenic.”

Regional Differences in Contamination

Due to variations in the types of munitions dumped, regional differences in contamination levels were observed: particularly high concentrations of TNT were measured in the Bay of Kiel, while RDX and DNB were more prevalent in the Bay of Lübeck. Most munitions-related chemicals were found in dissolved form rather than bound to suspended particles or sediments.

The researchers estimated that the current amount of dissolved munitions chemicals in the region is around 3,000 kilograms. Without removal action, the contamination is expected to increase as metal casings continue to corrode, releasing more and more toxic compounds. This process is projected to continue for at least 800 years.

A Global Environmental Issue

The study emphasises that chemical contamination from legacy munitions is an international problem. The researchers recommend that dumped ordnance be classified as “historical contaminants of emerging concern” and addressing them through targeted remediation efforts.

Aaron Beck states: “Unlike diffuse pollution sources, UXO exists in a concentrated, already packaged form. This means it can be physically removed from the environment.” Germany’s munitions clearance operations could serve as a model for the removal of such hazardous waste around the world. “With war relics, at least one environmental stressor can be permanently eliminated from the marine ecosystem.”

Original Publication:

Beck, A. J., Gledhill, M., Gräwe, U., Kampmeier, M., Eggert, A., Schlosser, C., Stamer, B., Greinert, J., & Achterberg, E. P. (2025). Widespread environmental contamination from relic munitions in the southwestern Baltic Sea. Chemosphere, 2025, 144115.

About: Munitions Clearance Pilot Project

The German government launched a pilot programme for the recovery and environmentally sound disposal of legacy munitions. With a budget of 100 million euros, this was the first targeted effort worldwide to remove munitions remnants from the Sea. The pilot clearance operation began in autumn 2024 in the Bay of Lübeck. The next step is to use the data collected to develop an autonomous clearance platform that will treat and incinerate the ordnance at sea.

Now, an international team led by ������Ƶ Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel and Durham University (UK) has developed a new method to monitor these flows from a safe distance. Using ocean-bottom seismometers - normally deployed to study earthquakes - the researchers have, for the first time, revealed the internal structure of these massive currents. Their findings are published today in the journal Nature Communications Earth and Environment.

From a distance: Ocean-bottom seismometers detect the longest-runout sediment flows ever recorded on Earth

“Turbidity currents are the dominant mechanism transporting sediment and organic carbon from coastal areas into the deep sea, just as rivers transport sediment over land,” explains Dr Pascal Kunath, seismologist at ������Ƶ and lead author of the study. “However, unlike rivers, they are among the least understood processes of sediment transport.”

To address this knowledge gap, the team deployed seismometers in October 2019 in the Congo Canyon and Channel off the west coast of Africa - one of the largest and deepest submarine canyons in the world. The instruments were placed several kilometres outside the canyon-channel axis, beyond the destructive reach of the currents, allowing them to record the seismic signals generated by flow turbulence and associated sediment transport.

Using this method, the researchers tracked two turbidity currents moving at speeds of 5 to 8 metres per second (m/s) over a distance of 1,100 kilometres - from the mouth of the Congo River through the Congo deep-sea fan and canyon system. These are the longest-runout sediment flows ever recorded. The flows also damaged several submarine cables in January and March 2020, disrupting internet and data communications in West Africa during a particularly critical phase of the early COVID-19 pandemic.

Rethinking turbidity current dynamics

“Our results show that the dense front of these canyon-flushing turbidity currents is not a single continuous flow, but consists of many pulses, each lasting between five and 30 minutes,” says Kunath. Remarkably, the fastest pulses occur up to 20 kilometres behind the front. These surges eventually overtake the leading edge, suppling sediments and the momentum needed to sustain the flow over long distances.

This finding challenges previous assumptions that the highest velocities occur at the flow front. Instead, the new data suggest that turbulent mixing with seawater or other retarding forces significantly influence the behaviour of these flows over long distances.

