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Sonderforschungsbereich (SFB) 607: Wachstum oder Parasitenabwehr? Wettbewerb um Ressourcen in Nutzpflanzen aus Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Teilprojekt B1: Allometrie und Raumbesetzung von krautigen und holzigen Pflanzen. Integration von Pflanzen- und Bestandesebene

Das Projekt B1 'Allometrie und Raumbesetzung von krautigen und holzigen Pflanzen' ist Teil des Sonderforschungsbereiches 607 Wachstum und Parasitenabwehr und befindet sich bereits in der vierten Phase des seit 1998 laufenden Forschungsprojektes. Bisher wurde im Projekt B1 die Allometrie als Resultat der pflanzeninternen Steuerung der Allokation untersucht. Auf Individuenebene wurden Allometrie und ihre Veränderung für verschiedene Baumarten in verschiedenen ontogenetischen Stadien untersucht. Auf Bestandesebene wurden die self-thinning-Linien von Yoda und Reineke für krautige bzw. holzige Pflanzenbestände analysiert. Bisherige Allometriebestimmungen erbrachten für diese Arten zwar ähnliche Größenordnung aber auch charakteristische Unterschiede, die Ausdruck spezifischer Strategien der Raumbesetzung und -ausbeutung widerspiegeln. Die bisher vereinzelten Auswertungen sollen in Phase IV in eine übergreifende Analyse (versch. Arten, ontogenetische Stadien, Konkurrenzsituationen, Störfaktoren) der Allometrie auf Pflanzen- und Bestandesebene münden.

FP7-KBBE, Protection of consumers by microbial risk mitigation through combating segregation of expertise (PROMISE)

PROMISE strives for multidimensional networking thus fostering integration. The primary strategic objective of PROMISE is to improve and increase the integration, collaboration and knowledge transfer between the new member states, old member states (EU15) and candidate countries through a collaborative workplan of exchange of expertise and regional training and dissemination actions, to tackle common food safety threats. PROMISE strives for sustainability through involvement of risk communicators. A further strategic objective is to integrate stakeholders like public health authorities and national food safety authorities from the old and new member countries in order to ensure the exploitation of research results into standardisation and harmonisation efforts. PROMISE will enhance the knowledge on pathogen transmission. While legal imports are well monitored for contamination and alerts are registered through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed RASFF notification systems, gates into the EU-27 could exist where food supply chains are not controllled. These uncontrolled imports present the risk that new strains of traditional pathogens will be transferred from third countries into the European Union. Analysing, assessing and interpreting this risk of introducing new strains of pathogens is one of the main objectives of PROMISE.

Hydrogeological and hydrochemical modelling of density-driven flow in the Tiberias Basin, in particular between Ha'on and Tiberias Regions, Jordan Valley

The aim of the current research is to identify regional sources and trans-boundary flow leading to the observed salinity of Lake Tiberias (LT) -also known as the Sea of Galilee or Lake Kinneret-, and its surroundings, which is considered the only natural surface fresh water reservoir of the area. The current study will include all sources of brines in the Tiberias Basin (TB) with specific emphasis of the relationship between the brines from the Ha'on and Tiberias Regions (HTR).The tasks will be achieved by a multidisciplinary approach involving: (i) numerical modelling of density-driven flow processes (i.e., coupled heat and dissolution of evaporites), (ii) hydrochemical studies, supplemented by investigations of subsurface structures.(i) Numerical modelling will be carried out by applying the commercial software FEFLOW® (WASY, GmbH) complemented with the open source code OpenGeoSys developed at the UFZ of Leipzig (Wang et al., 2009). The final goal is to build a 3D regional-scale model of density-driven flow that will result in: (1) revealing the different interactions between fresh groundwater and natural salinity sources (2) elucidate the driving mechanisms of natural brines and brackish water body's movements.(ii) Hydrochemical study will include major, minor and, if possible, rare earth elements (REE) as well as isotope studies. The samples will be analysed at the FU Berlin and UFZ Halle laboratories. Geochemical data interpretation and inverse modelling will be supported by PHREEQC. Hydrochemical field investigations will be carried out in Tiberias basin and its enclosing heights, i.e. the Golan, Eastern Galilee and northern Ajloun in order to search for indications of the presence of deep, relic saline groundwater infested by the inferred Ha'on mother-brine. The current approaches will be supplemented by seismic and statistical data analysis as well as GIS software applications for the definition of the subsurface structures. The key research challenges are: building a 3D structural model of selected regions of TB, adapting both structural and hydrochemical data to the numerical requirements of the model; calibrating the 3D regional-scale model with observational data. The results of this work are expected to establish suitable water-management strategies for the exploitation of freshwater from the lake and from the adjacent aquifers while reducing salinization processes induced by both local and regional brines.

