Das Projekt "European Seas Observatory NETwork (ESONET)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von IFM-GEOMAR Leibniz-Institut für Meereswissenschaften durchgeführt. The aim of ESONET is to create an organisation capable of implementing, operating and maintaining a network of ocean observatories in deep waters around Europe from the Arctic Ocean to the Black Sea connected to shore with data and power links via fibre optic cables. The fundamental scientific objective is to make continuous real-time observations of environmental variables over decadal, annual, seasonal, diel and tidal time scales. Constant vigilance will allow resolution of quasi-instantaneous hazardous events such as slides, earthquakes, tsunamis and benthic storms. ESONET will form a sub sea segment of the GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security) with sensors extending from the sub sea floor, through the water column to sub-surface sensors providing calibration of satellite borne sensors. ESONET brings together leading oceanographic and geosciences institutes in Europe together with universities, industry and regional agencies. It will provide integration across disciplines from geosciences, through physical, chemical and biological oceanography to technologies of instrumentation, cables, data processing and archiving. Jointly executed research will demonstrate functioning observatories at several cabled and non-cabled sites around Europe. Existing deep-sea cables installed for neutrino telescopes will be utilised in the Mediterranean sea and shallower tests sites will be established elsewhere. Principles of sensor management, calibration, metadata and data quality will be established with real-time dissemination and generation of hazard warning. ESONET will run a training and education program through courses, scholarships, exchange of personnel between participating institutes, and outreach to the general public. Dissemination will also include a web portal, with links to the INSPIRE Geo-Portal, and with all sub sea observatory projects worldwide, enabling the widest possible access to information. Prime Contractor: Institut Francais de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer; Issy-les-Moulineaux; France.
Das Projekt "Galileo Atmospheric Data Enhancement Mission (GADEM)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Graz, Wegener Zentrum für Klima und Globalen Wandel durchgeführt. The WegCenter/UniGraz Team has summarized scientific applications and defined scientific requirements for GADEM K band radio signals, and performed an end-to-end scientific performance analysis for both space-to-space and space-to-ground links. The performance analysis addresses the quality of atmospheric data products expected by a GADEM-type measurement configuration. The performance analysis covers a Galileo-LEO part (occultation measurements of temperature and humidity profiles) as well as a Galileo-GS part (space-to-ground slant column integrated water vapor measurements). Based on a comprehensive end-to-end simulation software (End-to-end Generic Occultation Performance Simulator, EGOPS), the performance of both these measurement configurations was simulated and analyzed for a typical set of instrumental errors, using realistic orbital and ground-station geometries and using as a realistic atmospheric model a high resolution global weather analysis field, including also liquid water and ice water clouds. An operational analysis of the ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts) was taken for the purpose. In addition, turbulent atmospheric conditions were taken into account for Galileo-LEO links. The main conclusion is that the GADEM system requirements as laid out in the GADEM scientific applications document are just adequate to achieve the observational requirements (summarized in the same document) for both the Galileo-LEO part and the Galileo-GS part, respectively. This confirms that those requirements, in many aspects drawing from heritage from previous study of similar systems (e.g., LEO-LEO K band occultation) provide a sound basic set of specifications for GADEM system design. Based on the encouraging results of the performance analysis a GADEM demonstration experiment is strongly recommended.
Das Projekt "Limitierende Faktoren für den biologischen Abbau von Mineralöl-Kohlenwasserstoffen unter in-situ Bedingungen" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität für Bodenkultur Wien, Department für Agrarbiotechnologie, IFA-Tulln, Institut für Umweltbiotechnologie durchgeführt. Within this project the feasibility of an in-situ biotreatment to remediate an oil-spill is studied. Biological and physical-chemical constraints are investigated either in the laboratory or in the field. In soil column experiments degradation conditions occurring in the vadose as well as saturated soil zone are simulated. Information on biodegradation rates and achievable residual hydrocarbon concentrations is gathered. In the field soil permeability and in-situ degradation rates are investigated. Possibilities for oxygen, water, and nutrient supply are evaluated.