New possibilities for monitoring turbidity currents

Beyond introducing an innovative remote sensing method for monitoring turbidity currents, this study deepens our understanding of how these powerful canyon-flushing turbidity currents function. By analysing their internal dynamics in detail, scientists can better predict their impact on seafloor infrastructure and refine models of sediment and carbon transport in the ocean.

Original Publication:

Kunath, P., Talling, P. J., Lange, D., Chi, W.-C., Baker, M. L., Urlaub, M., & Berndt, C. (2025). Ocean-bottom seismometers reveal surge dynamics in Earth’s longest-runout sediment flows. Commun Earth Environ 6, 147.

In order to better understand these complex processes, an in-depth scientific description of coastal upwelling systems is needed. The METEOR expedition M208 “NowUP”, which has now been launched under the leadership of the ������Ƶ Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, will make an important contribution to this. The name of the expedition stands for Northwest African Upwelling and Productivity. It is making initial preparations for the international observation campaign FUTURO (The Future of Tropical Upwelling Region in the Atlantic Ocean), which is to be carried out off Northwest Africa from 2027 to 2029.

Physical drivers of biological productivity

The high productivity in the upwelling area off Northwest Africa is driven by the southerly wind along the coast. This wind causes an offshore transport of near-surface water, which is replaced by deeper, nutrient-rich water. Other physical processes can also play an equally important role. These include, for example, boundary waves generated at the equator or along the coasts of the Gulf of Guinea, which may lead to upwelling of nutrient-rich water off Northwest Africa, or mixing on the shelf caused locally by internal tides. With a combination of different measurement systems, which are used continuously during the cruise or at stations, as well as through the deployment of autonomous gliders and moorings, the complex dynamics in the upwelling area will be studied during "NowUP" in order to draw conclusions about possible future changes.

Interaction between ocean and atmosphere

The atmosphere influences the biological productivity of the sea through the input of huge quantities of Saharan dust, which supplies essential nutrients such as phosphate and iron. These promote the growth of phytoplankton, which serves as the basis of the marine food web and plays an important role as an oxygen producer and CO₂ sink. How exactly the tiny dust particles influence the biological and chemical processes in the water is one of the central questions of the METEOR expedition M208. The meteorological conditions under which dust outbreaks occur are also being investigated. “February and March are a favourable time for our expedition,” says expedition leader Dr Peter Brandt, Professor of Physical Oceanography at ������Ƶ. “During this time, biological productivity is maximised by stronger winds and at the same time Saharan dust storms occur.”

Nutrients from desert dust drive the “biological pump”

The "biological pump" is crucial for the global carbon cycle. The term "biological pump" describes the absorption of CO₂ from the atmosphere by microscopic algae (phytoplankton) to build up their biomass and the subsequent export of the bound carbon to greater water depths. Here, this carbon is then stored for hundreds of years and removed from the climate system. The build-up of phytoplankton biomass is supported by nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which are brought to the surface by upwelling off Northwest Africa, as well as trace elements from Saharan dust. This biomass is exported in various ways. For example, small animals drifting in the sea (zooplankton) eat the phytoplankton and excrete faecal pellets that sink into the ocean. Dying phytoplankton can also form aggregates and sink as marine snow. In addition, daily vertical migrations of zooplankton from the surface to depths of around 200 to 600 metres contribute to additional carbon displacement.

Various measurements planned

The scientists will use various instruments for their investigations, including to measure the salt and oxygen concentration, temperature, nutrient-, iron-, phyto-, zooplankton- and particle distribution.

