PrimePrevention
PrimePrevention: Temporal and spatial distribution of hypoxic and sulfidic bottom waters in Kiel Bight (task 2.3.2)
The overall goal of the PrimePrevention collaborative project funded by the Deutsche Allianz für Meeresforschung is to develop a coordinated strategy among German coastal countries to address the societal challenges related to increasing marine natural hazards due to climate change. Subproject 2.3.2 will investigate and predict the “Temporal and spatial distribution of hypoxic and sulfidic bottom waters in Kiel Bight”.
Kiel Bight is known for the regular occurrence of hypoxic events (upwelling of oxygen-poor water). These events take place particularly in the late summer season and cause the mass mortality of fish whose carcasses then wash up on the region's beaches and shorelines. Particularly problematic in this context is the release of hydrogen sulfide from the seafloor. Hydrogen sulfide is toxic to higher marine organisms, which is why the occurrence and upwelling of bottom waters containing hydrogen sulfide has particularly fatal consequences for benthic or pelagic ecosystems. In this project, the factors leading to the formation and upwelling of bottom waters containing hydrogen sulfide will be investigated. To this end, (i) in situ sensor data for oxygen and hydrogen sulfide will be collected for the water column and (ii) water and sediment samples will be retrieved during ship cruises for biogeochemical and microbiological analyses. All available environmental data will be used to develop and calibrate a sediment biogeochemical model that predicts hydrogen sulfide release using a few control variables. Finally, in collaboration with other subprojects, a general circulation model will be applied to predict the probability of hypoxic and sulfidic upwelling events in the entire study area and to assess the associated risk for local stakeholders.
Duration: 2024 – 2026
Projekt partner: Prof. Dr. Mirjam Perner, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Information about the project: Prof. Dr. Florian Scholz