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Forest management in the Earth system

Das Projekt "Forest management in the Earth system" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie durchgeführt. The majority of the worlds forests has undergone some form of management, such as clear-cut or thinning. This management has direct relevance for global climate: Studies estimate that forest management emissions add a third to those from deforestation, while enhanced productivity in managed forests increases the capacity of the terrestrial biosphere to act as a sink for carbon dioxide emissions. However, uncertainties in the assessment of these fluxes are large. Moreover, forests influence climate also by altering the energy and water balance of the land surface. In many regions of historical deforestation, such biogeophysical effects have substantially counteracted warming due to carbon dioxide emissions. However, the effect of management on biogeophysical effects is largely unknown beyond local case studies. While the effects of climate on forest productivity is well established in forestry models, the effects of forest management on climate is less understood. Closing this feedback cycle is crucial to understand the driving forces behind past climate changes to be able to predict future climate responses and thus the required effort to adapt to it or avert it. To investigate the role of forest management in the climate system I propose to integrate a forest management module into a comprehensive Earth system model. The resulting model will be able to simultaneously address both directions of the interactions between climate and the managed land surface. My proposed work includes model development and implementation for key forest management processes, determining the growth and stock of living biomass, soil carbon cycle, and biophysical land surface properties. With this unique tool I will be able to improve estimates of terrestrial carbon source and sink terms and to assess the susceptibility of past and future climate to combined carbon cycle and biophysical effects of forest management. Furthermore, representing feedbacks between forest management and climate in a global climate model could advance efforts to combat climate change. Changes in forest management are inevitable to adapt to future climate change. In this process, is it possible to identify win-win strategies for which local management changes do not only help adaptation, but at the same time mitigate global warming by presenting favorable effects on climate? The proposed work opens a range of long-term research paths, with the aim of strengthening the climate perspective in the economic considerations of forest management and helping to improve local decisionmaking with respect to adaptation and mitigation.

Upwelling in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean

Das Projekt "Upwelling in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Bremen, Institut für Umweltphysik, Abteilung Ozeanographie durchgeführt. Upwelling is an important process in setting the characteristic of the mixed layer. Upwelling also provides a pathway for gases, nutrients, and other compounds from the ocean's interior into the mixed layer and ultimately into the atmosphere. Since the upwelling velocities are small, they cannot be measured directly. Recently, Rhein et al. (2010) exploited the helium isotope disequilibria found in the equatorial eastern Atlantic to infer upwelling speeds, upwelling rates, and vertical heat fluxes between the mixed layer and the ocean's interior. The disequilibrium in the mixed layer is caused by upwelling of 3He-enriched water from the interior. The surplus 3He is introduced into the deep ocean by hydrothermal activities.A first survey of historical Helium isotope data in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) and the Weddell Sea showed, that the mixed layer is also enriched with 3He, which in summer months is supplied by upwelling of water from below the mixed layer. Although the first estimates of upwelling velocities from the historical data set look promising, the present Helium data lack a sufficient resolution in the upper 200-300m to determine the horizontal and vertical He gradients, necessary for the compilation of the upwelling velocity and of the contribution of diapycnal mixing. Here we propose to take the historical He data, and a new dedicated He data sets to be taken in November 2010 - February 2011 during the POLARSTERN cruise ANT 27/2 and January- February 2012 during POLARSTERN cruise ANT28/3 to calculate upwelling speeds and -rates in the Weddell Sea and the ACC, as well as heat fluxes between the interior and the mixed layer.This proposal is part of the Cluster ' Eddies and Upwelling: Major Factors in the Carbon Budget ofthe Southern Ocean'