• Anchored instruments to determine currents, internal waves and carbon flux
• Gliders measure autonomously during the ship's campaign and can record hydrography, particles and zooplankton of marine areas
• Real-time satellites help to identify dynamic structures and better plan ship measurements
• ADCP (Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler) to acoustically measure the speed of ocean currents at different water depths
• Microstructure probes measure mixing in the ocean
• Moving Vessel Profiler (MVP) measures water properties (e.g. temperature, salinity and chlorophyll) from a moving research vessel
• Radiosondes ascend into the atmosphere with balloons to measure temperature, humidity, pressure and wind at different altitudes.
• Sensors from the Portable Meteorological Observatory (PortMeteO) record weather conditions and dust transport

Expedition M208 aims to better understand the interactions between upwelling, dust input, phytoplankton growth and carbon export and thus enable more precise predictions about the effects of climate change on coastal upwelling systems.

Follow the expedition in real time

If you would like to follow the expedition's measurements, you can view current research data such as ocean speeds here.

Expedition at a glance:

Name: METEOR-Expedition M208 „NowUP“

Chief Scientist: Prof Dr Peter Brandt

Dates: 14.02.2025 – 17.03.2025

Start and End: Mindelo, Cabo Verde 

Region: Northwest Atlantic

Exploring active and passive continental slopes

The Palliser and Pegasus Canyon research sites off the coast of New Zealand are only 190 kilometres apart, but are located on opposite continental slopes. While Palliser sits on an active continental plate boundary, where earthquakes can often trigger landslides, Pegasus Canyon is considered geologically quieter. Passive margins are often characterised by the accumulation of thick, undisturbed sedimentary deposits. Here, changes in sea level due to climate change may play an important role in potential instability. Despite previous studies of canyons on active and passive margins, there has been little direct comparison of field data have been made. The researchers hope to fill this gap during the expedition.

“We hope that the new data we will obtain from the extensive seismic measurements and the sediment cores collected during the cruise will help us to better understand the hazard and risk potential of large underwater canyons for the coasts,” says Chief Scientist Professor Dr. Sebastian Krastel, Head of the Marine Geophysics and Hydroacoustics Working Group at Kiel University. “On this new expedition, we have the unique opportunity to directly compare different underwater canyons.”

Comprehensive Survey and Drilling Programme

The programme will include extensive seismic surveys and seafloor sediment sampling to analyse sedimentary structures and climatic and geological controls. The sediments, deposited over many geological eras, will be tested for strength and permeability, and bathymetric maps will be produced to determine the size, volume and age of past landslides. The aim is to create a database of the frequency-volume relationship of these two canyons, which will provide important indicators for landslide risk assessment. "If we understand the influence of rock strata, the role of topography and the frequency and size of submarine landslides, we can also better predict future canyon activity," says co-chief scientist Dr Anke Dannowski from the ������Ƶ Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel.

On 17 February, the German Embassy and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, BMBF) hosted a reception for 50 invited guests on the ship in Wellington Harbour. As part of the climate talks, scientists from Germany and New Zealand presented their research topics under the theme “German and New Zealand Research - The Power of Synergies”.

Expedition at a glance:

SONNE-Expedition SO310

Name: MAWACAAP (Quantifying the role of submarine canyon slides at active and passive margins)

Chief Scientist: Prof. Dr. Sebastian Krastel, Institute of Geosciences, Kiel University

Duration: 20.02.2025 - 22.03.2025

Start and End: Wellington (Aotearoa, New Zealand)

Area: South West Pacific

An international team of researchers led by Dr Elizabeta Briski, a marine biologist at the ������Ƶ Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research in Kiel, Germany, has now investigated how conditions in urban areas affect the populations of three aquatic species (one bivalve and two crustaceans). Her study shows that these populations adapt to a disturbed environment and thus become more resilient to environmental change. The results are published today in the journal Ecology Letters. 

Differences between urban and natural habitats

For their study, the researchers compared populations of blue mussel (Mytilus sp.) and amphipods (Gammarus locusta and Gammarus salinus) from the Kiel Fjord, which is heavily influenced by humans, with those from the Schlei, which is less exposed to environmental changes. “Just some of the differences between these locations are the concentrations of heavy metals in sediment, as well as temperature” explains Briski. “Cities are heat islands where animals already have to endure higher temperatures than in natural habitats that are largely unaffected by humans.”

