While the warm Baltic Sea water is inviting for swimming, the warming of the sea also brings risks. Rising temperatures promote the spread of vibrios, bacteria that can cause serious infections. Such challenges require a deep understanding of the interactions between extreme marine events and natural hazards as well as their long-term consequences for humans and the environment. This is precisely where the research mission mareXtreme - Pathways to Improved Risk Management, coordinated at MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences at the University of Bremen, comes in. A first general meeting of the researchers including several scientists from the Alfred Wegener Institute took place at the University of Bremen from September 4 to 6, 2024.
![[Translate to English:] Gruppenfoto mareXtreme](/fileadmin/_processed_/a/a/csm_Gruppenfoto_Andrea_Geipel_6506f5a65c.jpg "Group photo: mareXtreme")
Not only vibrios in the Baltic Sea, but also other extreme marine events such as storm surges in northern Germany and natural hazards such as volcanic eruptions in the Aegean pose significant threats. These events often have far-reaching effects on the affected regions by disrupting ecosystems and having a massive impact on coastal life. Comprehensive research and better risk management are therefore crucial to strengthen the resilience of people and nature.
From 4 to 6 September 2024, the University of Bremen hosted the first meeting of almost 100 researchers from four collaborative projects who will be working together over the next three years. Funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the five northern German states, mareXtreme is one of the three major research missions of the German Marine Research Alliance (DAM) and brings together social, engineering and natural science perspectives to investigate geomarine, biomarine and physical-oceanographic extreme events. Marine events such as earthquakes and heat waves often trigger cascading processes that are often self-reinforcing. These events require comprehensive monitoring strategies, effective early warning systems and the involvement of various stakeholders to strengthen the resilience of coastal communities. mareXtreme aims to improve the prediction of such events and promote the sustainable development of coastal regions.
The four joint projects ElbeXtreme, METAscales, MULTI-MAREX and PrimePrevention (led by the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research) provided the framework for the presentations and discussions. Not only was the current state of research highlighted, but key cross-cutting topics such as the development of a uniform data policy and the use of modelling for the development of early warning systems were also addressed. Particular attention was paid to the establishment of living laboratories, in which direct dialogue with residents, politicians and businesses is to be promoted. These living laboratories are intended to serve as an interface between science and practice and test innovative approaches to risk management in coastal regions.
‘The challenge of navigating the jungle of different perspectives can also be seen as an opportunity,’ explains Professor Beate Ratter from the University of Hamburg and one of the three mission spokespersons. ‘Through this exchange, we create a space in which different disciplines complement each other and come to a common understanding.’ This not only promotes closely interlinked, transdisciplinary collaboration, but also creates better conditions for dialogue and cooperation with different actors on the coasts.
With this successful kick-off meeting, the mareXtreme research mission has laid the foundation for intensive collaboration. The transdisciplinary networking of the participating scientists and the dialogue with local actors form the foundation for forward-looking solutions in coastal protection and risk management.
Background:
Deutsche Allianz Meeresforschung:
The German Marine Research Alliance (DAM) brings together 24 leading German marine research institutions with the aim of strengthening the sustainable management of coasts, seas and the ocean through research, transfer, data management, digitalization and infrastructure. To this end, the DAM and its member institutions develop solution-oriented knowledge and communicate options for action in politics, business and civil society. It is funded by the federal government and the northern German states of Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein.
3rd DAM research mission Towards improved risk management in the area of extreme marine events and natural hazards (mareXtreme)
In the DAM research mission “Towards improved risk management of marine extreme events and natural hazards”, short title mareXtreme, around 150 scientists from 29 partner organizations are researching how to deal with the interactions between short-term multiple and cascading extreme events and natural hazards and their long-term impacts on marine ecosystems and coastal societies. The aim of mareXtreme is to significantly improve the predictive capacity of marine extreme events and natural hazards, to support the sustainable development of coastal communities and to strengthen the resilience of coastal society.
More information:
https://www.mareXtreme.de Website; https://www.allianz-meeresforschung.de Deutsche Allianz Meeresforschung