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EXC 2077:  The Ocean Floor – Earth’s Uncharted Interface

Subject Area Atmospheric Science, Oceanography and Climate Research
Geology and Palaeontology
Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry
Term since 2019
Website Homepage
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 390741603
 
The ocean floor, which makes up 71% of the Earth’s solid surface, lies an average of 3,700 meters beneath the ocean surface. The difficulties related to accessibility necessitate ship expeditions and the use of highly specialized underwater equipment for its exploration. As yet, only a small fraction of the ocean floor has been scientifically investigated, but it is already known that this supposedly passive environment is an important interface with a wide range of functions that impact the entire Earth system. Geological, physical, biological and chemical processes interact at and within the ocean floor, thus influencing the climate system, the global carbon cycle, and biological productivity in the world ocean. We still know too little about ocean-floor processes to compile detailed global mass budgets. The Cluster aims to initiate a new chapter in ocean-floor research by quantifying exchange processes at this significant boundary layer and their roles in the Earth system. This will be achieved by: (i) deciphering processes that control the transport of biogenic particles to the ocean floor and their transformation under changing climate conditions, (ii) balancing the transfer of carbon and other elements between the ocean floor and seawater, (iii) understanding how ocean-floor ecosystems react to environmental changes, and (iv) developing scenarios for a "warmer-than-present world" from ocean-floor climate archives with the help of climate models. These scientific tasks demand the use of novel technologies for ocean-floor observation and sampling, highly sensitive analytical methods, and an expanded application of numerical models. Because of their scientific and technological complexity, the stated goals can only be achieved through interdisciplinary research. The Cluster will be hosted by the Research Faculty MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences at the University of Bremen. Through the Cluster, the potential for ocean-floor research among all of the participating partner institutes can be strategically linked and fully exploited. MARUM is one of about ten institutions in the world that possess highly advanced submersible vehicles and systems that are able to access the ocean floor in the deep sea, obtain data and samples, and carry out experiments there. For the subsequent investigations, a broad spectrum of analytical methodologies, unrivaled worldwide, is available. The Cluster has binding target numbers for the recruitment of female scientists and their participation in decision-making bodies, and it will also develop reliable and transparent career prospects for early career researchers. In dialogue with the public, the Cluster will communicate its scientific findings to various target groups, thereby facilitating informed decision-making for the protection of the marine environment and sustainable use of the oceans.
DFG Programme Clusters of Excellence (ExStra)
Applicant Institution Universität Bremen
 
 

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