Stress test in the lab

To test their adaptability, the researchers exposed animals from both water bodies to a range of stressors under laboratory conditions. The stressors reflected current and predicted environmental conditions in the Baltic Sea, such as rising temperatures, salinity changes and increased carbon dioxide in the water, leading to acidification. The team documented mortality of the animals over a period of 30 days.

Urban populations are more resilient

The results show that populations from urbanised habitats tend to be more robust to these environmental stressors, and are already adapting to changing conditions when compared to their counterparts from protected habitats.

“These populations could serve as potential 'rescue populations' for endangered populations” says Briski. At the same time, their greater tolerance to future environmental changes could make it easier for them to conquer new habitats, warns Briski: “This makes them potential invasive species spread by human trade and transport between urban centres.”

Important findings for conservation and climate adaptation

The results of the study support the hypothesis that urban habitats can provide important clues about how animals will adapt to future environmental changes. “Our results show that populations of species differ in their susceptibility to stressors associated with urbanisation,” says Briski. This has important conservation implications: “Urban populations could support natural habitat’s populations because they are more resilient to environmental change.” However, it remains to be seen whether these adaptations can keep pace with human-induced environmental changes.

Future research should investigate how other stressors, such as heavy metals or light pollution, affect adaptation and whether these adaptations offer advantages in new habitats.

Original Publication:

Briski, E., Langrehr, L., Kotronaki, S.G., Sidow, A., Martinez Reyes, C.G., Geropoulos, A., Steffen, G., Theurich, N., Dickey, J.W.E., Hütt, J.C., Haubrock, P.J., Soto, I., Kouba, A. and Cuthbert, R.N. (2025), Urban Environments Promote Adaptation to Multiple Stressors. Ecology Letters, 28: e70074.

It is currently more important than ever to stand up for an open and united society. Zusammenland wants to create a counterweight to hate and populism and show that diversity is a strength. The campaign members stand together for an open nation that courageously faces up to challenges.

������Ƶ explores the global ocean from the seafloor to the atmosphere to understand the ocean system and enable the development of sustainable solutions for pressing societal issues. This will continue to require diverse and networked science, a strong democracy and fact-based dialogue in the future.

#��ä�����Գұ���Թ���𾱳�𾱳ٳ�������

Between Santorini, the underwater volcano Kolumbo and Amorgos, many earthquakes between 4 and 10 kilometres deep have been occurring for more than ten days. The magnitude of the quakes has so far reached magnitude 5 or just above. The activity started with weak quakes under Santorini and has been moving north-eastwards in recent days along a crustal zone of weakness running from south-west to north-east.

Such earthquake swarms are not uncommon under active volcanic systems and have also been observed repeatedly under Santorini and Kolumbo (Bohnhoff et al. 2006). One possible cause is volcanic activity, i.e. molten rock or other fluids rising upwards in the earth's crust. Another possibility is the movement of the earth's plates, which can lead to stresses in the rock and the sudden release of these stresses and thus to earthquakes.

A combination is also conceivable: Individual segments of the Aegean tectonic plate in the region around Santorini move away from each other by a few millimetres. This leads to a stretching and thinning of the earth's crust, similar to pulling a tough dough apart, which then becomes thinner in the centre. Where the crust stretches, fluids and magmas can rise.

2. Can these earthquakes be predicted?

It is not possible to predict when such an earthquake swarm will occur. There are precursor phenomena, especially in volcanic earthquake swarms. We are currently investigating the temporal development and accompanying changes in the earthquake swarm, such as uplift or subsidence.

3. Can a volcanic eruption be predicted?

A volcanic eruption cannot be predicted either. However, unlike earthquakes, volcanic eruptions often have clear precursor phenomena. These include ground heave and swarm earthquakes, which intensify before an eruption and move towards the earth's surface or seabed. So far, there is not enough data to warn of an imminent eruption. Nevertheless, the warnings to avoid cliffs, for example, are correct and important.

