Objectif
There is a growing concern with the marine environment and societies fear the depletion of fish stocks, pollution and possible impacts of climate change such as the loss of biodiversity. Most of the biological diversity in the ocean relies on the presence of phytoplankton as primary producers and the first element in the oceanic food chain. With over 20,000 known species, the importance of these ubiquitous plants as a food source for the pelagos and as a potential sink of atmospheric carbon have been widely recognized. Traditionally, ship-based observations were the main source of oceanographic data but they can only ever provide spot measurements within a highly dynamic and heterogeneous environment. Likewise, satellite-based remote sensing of ocean colour has similar limitations as it can only probe the skin of the ocean. A third approach is currently being implemented which aims to fill this observational gap by deploying autonomous long-term underwater observatories that allow the study of multiple inter-related properties, variables, and processes in real time and over a range of time and space scales. These observatories fundamentally rely on non-intrusive optical measurements for data acquisition and recent technological advances such as the development of hyperspectral sensors have greatly increased their potential applications. For the first time, scientists can obtain non-intrusive continuous measurements at small-scales to observe the dynamics of underwater ecosystems in situ and in vivo. However, there is an urgent need to further develop the underlying theoretical frameworks and analytical methods in order to be able to use these new technologies to their full potential. AQUALIGHT will make an important contribution to this by developing new analytical methods for the detection and identification of phytoplankton functional types and species, including the characterization of dynamical processes such as growth, photoacclimation and turbulent transport.
Champ scientifique
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcolors
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringremote sensing
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesenvironmental sciencespollution
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystems
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changes
Thème(s)
Appel à propositions
FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF
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Régime de financement
MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF)Coordinateur
28006 Madrid
Espagne