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Image by Everaldo Coelho

About the Mission

mareXtreme is a research mission focused on studying and managing extreme marine events and natural hazards. These events, which include floods, droughts, heatwaves and storm surges, pose significant risks to coastal ecosystems and human communities.

What we do and why

In mareXtreme we address urgent societal challenges caused by marine extreme events and natural hazards. As needs- and solution-oriented research, it will analyze marine extreme event bundles, examine impact cascades, and identify societal obstacles and opportunities for various measures based on the societal need for action. We also explore the need for transformation from a technical and societal perspective and develop innovative solutions. In mareXtreme we will bring together the fragmented knowledge of different disciplines and combine it with the experiences and competencies of various stakeholders.
By using synergies between the three thematic blocks - marine geo risks, marine biological risks, and meteorological/oceanographic risks - the complex interplay of different event bundles and cascade effects on socio-ecological coastal systems will be systematically analyzed. This is supported by modeling fundamental processes of marine extreme events and natural hazards. Concepts and tools will be developed to optimize predictions, reduce risks, and improve adaptation and reliable protection.
Our goal is to develop capacities and programs in risk management that take socio-political conditions and concerns into account and to implement education and training programs (capacity development). We use transdisciplinary approaches to assess strategic adaptation needs and capacities in dealing with extreme events and their cascading effects and develop economically and politically viable methods and measures.

Ruhige See

Our goals

The increasing pressure on coastal areas, the growing interconnectedness of economic, social and technical systems and the confluence of various marine natural hazards with the consequences of climate change are leading to more complex risks and increased vulnerability for which we are not yet well prepared. In mareXtreme we have set ourselves concrete goals to address these risks.

01

Scientific findings

In mareXtreme, new and significant insights are gained into the impacts of extreme marine events on coastal ecosystems and human communities. We aim to document these findings in scientific publications and reports.

03

Innovative technologies

We will develop and deploy new technologies and monitoring systems to enable continuous observation and analysis of extreme events and their impacts.

05

Sustainable development

In the long term, our measures should contribute to the sustainable development of coastal regions by minimising the ecological, social and economic impacts of extreme events.

02

Adaptation and mitigation strategies

We want to develop and successfully implement effective and sustainable strategies to adapt to extreme events and mitigate their impacts. These strategies will be designed in collaboration with stakeholders and should lead to increased resilience of the affected communities and ecosystems.

04

Participation

Our close cooperation with local communities, authorities and other stakeholders should lead to better management and preparation for extreme events. We plan to strengthen this cooperation through regular workshops, training and participatory processes.

By defining concrete, cross-mission objectives, we aim to ensure that mareXtreme makes a significant contribution to improving the resilience of coastal ecosystems and human communities to extreme marine events.

Who we are

mareXtreme is a research mission initiated by the German Alliance for Marine Research (DAM) and includes an interdisciplinary group of scientists and experts from various institutions. Our partners come from universities, research institutes, authorities and industry. This collaboration enables us to conduct comprehensive and practice-oriented research that responds to the needs and challenges of the communities and ecosystems involved.

 

 

We work closely with stakeholders to collect relevant data, analyze the impacts of extreme events, and develop sustainable adaptation and mitigation strategies. Our goal is to translate scientific knowledge into practical solutions that improve the protection and resilience of coastal ecosystems and communities.

The Projects

Image by Alev Takil
Logo ElbeXtreme

investigates the impacts of physical-oceanographic extreme events on ecosystem services in the Elbe estuary coastal system.

Image by Michael Olsen
Logo METAscales

investigates the impacts of and strategies for adapting to future physical-oceanographic extreme scenarios on German coasts.

Image by Joseph Barrientos
Logo MULTI-MAREX

develops improved on-site action and forecasting options for multiple geomarine extreme events such as seaquakes and tsunamis in the Mediterranean.

Image by Solen Feyissa
Logo PrimePrevention

investigates ways to predict biological threats to the sea in order to prevent socio-economic impacts.

Structure

The mareXtreme mission is embedded in the infrastructure of the German Marine Research Alliance (DAM). There are content and personnel links to the two other DAM research missions CDRmare and sustainMare as well as to the international scientific advisory board and the DAM stakeholder forum.

 

There is a scientific exchange about national and international projects and the results are passed on to actors in politics, business and society.

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MISSION LEADERSHIP

The overall management and cross-mission transfer of the research mission is led by three spokespersons. They ensure the networking of the individual alliances and coordinate the cross-mission transfer as well as the cross-mission public relations work and data management.

Portrait of Prof. Dr. Achim Kopf

Prof. Dr. Achim Kopf

MARUM University of Bremen

Portrait of Prof. Dr. Beate Ratter

Prof. Dr. Beate Ratter

Universität Hamburg

Portrait of Prof. Dr. Torsten Schlurmann

Prof. Dr. Torsten Schlurmann

Leibniz University Hannover

Steering group

The mareXtreme steering group supports the mission spokespersons in the areas of project management, data management, outreach, public relations and transfer.

Portrait Dr. Walter Menapace

Dr.

Walter Menapace

Mission management

Contact: wmenapace(at)marum.de

Portrait Dr. Andrea Geipel

Dr.

Andrea Geipel

Outreach

Contact: ageipel(at)geomar.de

Portrait Dr. Nike Fuchs

Dr.

Nike Fuchs

Transfer, communication, participation

Contact: nfuchs(at)marum.de

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Astrid Wittmann

Data management

Contact: Astrid.Wittmann(at)awi.de

The mareXtreme research mission addresses several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The main SDGs supported by mareXtreme’s work are:
Icon of Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
Icon of the 9th Sustainable Development Goal: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Icon of the 11th Sustainable Development Goal: Sustainable Cities and communities
Icon of the 13th Sustainable Development Goal: Climate Action
Icon of the 14th Sustainable Development Goal: Life below water
Icon of the 17th Sustainable Development Goal: Partnership for the goals
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