4. What could happen in the event of an eruption or a major earthquake like the one in 1956?

In July 1956, two earthquakes with magnitudes of over 7 occurred in the now seismically active region. One of them occurred in the upper earth's crust and caused a local tsunami with wave heights of up to 22 metres on the island of Amorgos. The quakes caused extensive damage in the region. 50 people died. In the current earthquake series, we are seeing much weaker quakes. The rupture zone of 1956 has not yet accumulated enough energy again due to the low displacement rates, but movements in other previously inactive rupture zones cannot be ruled out.

If an earthquake comparable to that of 1956 or a volcanic eruption (the last major eruption of the Κolumbo volcano occurred in 1650) were to occur today, stronger effects could be expected due to the denser population: strong ground shaking could damage or cause buildings to collapse, especially older buildings or those that were not constructed to be earthquake-proof. Tsunamis could hit coastal regions and lead to flooding - not only on Santorini, but also on neighbouring islands and the Greek mainland. Submarine landslides of the caldera could also occur. However, the probability of this is still low.

5. Is a volcanic eruption on Santorini imminent?

The area directly below the Santorini volcano is currently seismically calm. The last time there was similar seismic activity there was in 2011, with very shallow quakes at a depth of 1 to 2 kilometres. However, there was no eruption.

6. What is the risk of a tsunami there?

There are as many tsunamis in the Mediterranean as in other regions of the world. Around 80 per cent of tsunamis are caused by strong earthquakes that raise or lower the seabed - tsunamis can also occur in the Mediterranean due to tectonic conditions.

A volcanic eruption in the region, such as the Santorini volcano, could also trigger a tsunami - whether through undersea explosions or landslides under water.

Volcanic processes can also cause landslides on land or under water. This could displace large masses of water and trigger tsunamis. The Greek authorities and international researchers are monitoring the situation very closely. We cannot rule out the possibility of a tsunami or a major earthquake.

7. How can such vulnerable regions be monitored?

Thanks to modern monitoring systems, seismic activity and volcanic processes can now be easily observed. The Greek Seismological Service operates a dense monitoring network in the region that also records small earthquakes. ������Ƶ, GFZ and other partners have launched a rapid response mission as part of the MULTIMAREX project. Together with our Greek partners (Laboratory of Physical Geography, University of Athens), we are on site to install additional measuring instruments on the seabed and in the Santorini caldera and to monitor seismic activity. The aim of the monitoring is to precisely record and quantify the number, location and strength of the earthquakes. In the coming days, we will be able to recognise whether the recently observed increase in magnitude and intensity of the earthquake sequence is continuing or subsiding.

8. What measures are necessary to protect the population?

As long as earthquake activity continues, there is an increased risk of landslides, particularly on steep coastal sections. People should therefore avoid beaches and cliffs. Very strong earthquakes - significantly more intense than those recorded so far - could also trigger tsunami waves. There are currently no measurements that indicate earthquakes of this magnitude.

The Greek authorities send warnings in several languages with rules of behaviour and protective measures directly to mobile devices via cell broadcast. To do this, the receipt of emergency notifications must be activated.

Expert contacts

������Ƶ Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research
Prof. Dr. Heidrun Kopp, Head of Research Division Dynamics of the Ocean Floor

Prof. Dr. Christian Berndt, Head of the Research Unit Marine Geodynamics

Prof. Dr. Morelia Urlaub, Junior Professor for Marine Geomechanics

GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences
, Head of section Physics of Earthquakes and Volcanoes

, Head of the volcano-tectonics and -hazards workgroup

, Principial Investigator of the "Magma propagation" research group

, Head of Section Geomechanics and Scientific Drilling

Related Publications

Bohnhoff, M., Rische, M., Meier, T., Becker,D., Stavrakakis, G., Harjes, H.P. (2006). Microseismic activity in the Hellenic Volcanic Arc, Greece, with emphasis on the seismotectonic setting of the Santorini-Amorgos zone. Tectonophysics, 423, 17-33.

