Marine, Coastal and Polar Systems Programme

The research programme has taken on the task of observing contemporary changes in the oceans, polar systems and coastal regions and in particular their assessment against the background of past changes. Regarding the coastal regions,the differentiation between direct human influence and climatic variability is given special consideration. This goal is pursued, for instance, by the development of an encompassing observation system in the German Bight (COSYNA). In the polar regions, the processes governing global climate change as well as the ecosystems’ response to change are being studied. The furtherdeciphering of the paleoenvironmental archives in connection with process studies will allow for improved reasoning regarding possible future developments. The aim is the creation of a model system for medium term developments comprising the cryosphere, the oceans and the marine bio- and geo-chemosphere, which will be able to portray biodiversity as well as the flow of energy and matter in different space and time scales. Differentiationbetween climatic fluctuations and human influences within the complex overall system is to provide the scientific basis for decision making and thus is to support political and social opinion making. Generally, the combination of modern research infrastructures such as measuring stations, ships, aeroplanes and polar stations with mathematical system models are of decisive significance for the goals in view.