Landschaftsveränderungsdienst - Laverdi

Die Erkennung von Veränderungen der Landbedeckung der Erdoberfläche auf der Basis von satellitengestützten Fernerkundungsdaten ist seit Jahrzehnten ein sehr aktives Forschungsfeld. Das Ziel des Landschaftsveränderungsdiensts ist es, freie Copernicus-Satellitendaten für eine automatische Ableitung von Landbedeckungsänderungen zu nutzen und diese Informationen regelmäßig für einzelne Landschaftselemente (z.B. für Waldgebiete, Wasserflächen, Landwirtschaftsflächen usw.) über einen Web Service bereitzustellen. Copernicus Daten eignen sich aufgrund der hohen zeitlichen (ca. 3-5 Tage, je nach Sensor) und mittleren räumlichen Auflösung (ab 10m) ideal für eine regelmäßige bundesweite flächendeckende Analyse der Landbedeckung. Um eine hohe Bearbeitungsleistung zu erreichen wird die 'Copernicus Data and Exploitation Platform - Deutschland' (CODE-DE) für die Datenverarbeitung und -analyse genutzt. Es können aktuelle und konsistenteste Informationen über Landdeckungsänderungen abgeleitet werden, um kontinuierlich Geodaten in einer einheitlichen Qualität zu pflegen (siehe Abbildung 1). Andererseits können die gewonnenen Informationen genutzt werden, um statistisch relevante Geoinformationen zur quantitativen Beschreibung der UN-SDG-Indikatoren zu extrahieren. Die 2015 verabschiedete Agenda 2030 mit 17 Entwicklungszielen (SDG) und 169 Unterzielen verknüpft das Prinzip der Nachhaltigkeit mit der ökonomischen, ökologischen und sozialen Entwicklung. Die Umsetzung erfordert einen soliden Überprüfungsmechanismus. Dieser soll durch eine regemäßige nationale Erfassung von ca. 200 definierten UN-SDG-Indikatoren erfolgen, mit dem Ziel Fortschritte zu monitoren und die Politik zu informieren.

Response of Arctic submarine continental slopes to global warming

This project aims at investigating a scientific and societal pressing subject which requires urgent attention: the geo-hazards associated with the imminent use of the Arctic Ocean under the changing conditions forced by Global Change. Due to the increasing temperatures, the Arctic region is experiencing a decline of glaciers and sea-ice. Sea-ice reduction will soon expose to exploration yet unknown seafloor and sub-seafloor geology. Given todays interest in natural resources exploitation, the Arctic regions will experience an increase in seafloor and sub-seafloor use and an accelerated development of infrastructures, especially in coastal and continental margin areas. The glacial environment of the Arctic land masses causes that physical processes along continental margins differ substantially from those at lower latitudes, where continental slopes are built with river-fed sediments and glacial influence is comparatively unimportant. Continental margins at lower latitudes are better studied because industrialized nations have previously focused their activities there. The response of the Arctic seafloor and sub-seafloor system to upcoming changes in physical oceanography and glacial conditions, and the resultant sedimentary processes are yet not understood. To evaluate the future response of the Arctic geological system to Global Change is necessary to further understand the interplay among past climate change, continental margin geology, and submarine slope stability. This project aims at filling that critical gap in understanding. The overarching goal of this project is to evaluate how the increase of temperature, within the bounds of current predictions, may change the behavior of the Arctic geological system and alter slope stability. To achieve the goal we will estimate the volume and rate of gas release into the atmosphere that might affect climate, and evaluate the potential feed back of climate change to gas-hydrate dissociation. We will analyze potential future scenarios of slope in-stability in the context of the combined effect of the removal of past ice loading, ongoing temperature change, and stability of the geological elements of the continental margin system.