Cirrus-LEWIZ : Cirrus clouds in polewared breaking Rossby waves

Das Projekt "Cirrus-LEWIZ : Cirrus clouds in polewared breaking Rossby waves" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Leibniz-Institut für Atmosphärenphysik e.V. an der Universität Rostock durchgeführt. Aim: - observe cirrus clouds in poleward breaking Rossby waves with LIDAR, - characterised their pathway in the given synoptic situation using analysis data and backward trajectories, - develop a conceptual model for the transport of water vapor in poleward breaking Rossby waves. Activities: - Launching of several field campaigns such as Cirrus-K1, Cirrus-K2 and Cirrus-K3 including radiosonde and LIDAR observations, - Review of Historical LIDAR data. Results: Poleward Rossby wave breaking events have been often observed over the North Atlantic - European region in the upper troposphere in winter time. During a measuring campaign from 13 to 15 February 2006 a special Rossby wave breaking event was investigated with radiosondes and LIDAR observations. The connected horizontal and vertical transport of water vapour in the upper troposphere / lower stratosphere was analysed with backward trajectories. We found that during this poleward Rossby wave breaking event an air mass body has ben formed over central Europe with an extreme low temperature an a very high specific humidity in the tropopause region. The formation is characterised by a strong adiabatic nort-eastward and upward transport of water vapour on the western flank of a stagnation point over Mecklenburg (North German Lowlands). The radiosonde soundings show layers of supersaturated water vapour with respect to ice, but isolated patches of very high cirrus clouds have been clearly identified by LIDAR measurements over Kühlungsborn (54 Grad CN, 11 Grad CE). Based on formed LIDAR measurements from 1997 to 2002 and similar analysis we established the hypothesis that poleward Rossby wave breaking events are connected with north-eastward and upward tropospheric transport of water vapour, forming of supersaturated water vapour over ice and formation of very high cirrus clouds.

Processes of Vertical Exchange in Shelf Seas (PROVESS)

Das Projekt "Processes of Vertical Exchange in Shelf Seas (PROVESS)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Hamburg, Zentrum für Meeres- und Klimaforschung, Institut für Meereskunde (IfM) durchgeführt. PROVESS is a joint European funded project for an interdisciplinary study of the vertical fluxes of properties through the water column and the surface and bottom boundaries based on the integrated application of new measuring techniques, new advances in turbulence theory and new models. IfM Hamburg is responsible for six tasks concerning numerical simulations of mean flow properties, turbulence and suspended matter transport. IfM's tasks in PROVESS are in detail: Physical modelling: Model development and code verification, cooperation with MUMM Management Unit of Mathemetical Models of North Sea and Scheldt Estuary), Brussels, Belgium. For this task, the existing public domain water column model GOTM (General Ocean Turbulence Model) will be extended. Model validation against existing data sets, cooperation with MUMM, Brussels, Belgium. Here some historical data sets will be simulated. These are the FLEX 1976 and the UWB Irish Sea FLY data set, both are scenarios already included into GOTM. Furthermore, the POL 1991 and North Sea data from NERC have to be simulated. Synthesis of PROVESS data with models, cooperation with close to all PROVESS partners. The northern and the southern North Sea experiments carried out during PROVESS will be simulated in detail by the numerical water column model. Modelling sediment damping of turbulence: Model development and code verification, cooperation with LHF (Laboratoire d'Hydraulique de France SA), Grenoble, France. Model validation against existing data sets, cooperation with LHF (Laboratoire d'Hydraulique de France SA), Grenoble, France. Synthesis of PROVESS data with models, cooperation with close to all PROVESS partners.

SOCIOEC - Socio economic effects of management measures of the future CFP

Das Projekt "SOCIOEC - Socio economic effects of management measures of the future CFP" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität zu Kiel, Institut für Volkswirtschaftslehre, Lehrstuhl für Umwelt-, Ressourcen- und Ökologische Ökonomik durchgeführt. SOCIOEC is an interdisciplinary, European wide project bringing together scientists from several fisheries sciences with industry partners and other key stakeholders to work in an integrated manner on solutions for future fisheries management, that can be implemented at a regional level. The central concept is to provide a mechanism for developing measures that are consistent with the overarching sustainability objectives of the EU, and that can provide consensus across all stakeholders. The first step will be to develop a coherent and consistent set of management objectives, which will address ecological; economic and social sustainability targets. The objectives should be consistent with the aims of the CFP, MSFD and other EU directives, but they should also be understandable by the wider stakeholder community and engage their support. This will then lead to the proposal of a number of potential management measures, based on existing or new approaches. The second step will be to analyze the incentives for compliance provided by these measures. In particular, we will examine fisher's responses and perceptions of these measures, based on historical analysis as well as direct consultation and interviews. This project part will also examine how the governance can be changed to facilitate self- and co-management to ensure fisher buy-in to promising management measures. In particular, the project will focus on the interpretation of overarching (i.e. EU) objectives in local and regional contexts. Finally, the project will examine the impacts of the management measures that emerge from this process, particularly in terms of their economic and social impacts. The IA analysis will be integrated by evaluating the proposed measures against the criteria of effectiveness, efficiency and coherence. Special attention will be paid in evaluating the proposed management measures' performance in terms of their ability to achieve the general and specific ecological objectives.

