CIO Oceans
The CIO Oceans research line is divided into the following research areas
For more information, contact the concerning researcher or the CIO Oceans secretariat.
Impact of global change on the marine organic carbon cycle
Primary production in the ocean by microscopic phytoplankton accounts for half of the productivity on our planet. Phytoplankton are a highly diverse group of organisms in all aspects including size, productivity, and carbon export efficiency. Most of this productivity fuels the marine food web, a fraction ends up in the deep ocean and sediments where carbon is stored for >1000 years.
Within this theme we study how climate (change) impacts the productivity and composition of marine phytoplankton, and how this influences carbon export efficiency. This is investigated using a combination of experimental approaches and field observations >>> read more.
Climate change and impacts
Within this research theme we examine (polar) climate change and its associated impacts by using state-of-the-art global climate models and earth system models as well as relevant observations. The focus is on understanding the processes and feedbacks that govern climate change that are related to mean changes as well as to climate variability and extremes. Within this theme there is close collaboration with KNMI and other institutes (e.g. Arctic Center, UU/IMAU, WUR).
The climate model EC-Earth (depeloped at KNMI) is used to devise dedicated simulations to pinpoint climate change processes and impacts >>> read more.
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Fundamental science research for applications of micro- and macro-algae
Micro-algae and macro-algae (seaweeds) form the basis of almost all marine food webs. There are over 10,000 species of algae known. All these organisms use solar radiation for the production of organic compounds (marine plant biomass). Algae can be used for the production of carbohydrates, proteins, oil or pharmaceutical products. However, the biochemical composition of algae differs between species and is strongly dependent on the growth conditions. At the CIO Oceans department, together with the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research , department Estuarine and Delta Systems (EDS), NIOZ-Yerseke, we want to further develop fundamental and innovative applied knowledge of marine plant organisms, and to make this knowledge available to businesses for the production of, for example, food feed and energy >>> read more.
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Trace metals and ocean life
Within this research theme we study the interactions between trace metals and life in the ocean. Iron, together with other trace metals, is an essential micronutrient, required for the growth of all organisms, including phytoplankton that form the base of the marine food web. Given that phytoplankton convert CO2 into biomass that partly settles into the deep ocean, trace metals are key players in global climate. In many remote ocean regions, such as the high latitude North Atlantic or the Southern Ocean, phytoplankton, and thus primary productivity, are limited by the availability of iron or other metals such as manganese >>> read more.
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| Last modified: | 18 March 2024 3.08 p.m. |