Table Of ContentMarine Science Frontiers for Europe
Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg GmbH
Gerold Wefer
Frank Lamy
Fauzi Mantoura
Editors
Marine Science
Frontiers
for Europe
With 120 Figures, 20 in Colour, and 8 Tables
, Springer
Editors:
Professor Dr. Gerold Wefer
Dr. Frank Lamy
Universităt Bremen
Fachbereich Geowissenschaften
Klagenfurter Strasse
28359 Bremen
Germany
Profesor Dr. Fauzi Mantoura
IAEA, Marine Environment Laboratory
4, Quai Antoine ler, B.P. 800
MC 98000 Monaco
Monaco
Photo Credits for Cover: V. Diekamp,
V. Frenzel, F.Garcia Pichel, G. Meinecke
ISBN 978-3-642-62482-7 ISBN 978-3-642-55862-7 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-55862-7
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Preface
Europe is the continent with a high coast to surface ratio. About 50% of Europe's population lives per
manently within 50 km of the coastal zone. European seas encompass a large range of settings and
regimes, from estuaries, deltas to the coastal zone, through diverse shelf systems, and down the shelf
edge into the deep ocean. The sustainable development ofliving and non-living marine resources, the
protection of the marine environment and the provision of marine-based services are critical to eco
nomic prosperity and to the quality of life of European citizens. In recent times, human activity has
spread farther out into the oceans as the ocean margins gain increasing attention as potential centers for
hydrocarbon exploration and industrial fisheries. As a result of expected population growth over the
coming decades, the economic importance of European seas is likely to increase. This generates many
conflicts between competing uses, like hydrocarbon exploitation, fisheries, transport, tourism, etc., which
has detrimental consequences to the marine environment.
Important tasks for future marine research will be the development of scientific foundations for a
sustainable use of the living and non-living resources of the oceans, focusing on the threatened coastal
regions and continental slopes. These foundations, however, must be based on thorough scientific un
derstanding of the response of the natural marine systems to human activities, such as global climate
change and the local or regional impacts from large-scale construction, resource extraction, etc.
A great challenge for marine and climate research in the future is to understand and model the con
nections between global climate development and its regional effects on ocean-margin systems, espe
cially in shelf seas and coastal waters. The goal is to increase our ability to predict the evolution of shelf
seas and their margins in response to natural or anthropogenic climate changes. This task is accompa
nied by a need to understand the direct human impacts on the natural system. The lack of knowledge
about basic processes significantly hampers the prediction of the immediate impact, and even more its
mid-to long-term consequences. Examples ofthis include coastal construction such as the building of
dikes, ports, and pipelines, river deepening and correction, and extraction ofm ineral resources, steadily
altering the coastal environment by changing the current patterns, local sea level, and the erosion and
deposition of sediments.
A better understanding of these processes and relationships must form the foundation for the scien
tific assessment offuture threats posed to the European Seas by human activities. Consequently, a quan
titative risk assessment and development of strategies for precautionary activities, warning systems, and
sustained ocean protection measures will be included among the important tasks for marine scientists in
the coming decades, as will the assessment of the sedimentological and ecological consequences of the
exploitation ofliving and non-living resources and the use oft he marine environment for waste disposal.
Furthermore despite major scientific advances in recent years, the ocean still offers exciting perspec
tives for frontier research on such fundamental issues as, for example, the origin and evolution of life.
To discuss some of the above outlined questions we brought together experts from various disci
plines of the marine sciences with a strong interest in these systems, to promote discussion between
workers in different fields by focussing on a common topic of great interest to society.
The meeting which took place in Bremen in Germany from February 18-21,2001 was arranged in
the framework of a "Hanse Conference" within the interdisciplinary program oft he Hanse-Wissenschafts
kolleg Delmenhorst, a foundation set up to promote interdisciplinary studies in collaboration between
the universities of Bremen and Oldenburg. The aim of the Hanse Conferences in general is to provide
opportunities for experts from different fields oft he sciences and humanities to come together and explore
the large framework of topics of common interest. What unites the participants is their desire to look
VI
over the fence to neighbouring disciplines. Young colleagues who wish to build an interdisciplinary
career are particularly welcome.
In conducting the conference, we have attempted to avoid the disadvantages common to many large
scientific meetings characterized by information-overload and lack of time for discussion. Instead, we
have loosely followed the model of the "Dahlem Konferenzen". An advisory committee from different
disciplines formulated the overall goal and the themes of four discussion groups. This committee was
also responsible for producing an initial list of invited participants, a list subsequently expanded through
the recommendations of invitees. We aimed for about 40 scientists, complemented by selected
postdoctoral researchers. The conference was set for four days. Within each of the four theme sections,
several participants were asked to provide background papers in their fields, as a basis for discussion.