Human dimensions and urban landscape development - A case study in Suzhou, China

Das Projekt "Human dimensions and urban landscape development - A case study in Suzhou, China" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Freiburg, Institut für Geo- und Umweltnaturwissenschaften, Professur für Landespflege durchgeführt. Humanity has influenced and changed the large majority of the earths landscapes, especially those in urban areas. There is no doubt that it is crucial to include human dimensions - perceptions, attitudes, preferences etc. - in terms of landscape inheritance, conservation, development and management or what. Public perception and preference research has a long lasting history in landscape subjects, and has been playing an important role in practical implementation. This study will be conducted in Suzhou, China - a typical Chinese city with numerous ancient cultural heritages and facing endless modernization and urbanization. Literate review will be thoroughly carried out on respect to the processes, states, significances of human dimensions for landscapes. The interpretation of historical materials about landscape changes during decades of the research site will be completed. The targeted objects will be the residents there and visitors. There are still more than 200.000 permanent residents living in the research core, who represent the main force of conserving the ancient heritages lasted thousands years. Therefore, their attitudes towards the landscape changes, ancient landscape elements or symbols are vital, and should be included in routines for landscape design, management and conservation. Moreover, up to millions of visitors from both inside and outside of China come to Suzhou every year, which makes the study concerning their perceptions and preferences even more critical. The well-structured questionnaires, together with semi-open or open interviews will be applied aimed at different targeted groups, and the results will be interpreted and evaluated based on scientific theories and methodologies in both quantitative and qualitative ways. Eventually, how these findings could be used to inform the landscape policy-makers, designer, planner or managers and how to transfer the results into practical status in other cities of China or even in other developing countries facing the same dilemmas would be generated.

CECON- The Cuban-European Climate Connection

Das Projekt "CECON- The Cuban-European Climate Connection" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Zentrum für Marine Tropenökologie an der Universität Bremen durchgeführt. This project aims at reconstructing climate variability in Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico, with special interest on extreme events, such as tropical cyclones, using corals from within the Loop Current (LC), historical records, and numerical models. The LC feeds the Gulf Stream, which is crucial for the tropical heat transport to higher latitudes. Numerical models have confirmed that subtropical climate variability, and consequential changes in seawater properties, can affect both the Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic climate. However, there is a lack of long-term records of seawater properties at key sites within the Atlantic, which can be used to validate the models. The skeletal chemical composition of Cuban corals can provide such records, though they have never been used to reconstruct oceanographic and meteorological parameters. Accordingly, corals will be used to investigate: (1) the impact of Cuban climate variability on the LC seawater properties and on the European climate, and (2) the effects of global climate variability and oscillations (e. g. ENSO, NAO) on the Cuban climate in order to improve our forecasting and diagnostic capabilities of extreme events. The latter has important economic repercussions in an oil producing area, such as the Gulf of Mexico, where the occurrences of cyclones there influence the international prices of crude oil. Comprehensive calibration experiments using multiple records to determine the climate-signal precision have been elaborated within this proposal to optimize the use of corals as records of climate variability.

Sub project: Effects of Abrupt Climate Change on Ice Age Ecosystem of Lake Petén Itzá and on Distribution Patterns of Ostracodes across the Yucatan Peninsula

