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Research Projects

SeaUseTip

Logo SeaUseTip

Logo SeaUseTip (source: project SeaUseTip)

The North Sea is one of the most intensively used marine areas in the world. In addition to fishing, energy generation through offshore wind farms, oil and gas production, shipping, agriculture and tourism play an important role. The consequences of climate change are also becoming increasingly noticeable. Sudden changes in this complex socio-ecological system (SES) - so-called tipping points - can have far-reaching consequences for nature and humans. In the SeaUseTip project, the vulnerability of the SES to tipping points is analysed and assessed holistically for the first time using the example of the German North Sea. The analysis will focus on changes in the composition of the fish community and trace any cascading effects to the economic and socio-cultural dimensions of the system. The insights gained will make a significant contribution to assessing the resilience of the overall system in the face of profound ecological changes. On this basis, strategies for sustainable, ecosystem-based management will be developed. more


Land2Sea

Land2Sea Logo

Land2Sea Logo (source: project Land2Sea)

Land2Sea aims to develop an integrative framework of coupled models for predicting the immediate and long term consequences of land-use and climate change for the delivery of ecosystem services. The focus is on stressors such as human inputs to terrestrial systems (nutrients, biocides) and future climate-induced changes to hydromorphology, and the combined effects of these stressors on biodiversity and related ecosystem processes, services and benefits. Hereon leads the work package on consequences of changing biodiversity and ecosystem functioning for ecosystem services and economic, social and cultural benefits and is responsible for the Tide Elbe case study. The project is funded under the Belmont Forum Biodiversity Call 2017 and runs from 2018 to 2021. more


CoastWise

Logo CoastWise

Logo MeerWissen (source: BMZ)

CoastWise brings together five partner institutions to improve the integrated assessment of South Africa’s land-sea interface. Its aim is to enhance the available knowledge base for informed decision-making, filling important knowledge gaps and translating this knowledge into formats that can be used in spatial management and capacity building. CoastWise uses new and innovative technology such as high resolution remote sensing, drones and visual surveys, but also includes social science components to identify socio-cultural knowledge and values. Scientific results are translated into new spatial layers that can be fed into GIS-based databases and maps where they can be used in decision-making. CoastWise is part of the MeerWissen initiative which is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and runs from 2018 to 2020. more


COHERENT

Logo Coherent

Logo COHERENT (source: project Coherent)

COHERENT is a Danish interdisciplinary research and innovation project that develops new insights and solutions for the integration of climate change adaptation and risk management at the Danish coastline. The projects aim is to develop an integrated approach for the risk management and a tailor-cut run-off model as basis to manage potential floods from both the sea and the hinterland catchment areas. Hereon contributes as international partner to COHERENT by supporting capacity building, facilitating the stakeholder participation and transferring methods and knowledge across borders between the projects EXTREMNESS and COHERENT. The project receives funding from the Danish Innovation Fund and runs from 2017 to 2020. more


EXTREMNESS

Extremness

Logo EXTREMENESS (source: project Extremeness)

EXTREMNESS investigates the interplay of factors and conditions causing severe storm surges. The objective is to examine exceptional conditions, which can lead to exceptional high or long lasting tidal levels that have not been observed so far and which may be associated with corresponding consequences. The insights and lessons learned from this exercise will provide a contribution to the ongoing discussion on the future of coastal protection. The Department supports the project by contributing the perspective of local communities. more


REKLIM

reklim

Logo REKLIM (source: project Reklim)

The Helmholtz Climate Initiative REKLIM (Regionale Klimaänderungen/Regional climate change) is a consortium of nine research centres within the Helmholtz Association. REKLIM is using its unique combination of competence in regional observations and process studies (in situ observations, airborne and satellite remote sensing) coupled with model simulations to improve regional and global climate models, which provide a solid basis for climate-related decision support. more


Risk Awareness for Climate Change

Risikobewusstsein

Longitudinal study about risk awareness (source: Hereon)

Since 2008 each year 500 Hamburg citizens have been asked for their opinion about the impact of climate change on their living. Futhermore they were asked about the probability of natural disasters. On behalf of Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Institute of Coastal Research the survey has been conducted by forsa, a research institute for social research and statistical analysis.
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