Sustainable Technologies and Research for European Aquatic Management (STREAM)

Objective: The EU has invested considerable resources over the last decade to support the development of water technologies. As it often is the case with innovative technologies, there are currently few resources to pursue this process in the needed scale, and the uptake potential of water technologies and other environmental technologies resulting from EU-funded research seems limited due to insufficient awareness of their developments and the opportunities they offer. Raising awareness among researchers, policy makers, businessmen and industries, as well as the large public, young people in particular is paramount to the full exploitation of these technologies which are able to boost economic growth and social welfare. The STREAM project intends to tackle this issue by bringing water technologies to the interest of potential uptakers through a diversified series of dissemination and communication actions tailored to the needs of the different categories of stakeholders. These include Policy Seminars to be held in 3 different countries and also streamed online, a Final Symposium at the European Parliament in Brussels, 2 Summer Schools, e-learning courses, audiovisual materials, including videos and interviews, webinars for research events and participation in sectorial events. A web platform will be set up from the very start of the project serving as a repository for all its activities and for the updated documentation material on latest research and policy progress in the field of water. A group of highly qualified actors need to be involved in such an ambitious proposal to perform all variety of activities foreseen: STREAM consortium gathers partners with specific capabilities and backgrounds and established relations in the field, like specialists in water issues, experts in communicating science and carrying out innovative dissemination activities to transfer the knowledge gathered to the target audiences.

6. RP Aquaterra - Understanding river-sediment-soil-groundwater interactions for support of management of waterbodies (river basin & catchment areas) (AQUATERRA)

Objective: Changes in climatic conditions, land use practices and soil and sediment pollution have large-scale adverse impacts on water quantity and quality. The current knowledge base in river basin management is not adequate to deal with these impacts. Austere is both integrating and developing knowledge to resolve this and disseminating it to stakeholders. In the water cycle, soil is a key element affecting groundwater recharge and the chemical composition of both subsurface and surface waters (the latter is additionally affected by sediments). The proper functioning of the river-sediment-soil-groundwater system is linked to key biogeochemical processes determining the filter, buffer and transformation capacity of soils and sediments. Austere aims at a better understanding of the system as a whole by identifying relevant processes, quantifying the associated parameters and developing numerical models of the groundwater-soil-sediment-river system to identify adverse trends in soil functioning, water quantity and quality. The modelling addresses all relevant scales starting from micro-scale water/solid interactions, the transport of dissolved species, pollutants as well as suspended matter in soil and groundwater systems at the catchments scale, and finally the regional scale, with case studies located in major river basins in Europe. With this integrated modelling system, Austere provides the basis for improved river basin management, enhanced soil and groundwater monitoring programs and the early identification and forecasting of impacts on water quantity and quality during this century. Austere is committed to the dissemination and exploitation of project results through structured workshops, dedicated short courses, and the active participation of consortium partners in national and international conferences. A peer review panel supervises the quality and direction of the project.

Variability of Solar Irradiance, Oscillations, and Seismology of the Sun

The research projects of PMOD/WRC aim at understanding the terrestrial radiation budget and the influence of the Sun on the terrestrial climate. The latter is in the central focus of today's world-wide climate research and is termed 'Space Weather' if the emphasis is on short term events and it is termed 'Space Climate, if climate implications are investigated. From the point of view of the activities of PMOD/WRC, the most interesting aspect of research in solar physics is that the radiance output of the Sun itself is variable. The goal of solar physics research at PMOD/WRC is therefore, to advance our understanding of the origin of these variations in order to be able to reconstruct the solar influence on the climate in the past. The SNF grant supports: A) Interpretation of data from active space experiments: Presently, there are two active space experiments built by PMOD/WRC: VIRGO on SoHO since December 1995, which is still operational, and SOVIM on the ISS since February 2008; B) Preparing for the scientific exploitation of the upcoming space experiment LYRA/PROBA2 and PREMOS on PICRAD (with launch in 2009); C) Investigating the origin of the solar radiance variability in the UV by exploring the lower chromosphere with helioseismological methods. Since 1996 the space experiment VIRGO/SoHO is monitoring the Total (TSI) and spectral Solar Irradiance. The homogeneous VIRGO data provide a crucial element in the construction of the TSI composite and thus, VIRGO provides a key observation to investigate the influence of the Sun on the terrestrial climate. The PMOD/WRC is involved in three new space missions that continue the observations of total and spectral solar irradiance: SOVIM on the ISS since February 2008 and with launch in 2009 LYRA on PROBA2, and PREMOS on PICARD. SOVIM on the ISS continues to monitor total and spectral solar irradiance with instrumentation similar to VIRGO/SOHO. Together with the two other experiments SOLSPEC and SolACES on the same platform, which observe the spectral irradiance from the EUV to the near infrared, our knowledge of the spectral redistribution during TSI changes will be improved and provide a sound basis for understanding of solar irradiance variability. LYRA/PROBA2 observations will be used for a climate-chemistry model that was developed at PMOD/WRC as part of an ETH-funded Poly-project. When LYRA data become available we will use a special middle atmosphere version of this CCM model, SOCOL-I, for now-casting the state of the upper atmosphere as reaction to the UV irradiance as observed by LYRA/PROBA2. This now casting is primarily aimed at testing our understanding of the chemical and dynamical processes induced by the variable solar UV irradiance, but if successful, our now casting product is a welcome additional input for space weather applications. Until the launch of PROBA2, this subproject is aimed at preparing the computer model for its operational use.