Crutchley G.J., Karstens, J., Preine, J., Hübscher, C., Kühn, M., & Fossen, H.l. (2023). Extensional faulting around Kolumbo Volcano, Aegean Sea - relationships between local stress fields, fault relay ramps and volcanism. Tectonics, 42, e2023TC007951.

Karstens, J., Crutchley, G. J, Hansteen, T. Preine, J., Carey, S., Elger, J., Kühn, M., Nomikou, P., Schmid, F., Kelfoun K., Dalla Valle, G. & Berndt, C. (2023). Cascading events during the 1650 tsunamigenic eruption of Kolumbo volcano. Nature Communications, 14(1), 6606.

Schmid, F., Petersen, G., Hooft, E., Paulatto, M., Chrapkiewicz, K., Hensch, M., Dahm, T. (2022). Heralds of Future Volcanism: Swarms of Microseismicity Beneath the Submarine Kolumbo Volcano Indicate Opening of Near‐Vertical Fractures Exploited by Ascending Melts. - Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems (G3), 23, 7, e2022GC010420. 

The recent tremors are primarily caused by tectonic processes. The numerous fault zones on the seafloor are activated by stresses along the plate boundary between the African and Eurasian plates. These ongoing processes are also responsible for the volcanism on Santorini.

Many residents in the region perceive the tremors as slight vibrations, and no significant damage has been reported so far. The strongest earthquake to date occurred on 4 February, reaching a magnitude of 5.1 at a depth of approximately 10 kilometres.

In light of this, MULTI-MAREX launched a rapid response mission on 2 February. Together with Greek partners, researchers are on-site to deploy measurement instruments on the seafloor and within Santorini’s caldera to monitor seismic activity.

The aim of MULTI-MAREX’s monitoring efforts is to accurately record and quantify the number, location, and magnitude of the earthquakes. In the coming days, it will become clear whether the recent increase in magnitudes and seismic intensity will continue or subside. As long as the seismic activity persists, the risk of landslides remains elevated, particularly along steep coastal areas. Additionally, very strong earthquakes—significantly more intense than those recorded so far—could generate tsunami waves. Emergency warnings from Greek authorities are transmitted via cell broadcast directly to mobile devices, provided emergency notifications are enabled.

About: MULTI-MAREX

MULTI-MAREX, coordinated by Prof. Dr Heidrun Kopp (������Ƶ Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel), is developing a living laboratory to investigate geomarine extreme events such as earthquakes, volcanism and tsunamis in the central Mediterranean region. The project is part of the research mission mareXtreme (“Paths to improved risk management in the area of marine extreme events and natural hazards”) of the German Marine Research Alliance (Deutsche Allianz Meeresforschung, DAM).

“Microorganisms from extreme environments are nature's ultimate problem solvers. With XTREAM, we want to unleash their full potential to tackle pressing challenges,” says project leader Dr Antonio García-Moyano from the Norwegian Research Centre for Environmental Research (NORCE).

Life Under Extreme Conditions

“These microorganisms have evolved over millions of years to survive in highly inhospitable conditions,” adds Dr Erik Borchert, environmental microbiologist at the ������Ƶ Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel. “This has endowed them with unique properties that allow them to withstand high pressures or extreme temperatures. By understanding their mechanisms, we can open up completely new avenues for biotechnological applications”.

However, studying these organisms is complex, costly and technically demanding. XTREAM brings together 13 European research partners to overcome these challenges and pave the way for industrial innovation in line with the EU's sustainability goals. “Responsible exploration of these extreme environments is at the heart of XTREAM. By integrating cutting-edge technologies such as microfluidic analysis, artificial intelligence and advanced drones, we are combining innovation with environmental responsibility,” says García-Moyano.

