Research Area 1:
Key Processes across Scales and Boundaries
It takes both, precise observations and profound knowledge of processes, on a broad variety of scales to comprehend and project the functioning of marine systems like the Baltic Sea. Building upon the achievements of decades of process studies and observations, we identified the main challenges to work on for the next decade. These are the processes at interfaces and cross-scale processes providing foundations for perspectives of coastal seas. Both require the expertise of several disciplines and a joint research approach. For details see Box 1.
Processes at interfaces
Interfaces and boundary layers such as the air-sea interface, the redoxcline, the bottom-boundary layer, the ice-ocean interface and the land-sea interface are of particular relevance for biogeochemical and physical transformations and transports. IOW’s multidisciplinary approach offers the best opportunities for elucidating these processes. In-situ and remote-sensing observations and sampling devices will allow for measurements highly resolved in time and space to quantify processes in these high-gradient intermittent regions. The next generation of modelling systems will combine traditional ocean models with subsystem models that include representations of benthic processes, atmospheric dynamics, surface waves, sea ice, floating ice shelves, groundwater exchange, and others. A very special case regarding interfaces is the highly dynamic shallow water region in the land-sea border area. The investigation of processes at and near the interfaces connecting these subsystems will therefore constitute an important focus of the new research programme.
Cross-scale processes
An important characteristic of the previous research program was a clear separation of research on small-scale processes and basin-scale dynamics, respectively. However, it has become increasingly necessary to directly and simultaneously investigate the entire continuum from small-scale to basin-scale processes. This is supported by the recent progress in nested numerical modelling systems and multi-scale field observations. A central topic of the new research program will therefore be the investigation of cross-scale interactions, and the associated feedback between physical, biological, and biogeochemical processes, which can span from micrometre to kilometre scales. Shallow water areas and the role of the coastal zone for the functioning of the whole system will now be fully integrated for a better representation of the land-sea-continuum.
Box 1: Research area (RA) 1 emphasises on joint topics, requiring concerted multidisciplinary efforts.
In general, we identified knowledge gaps in various basic research topics indispensable for a holistic understanding and projection of marine systems, including water mass transformation & hydrodynamics, biogeochemical cycles and the dynamics of biological processes. They comprise the main drivers of the entire ecosystem dynamics. Progress in each of these areas, based on our own expertise and/or in cooperation with others, is our goal for the next decade.