Das Projekt "Sub project: Effects of Abrupt Climate Change on Ice Age Ecosystem of Lake Petén Itzá and on Distribution Patterns of Ostracodes across the Yucatan Peninsula" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Technische Universität Carolo-Wilhelmina zu Braunschweig, Institut für Geosysteme und Bioindikation durchgeführt. Results from a 85 ka old sediment sequence from Lake Petén Itzá, Gutemala, show extreme cooling of the Neotropics of up to 10 C during Heinrich Events (Hodell et al., 2012) and suggest high climate sensitivity for the older sediment sections of about 200 ka. It is proposed to analyze the consequences of abrupt climate change on the stability of aquatic ecosystems over time and consequently the historical biogeography of the Peninsula Yucatán by using ostracodes as model bioindicators interlinking three major research topics. A (1) quantitative assessment of lake level changes during the past 200 ka is targeted by expanding an existing trainingset of recent ostracodes and refining transfer functions for water depth and conductivity. (2) Fossil ostracode assemblages will be used to reconstruct the ultrastructure of Late Pleistocene climate extremes and their effects on aquatic diversity of Lake Petén Itzá, and (3) to assess biogeography, phylogeography and phylogeny of freshwater ostracodes as model organisms by integrative taxonomy using morphology and molecular tools. In order to initiate research efforts on Lake Petén Itzá sediments extending beyond 85 ka a core sampling party for the Petén Itzá Scientific Drilling Project at LacCore, University of Minnesota, is proposed. This will also further strengthen the collaboration with Central America and prepare for future ICDP-drilling in Lake Junin (Peru) and planned work on Lake Chalco (Mexico Basin).

Emerging Diseases in a Changing European Environment (EDEN)

Das Projekt "Emerging Diseases in a Changing European Environment (EDEN)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Heidelberg, Hygiene-Institut, Abteilung für Tropenhygiene und öffentliches Gesundheitswesen durchgeführt. These last years, several vector-borne, parasitic or zoonotic diseases have (re)-emerged and spread in the European territory with major health, ecological, socio-economical and political consequences. Most of these outbreaks are linked to global and local changes resulting of climatic changes or activities of human populations. Europe must anticipate, prevent and control new emergences to avoid major societal and economical crisis (cf. SARS in Asia, West Nile in US). EDEN (Emerging Diseases in a changing European Environment) offers a unique opportunity to prepare for uncertainties about the future of the European environment and its impact on human health. EDEN's aim is to increase preparedness by developing and coordinating at European level a set of generic investigative methods, tools and skills within a common scientific framework (Landscapes, Vector and Parasite bionomics, Public Health, Animal Reservoirs). EDEN has therefore selected for study a range of diseases that are especially sensitive to environmental changes. Some of these diseases are already present in Europe (West Nile, Rodent-born, Tick-born, Leishmaniosis), others were present historically (Malaria) and so may re-emerge, whilst finally Rift Valley Fever is either on the fringes of Europe. EDEN integrates research between 42 leading institutes from 23 countries with the combined experience and skills to reach their common goals. EDEN is organised into a series of vertical Sub-Projects led and managed by an internationally recognised expert and linked by a series of Integrative Activities that include biodiversity monitoring, environmental change detection, disease modelling, remote sensing and image interpretation, information and communication. The proposed management structure, including a Scientific Board and a User Forum, takes into account both the diversity of the partners and the size of the project. Specific links with third world countries will be achieved through an Africa platform. Prime Contractor: Centre de Cooperation Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Developpement; Paris; France.

Einfluss von Klima und Landnutzung auf die funktionelle Diversität von Vögeln und Fledermäusen und auf ihre mutualistischen Interaktionsnetzwerke

Das Projekt "Einfluss von Klima und Landnutzung auf die funktionelle Diversität von Vögeln und Fledermäusen und auf ihre mutualistischen Interaktionsnetzwerke" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von LOEWE - Biodiversität und Klima Forschungszentrum (BiK-F) durchgeführt. Birds and bats deliver crucial ecosystem services, i.e. seed dispersal and predation on arthropods. As they are rarely considered together in ecosystem studies linking biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, we will test 1. for functional redundancy within and among the two groups, 2. differential reactions towards altitude and land use, and 3. potential influence of climate change and further intensification of land use on composition and functionality. Bird and bat assemblages will be assessed by sampling at the same sites along an elevational and land use gradient. The functional role of birds and bats as seed dispersers will be assessed by feeding experiments and measuring seed rain. Exclosure experiments will be conducted jointly (SP 7) to determine their role as predators of arthropods. Path analysis will be used to quantify relationships between climatic factors (SP 1-3), habitat structure (SP 4, 5), food availability (SP 7, 8), structure of bird and bat assemblages and associated ecosystem services. The path coefficients can be applied to predict changes based on various scenarios of climate and land use change. We will also analyse temporal changes in forest bird communities in relation to climate and land use change using historical monitoring data.

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