FP6-SUSTDEV, Enhancing public awareness on the results of Global Change and Ecosystems research actions through television media (GLOBALCHANGE-TV)

The strategic objective of GLOBALCHANGE-TV is to contribute to the development of public awareness on European Global Change and Ecosystems research in all European countries through television media. This objective will be reached through the following activities: - Pilot an innovative media-driven TV communication model for the Global Change and Ecosystems Priority projects. - Fill the existing communication gap between the technical content vehiculed by the Global Change and Ecosystems research and the understanding skills of the general public - Identify the key results of the Global Change and Ecosystems Priority, through the permanent consultation of its relevant constituencies (including the Commission Services and an in-depth punctual research towards individual Global Change and Ecosystems projects. - Create a series of a minimum of 10 high-quality free-of-rights Video News Releases (VNRs) for the general public on the basis of the key results of the research. - Include GLOBALCHANGE-TV audiovisual productions into the scientific and news TV broadcasting mainstreams of major national TV channels in all 25 EU countries. - Collect actual broadcasts made by European TV stations and include them on a DVD at the end of the project, for future use and exploitation. - Monitor the progress of the project and assess its achievements and success, by assessing the overall media impact of the project. The expected, measurable results of the GLOBALCHANGE-TV project are: - To have each of its audiovisual production broadcast by at least 8 major national TV stations throughout Europe. - To reach an overall public TV audience of several tens of millions people. - To track as many broadcasts as possible and to retrieve, for each broadcast, broadcasters' edit. - To provide a measure of the overall media impact of the project. Prime Contractor: Icons S.R.L.; Castelnuovo Bocca Dadda; Italy.

FP6-INCO, Cost-effective renewable energy for rural and peri urban areas in the Mediterranean region (MEDRES)

Objective: The objectives of the MEDRES research are to assess the opportunities for cost-effective renewable energies (RE) for rural areas and villages, the real effectiveness of new technologies through better knowledge of end user acceptability for energy efficient technologies and practices and to measure the impact of electrification on socio-economic development in rural areas.The main results will be elaborated in a set of recommendations and proposed adapted strategies to be disseminated in the region. The countries will be studied in order to promote cost-effective RE for rural areas in the region and best practices in order to enhance sustainable development, which is in line with the MDGs, the outcome of the International Conference on Renewable Energies in Bonn 2004 and the EU strategy within its neighbouring countries.The proposal is structured along five main work programmes and related deliverables: Analysis of the present RE context in the Southern Mediterranean countries and prospects; Research on sustainable power for rural areas and villages; Analysis of energy efficient use in peri-urban and rural areas, technologies and practices effectiveness; Measuring the impact of electrification on socio-economic development in rural areas and Management, Exploitation and dissemination. The research will support the decision makers in these countries to better define the best practices of sustainable energy in the rural and peri-urban areas and especially regarding RE and energy efficient technologies. It w ill also serve to support the EC with respect to the formulation of future INCO programmes focussing on the thematic issue of Sustainable Energy as well as to elaborate draft concepts for Renewable Energy projects which may be supported by the EC and the Mediterranean Countries. Thereby, this project will also help achieving the objectives of the Type II energy Initiative launched at the WSSD in Johannesburg: the Mediterranean Renewable Energy Programme.

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