| General info | |
| Project title | MTPII/MATER - Mass Transfer and Ecosystem Response |
| Project acronym | MATER |
| Project reference | MAS3-CT96-0051 |
| Begin date | 1996-08-01 |
| End date | 1999-07-30 |
| Location | |
| Geographic coverage | Aegean Sea |
| Description | |
| Abstract | The aim of the MATER is to investigate the biogeochemical fluxes within the Aegean Sea in relation to the existing water mass circulation. The main scientific objectives are listed below: - To investigate the role of sub-basin scale circulation features on the exchanges between the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean. - To identify the sources and mechanisms of Intermediate and Deep water formation in the Aegean Sea and the pathways that they follow during their spreading in the Eastern Mediterranean. - To investigate the mechanisms that produced the major shift in the characteristics/amount of Cretan Deep Waters that changed the picture of the thermohaline circulation of the Eastern Mediterranean. - To study the influence of the formation/recalculation of dense water masses and thermohaline circulation on particle dynamics and biochemical fluxes and budgets. - To describe the major transport mechanisms and accumulation processes of organic and inorganic suspendates from the shelf-edge to the deep basins. - To determine the exchanges taking place in a N-S direction. In particular, the advection of particulate and dissolved matter between the North and South Aegean Sea, through the Cyclades Plateau. - To investigate the principal factors responsible for the observed oligotrophy and its effect on the structure (biomass, diversity, size structure, trophic modes and metabolic demands) of the pelagic and benthic foodweb. - To identify the major physical, chemical and biological processes that affect the vertical flux of organic material in oligotrophic and eutrophic deep-sea basins. - To quantify the downward fluxes and budgets of key biochemical in the north, central and south Aegean Sea - To quantify the biogeochemical budget of the Benthic Boundary Layer (BBL) of the shelf-edge to slope and deep basin (sediments) and the benthic response to the sedimentation of Particulate Organic Matter (POM). - To describe the benthic community structure in areas of contrasting productivity, different sediment stability and distance from input sources. - To use ecosystem modeling as a tool in order to enhance our understanding of the interactions that take place among the various physical, ecological and biogeochemical parameters of the system. |
| Coordinator | |
| Coordinating organisation | Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography
|
| Country of Coordinator | Greece |
| Contact name | Dr V. Lykousis |
| Contact organisation | Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography
|
| Phone | +30-22910-76380 |
| Fax | +30-22910-76347 |
| Email | vlikou@hcmr.gr |
| Project partners | |
| Other partners | Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Laboratory of Hydraulics
Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology & Aquaculture
Institute for Marine Science, University of Kiel
National Centre for Scientific Research 'Demokritos', Institute of Biology, Hydrobiology Laboratory
National Oceanography Centre (Southampton)
Netherlands Institute for Ecology, Centre for Estuarine and Marine Ecology
Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research
University of Bergen
University of Bordeaux I, Marine Biology Institut
University of Crete, Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry
University of Edinburgh, Department of Geology and Geophysics
University of Perpignan, CEFREM
University of the Aegean, Department of Marine Studies, Laboratory of Aquatic Ecosystem
|
| Edmerp metadata | |
| Edmerp id | 7551 |
| Collating centre | Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Hellenic National Oceanographic Data Centre
|
| Latest update | 2015-03-13 |