Research in Some of Earth’s Harshest Environments

The project will study some of the most extreme habitats on the planet, including glaciers in Svalbard, acid mining sites such as Rio Tinto in Spain, hot springs, acid-polluted sites in the UK, salt lakes and deep-sea sponges in the Arctic. The microbes found at these sites may hold the key to new medicines, biochemicals and stable enzymes, contributing to the development of a sustainable, green economy in Europe.

At ������Ƶ, deep-sea sponges and the microbes that live in symbiosis with them are a major research focus. Within XTREAM, the scientists involved will specifically search for new biocatalysts - enzymes that enable or accelerate biochemical reactions.

New Solutions Through Biological Adaptations

“XTREAM accelerates the path from discovery to application, creating bio-based solutions that are in line with Europe's climate goals. It strongly counters the argument that sustainability-driven innovation is impractical,” adds García-Moyano. The expected breakthroughs of the project are expected to significantly reduce the environmental impact and costs of biotechnological research, while accelerating the time to market of sustainable bio-based products.

About XTREAM:

The XTREAM project (Sustainable exploration and biodiscovery of novel products and processes from extreme aquatic microbiomes to expedite the circular bioeconomy) brings together 13 partners from universities, research institutions, and industry from seven European countries. The project will run for four years (2025–2028).

Total Budget: €4,460,000Funding: EU – Horizon Europe

“Our research shows that mangroves play a central role in the global cycle of trace elements,” explains Dr. Antao Xu, first author of the study and head of the research division Ocean Circulation and Climate Dynamics at ������Ƶ. “They act as biochemical reactors, releasing nutrients and metals into coastal waters through processes such as sediment dissolution and pore water exchange.”

Mangrove Systems as "Nutrient Pumps"

The research team analysed water samples from coastal waters, estuaries and mangrove sediments along the Amazonian coast. Distinct isotopic patterns of neodymium and hafnium were identified, revealing their origin and the interactions between sediments, pore water, and seawater. “Mangroves are not only buffer zones that retain material from land; they are also key players that process and selectively release these substances and micronutrients into the ocean,” says Professor Martin Frank, co-author of the study and head of the research division Ocean Circulation and Climate Dynamics at ������Ƶ. This exchange of substances supports coastal food chains.

Globally, mangrove systems contribute between six and nine percent of the total neodymium input to the ocean, according to the researchers. This contribution is comparable to the global input of neodymium from the atmosphere via dust.

Global Importance of Mangrove Conservation

The study’s findings underscore the urgent need to protect these threatened ecosystems. Xu states: “Mangroves sit at the interface between land and sea and provide invaluable services for biodiversity and climate regulation. Their prominent role as a source of trace elements is another compelling reason to prioritise their conservation.”

Original publication:
Xu, A., Hathorne, E., Seidel, M. et al. (2025): The Amazonian mangrove systems accumulate and release dissolved neodymium and hafnium to the oceans. Commun Earth Environ 6, 13 (2025).

The ������Ƶ Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, in cooperation with the Kiel University (CAU) and the State Office for the Environment of Schleswig-Holstein (Landesamt für Umwelt, LfU), has launched a new project to study the role of seagrass meadows as natural carbon sinks and to develop strategies for their conservation and restoration.

The name of the project, ZOBLUC, stands for “Zostera marina as a Blue Carbon Sink in the Baltic Sea” – Zostera marina being the scientific name for seagrass. The project is funded by the German Federal Environment Ministry's Nature-based Climate Action Programme (ANK) and state funds, with a total budget of around €6 million.

Three Focus Areas for Seagrass Conservation

“Seagrass meadows are like underwater peatlands,” explains the scientific project leader, Dr Thorsten Reusch, Professor of Marine Ecology at ������Ƶ. “They store carbon, which is preserved in oxygen-poor sediments for centuries.” The project will examine under which conditions seagrass meadows store the most CO₂ to find blue carbon hot spots, which in turn would be prime areas for protection. Reusch: “For example, areas with strong wave-driven erosion store less carbon than calm bays with faster sedimentation.” The research will not only quantify the carbon storage capacity of seagrass meadows but also model how it might change under different environmental conditions.