The aim is to have these papers sent as drafts to all participants before the conference, to stimulate the
formulation of questions and critical comments.
The focus of activity within the Hanse Conferences is discussion, and not presentation of talks. The
participants come with the background knowledge acquired through the study of the overview papers
prepared for the conference. On the first day of the conference each oft he four discussion groups agree
on an agenda oftopics derived from the questions and comments that arise from the study of the back
ground papers. The following two days are dedicated to debating these topics, within the four discussion
groups. On the fourth day, each group reviews a summary prepared by its rapporteur, who presents the
most important results of the discussions. Suggestions for modifications to the summary are incorpo
rated into the final summary, which is presented at the end of the conference in a plenary session by
each of the rapporteurs. At this meeting, comments are invited by all participants on any of the points
raised.
The final proceedings, which are published in this book cover important aspects of science frontiers
in European marine research and are structured into the four thematic sections discussed during the
conference. These include "Ocean-Climate Coupling, Variability and Change", "Coupled Biogeochemical
Cycling and Controlling Factors", "Coastal and Shelf Processes, Science for Integrated Management",
and "Ecosystem Functioning and Biodiversity". The final report from each group follows each of the
thematic sections, which contain the revised background papers. All papers benefited from peer review.
It is hoped that they will be useful in informing the ongoing discussions on preservation, exploration,
exploitations, and risk assessment of the ocean wherever such debate may take place. We especially
hope that high-school and college teachers find much material in these proceedings to enrich their courses
in environmental sciences. In the educational realm, a marriage between physical understanding of the
Earth's life support systems and an appreciation of history leading to responsibility will be necessary to
provide the basis for political action which can deal with the challenge of the sustainable use of delicate
marine ecosystems.
The Hanse Conference on "Marine Science Frontiers for Europe" was planned as part of the devel
opment of a Marine Scienc Plan for Europe, to be drafted by the Marine Board oft he European Science
Foundation (ESF) (Integrated Marine Science in Europe, ESF Marine Board Position Paper 5, November
2002). The final group reports formulate recommendations for future ocean margin research within an
European Research Area under a joint European Marine Science Plan.
The papers benefited from detailed reviews by Avan Antia, Wolfgang Balzer, Wolfgang Berger, Keith
Brander, Angelika Brandt, Peter Burbridge, Hein de Baar, Jan Willem de Leeuw, Jean-Pierre Gattuso,
Gerd Graf, Carlo Heip, Venugopalan Ittekkot, Michel Kaiser, Remi Laane, Han Lindeboom, Fauzi
Mantoura, Jochem Marotzke, John Patching, David Prandle, Karsten Reise, Will de Ruijter, Ulrich Saint
Paul, Jun She, Victor Smetacek, Doug Wallace, Paul Wassmann, Matthias Wolff.
The Hanse Conference was supported by the Hanse Wissenschaftskolleg Delmenhorst, the DFG
Research Center for Ocean Margins (RCOM) as well as by the University of Bremen. Technical sup
port was given by Barbara Donner, Adelheid Grimm-Geils, Christina Hayn, Ingeborg Mehser, Sarah
Middendorf, and Lauraine Panaye. To each and all of those involved, our sincere thanks.
Gerold Wefer, Bremen
Frank Lamy, Bremen
Fauzi Mantoura, Plymouth
Bremen, December 2002
Contents
Ocean-Climate Coupling, Variability and Change
LatifM.
Tropical Pacific Influences on the North Atlantic Thermohaline Circulation 1-9
Felis T. and 1 Plitzold
Climate Records from Corals 11-27
BranderK.
Fisheries and Climate 29-38
Group Report
Meincke 1, D. Quadfasel, W.H. Berger, K. Brander, RR Dickson, P.M. Haugan, M. Latif,
1 Marotzke, 1 Marshall, 1 Plitzold, G. Parilla, W. de Ruijter and F. Schott
Variability of the Thermohaline Circulation (THC) 39-60
Coupled Biogeochemical Cycling and Controlling Factors
WollastR
Biogeochemical Processes in Estuaries 61-77
De Baar H.J.W. and 1 La Roche
Trace Metals in the Oceans: Evolution. Biology and Global Change 79-105
Wallace D.W.R and R Wanninkhof
Ocean-Atmosphere Exchange and Earth-System Biogeochemistry 107-129
Epping E.
What Controls the Sequestration of Phytogenic Carbon in the Ocean? 131-146
Group Report
AntiaA.N., P.H. Burkill, W. Balzer, H.1W. de Baar, RF.C. Mantoura,
R. Sim6 and D. Wallace
Coupled Biogeochemical Cycling and Controlling Factors 147-162
Coastal and ShelfP rocesses, Science for Integrating Management
Prandle D., 1 She and 1 Legrand
Operational Oceanography -the Stimulant for Marine Research in Europe 163-173
x Content
Laane RW.P.M.
