Events and Trends
MOSES is a new observing system of the Helmholtz Research Field "Earth and Environment" that investigates the evolution and impacts of highly dynamic, often extreme events using a systemic monitoring approach. By quantifying energy, water, nutrient, and greenhouse gas fluxes during short-term events such as weather extremes, abrupt permafrost thaw, or rapidly changing ocean currents, the system provides data to study potential long-term environmental impacts. Such event-oriented, yet cross-compartment datasets are necessary to better understand the impacts of climate change and develop adaptation strategies.
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MOSES Campaigns - Bridging Marine and Terrestrial Expertise: Collaborative Insights into Coastal Methane Flux Dynamics
A groundbreaking study uniting researchers from marine and terrestrial centers has delivered new insights into the quantification of methane fluxes between the coastal ocean and the atmosphere. This collaborative effort described by Bussmann et al. (2024), involving measurements aboard three research vessels in the southern North Sea, highlights the critical role of high-resolution, in situ data in reducing uncertainties in flux estimations. The study demonstrates that local wind speed and atmospheric methane measurements onboard significantly enhance the accuracy of flux calculations compared to land-based weather station data.
Key findings include the strong influence of wind speed and direction on flux estimations and atmospheric methane concentrations, as well as the substantial variation in flux results based on data sources. The collaboration not only emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary approaches but also sets a new benchmark for realistic estimations of coastal methane emissions, addressing a crucial component of the atmospheric methane budget. This publication exemplifies the power of cross-center teamwork in tackling complex environmental challenges.
More information about this publication is available here.