Another focus of ������Ƶ is the restoration of seagrass meadows. It is crucial to ensure that restored meadows are resilient and sustainable. “There’s little point in replanting seagrass that won’t survive rising water temperatures in a few years’ time”, says Reusch. Experimental studies will expose seagrass to various stressors in order to cultivate robust, climate-resilient populations and practice ‘assisted evolution’.

Community Involvement in Underwater Gardening

The third focus is on involving local people in the restoration process. After developing training programmes and testing small-scale seagrass restoration in previous years, ������Ƶ now plans to significantly expand its efforts with the help of volunteers. Reusch: “The pilot phase has been successfully completed; now we’re scaling up.”

This support is urgently needed, as the most reliable way to restore lost seagrass meadows is still to plant individual shoots manually by diving. Reusch says: “It’s important to complete the training course and only use areas that we have checked for suitability for restoration.”

Diving clubs and NGOs will use volunteer divers to plant seagrass in scientifically selected restoration sites. Observational data collected during these efforts will be analysed at ������Ƶ to refine future restoration practices.

The development of other planting techniques, such as seeding, is the focus of the parallel project SeaStore II, which started last September.

Mapping with Multibeam Sonar and Drones

The first step, however, is a comprehensive mapping of the existing seagrass meadows in the Baltic Sea. Professor Natascha Oppelt and Dr Jens Schneider von Deimling from CAU and their teams, will use remote sensing methods that combine advanced optical and acoustic surveying technologies. CAU will also be responsible for monitoring the newly planted areas using drones.

Results from ZOBLUC will be shared through workshops and policy recommendations to advance the protection and restoration of seagrass meadows in the Baltic Sea.

Background: Blue Carbon

Blue Carbon is the carbon dioxide stored by marine and coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass meadows. Seagrass meadows sequester carbon in the form of dead biomass and organic sediment particles that remain in the oxygen-poor seabed for centuries – much like peatlands on land.

Background: Assisted Evolution

Assisted Evolution is a technique that aims to accelerate the evolutionary adaptation of organisms to make them more resilient to environmental change. In this project, seagrass plants are exposed to experimental heat waves in ������Ƶ’s climate chambers. This approach identifies potentially heat-tolerant local populations and uses advanced methods – from cellular physiological reactions (metabolomics) to genetic analysis (gene expression studies) and microbiome research – to understand the mechanisms behind plant resilience.

Ocean protection as an international challenge

“Just as the ocean connects us worldwide, its exploration and protection are also an international task,” said Katja Matthes. “I was therefore very pleased to show John Siddorn and François Houllier the new ������Ƶ campus and to expand and deepen our cooperation, especially by pooling our efforts in ocean observation.”

In addition to sustainable ocean observation, the collaboration will be strengthened in the areas of sensor technologies, innovations, research vessels and other relevant research infrastructures.

Ocean observation worldwide

The ������Ƶ research centre operates several long-term stations, such as the Ocean Science Centre Mindelo in Cape Verde, jointly operated with the Cape Verdean Instituto do Mar, which has been conducting long-term scientific observations and field research in the tropical north-east Atlantic since 2017. ������Ƶ also operates a time series station in the Baltic Sea, located in Eckernförde Bay, which has been regularly collecting data on the state of the Baltic Sea since 1957.

“In order to protect the ocean sustainably, we need long-term data series, which so far have only been available selectively and are still lacking in some regions, such as the upwelling area off West Africa. International initiatives like the Global Ocean Observation System and the UN Ocean Decade aim to address this gap. Ifremer, NOC, and ������Ƶ can join forces to promote this process, fostering a continuous and sustainable observation network with fair and equal access to data for all participants,” explained Katja Matthes.