"Sea of Substances" Pollution: Future Research Needs 175-188
Kaiser MJ., J.S. Collie, SJ. Hall and I.R Poiner
Long-Tenn Habitat Changes and their Implications for Future Fisheries Management 189-201
Reise K.
More Sand to the Shorelines of the Wadden Sea
Harmonizing Coastal Defense with Habitat Dynamics 203-216
Burbridge P.R and J. Pethick
Sustainability and Management: Coastal Systems 217-228
Group Report
Lindeboom HJ., P.R Burbridge, J.W. de Leeuw, A. Innisch, V. Ittekkot, M. Kaiser,
R. Laane, J. Legrand, D. Prandle, K. Reise and J. She 229-242
Ecosystem Functioning and Biodiversity
GrafG
Ecosystem Functioning and Biodiversity: Bioengineering 243-250
Heip C.
What Structures Marine Biodiversity and why does it vary? 251-264
Hemdl GJ. and M.G Weinbauer
Marine Microbial Food Web Structure and Function 265-277
Wassmann P., K. OlIi, C. Wexe1s Riser and C. Svensen
Ecosystem Function, Biodiversity and Vertical Flux Regulation in the Twilight Zone 279-287
Group Report
Heip C., A. Brandt, J.-P. Gattuso, A. Antia, W.H. Berger, J. Boissonnas, P. Burkill
L. d'Ozouville, G Graf, GJ. Hemdl, J. Patching, K. Reise, G Riou, R Simo,
V. Smetacek and P. Wassmann
Ecosystem Functioning and Biodiversity 289-302
Tropical Pacific Influences on the North Atlantic
Thermohaline Circulation
M. Latif
Max-Planck-Institutfor Meteorologie, Bundesstr. 55, D-20146 Hamburg, Germany
corresponding author (e-mail}:[email protected]
Abstract: Most global climate models simulate a weakening of the North Atlantic thermohaline
circulation (THC) in response to enhanced greenhouse warming. Both surface warming and freshening
in high latitudes, the so-called sinking region, contribute to the weakening of the THe. Some models
simulate even a complete breakdown of the THe at sufficiently strong forcing. Here results from a
state-of-the-art global climate model are presented that does not simulate a weakening of the THe in
response to greenhouse warming. Large-scale air-sea interactions in the tropics, similar to those
operating during present-day El Nifios, lead to anomalously high salinities in the tropical Atlantic.
These are advected into the sinking region, thereby increasing the surface density and compensating
the effects of the local warming and freshening. The results of the model study are corroborated by
the analysis of observations.
Introduction
The Atlantic thermohaline circulation (THC) is an al. 1997; Oberhuber et al. 1998; Timmermann et al.
important component of the global climate system 1999; Roeckner et al. 1999; Christoph et al. 1998;
(Broecker 1991). It transports about 1 PW of heat Ulbrich and Christoph 1999). It is shown that
poleward in the North Atlantic, thereby warming the tropical feedbacks associated with an increased
western Europe. The THC is forced partly by con El Nino frequency can stabilise the THC (Latif et
vection at high latitudes, which causes dense sur al. 2000).
face waters to sink to deeper ocean layers, form
ing the so-called North Atlantic Deep Water
Model
(NADW). Strong and rapid changes in the inten
sity of the NADW formation have been reported The model (ECHAM4/0PYC) is flux-corrected
from paleoclimatic records (Broecker et al. 1985), (using annual mean corrections) with respect to heat
and it is well established that such changes exert a and freshwater. The application of flux correction
strong impact on the climate over large land areas reflects serious errors in the individual model com
(e.g. Manabe and Stouffer 1995 and 1999; Schiller ponents. The effects of flux correction on the re
et al. 1997). Several papers have suggested that the sponse characteristics of a model are largely un
thermohaline circulation may weaken in response known, but it has been shown that flux correction
to greenhouse warming (e.g. Mikolajewicz et al. may cause misleading results (e.g. Neelin and
1990; Manabe et al. 1991; Stocker and Wright Dijkstra 1995). It should be noted, however, that
1991; Cubasch et al. 1992; Manabe and Stouffer many studies addressing the stability of the THC
1994; Rahmstorf 1999; Wood et al. 1999). Here, have been conducted with flux-corrected models
we investigate the sensitivity of the THC to green (e.g. Manabe and Stouffer 1994).
house warming using a global climate model that Our model employs a horizontal resolution over
has been applied in various climate variability and most of the globe of2.8"x2.8°. A special feature of
response studies (Roeckner et al. 1996; Bacher et the model is the higher meridional resolution of 0.5°
From WEFER G, LAMY F, MANTOURA F (eds), 2003, Marine Science Frontiers for Europe. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg New York
Tokyo, pp 1-9
