Ongoing project - open for funding
What it's all about
Off the coast of West Africa lies one of the most valuable marine areas on earth: the tropical upwelling region in the Atlantic. Here, nutrient-rich deep water flows to the surface and creates the basis for exceptionally productive marine ecosystems. Although this region covers less than 1% of the world's oceans, it generates more than 10% of global marine primary production and 20-30% of global fisheries yields. This area provides over 200 million people on the West African coast with food and income. At the same time, it is under severe threat: climate change, overfishing, pollution, oxygen deficiency and ocean acidification are rapidly changing living conditions and biodiversity.
This is where FUTURO comes in - a large-scale, international research initiative being implemented by GEOMAR (Germany) together with KIT, FZJ, TROPOS and several universities in Germany as well as European and West African partners. It aims to lay the foundations for the protection and sustainable management of this vital marine area.
What is to be achieved
The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is strengthening FUTURO with high-precision meteorological measurements, which are essential for understanding the atmosphere and its changes over the tropical Atlantic. The atmosphere influences the ocean and in particular the upwelling of deep water in many ways, e.g. through the input of momentum, aerosol particles and precipitation as well as evaporation at the surface or shading by clouds.
The KITcube, a mobile atmospheric observation system that can be used worldwide, is used for this purpose. The KITcube combines modern remote sensing systems (e.g. Doppler and Raman lidar, cloud radar, microwave radiometer) with classic weather and ground measurements and can record atmospheric processes in a division of a few meters up to around 100 km. Through these mobile, high-resolution measurements, KIT provides essential data that help to better understand the complex interactions between the atmosphere and the ocean and to translate them into sustainable solutions.
In FUTURO, the stationary measurements of the KITcube will be linked with aircraft measurements from TU Braunschweig. The Cessna, equipped with a new type of wind lidar system developed by KIT, would flexibly measure the near-coastal circulation in unprecedented detail (see link).
FUTURO pursues three immediate, central targets:
1. understanding change
How do climate change, acidification and oxygen depletion affect the functioning of the ecosystem? FUTURO aims to systematically measure the effects of these factors throughout the year for the first time.
2. record the effects on people and nature
How do fishing, coastal pollution and other human influences affect biodiversity and livelihoods? FUTURO will provide reliable data for the first time.
3. developing solutions together
FUTURO works with a co-design approach: researchers, authorities, political actors and local communities develop sustainable management strategies together. This approach was enshrined in the Saly Declaration following a major international workshop in Senegal.
The long-term target:
An equitable, science-based system for the management of marine resources that safeguards the livelihoods of coastal populations.
Why this project is relevant for foundations:
-High social benefit: FUTURO addresses an ecosystem that is vital to the survival of millions of people.
- Innovation and global significance: The planned one-year major expedition (from 2029) is unique in this form worldwide and will provide data that is crucial for climate and nature conservation.
- Partnership at eye level: FUTURO works explicitly together with West African institutions - a sustainable and responsible approach that has a structural impact.
- Contribution to the targets of the UN Ocean Decade: The project is officially recognized and contributes to global ocean research and marine sustainability.
All this makes FUTURO a future-oriented project of international relevance that is worthy of funding and combines ecological, social and development policy targets.
Links / Further information:
- FUTURO campaign
- IMKTRO
- KITcube
Facts and figures
Project duration:
FUTURO is designed as a multi-year initiative in three clearly defined phases:
2024-2027: FUTUROpre - preparation, needs analysis, planning of scientific infrastructure.
2028-2030: FUTUROcore - unique concerted field campaigns (ship, land and aircraft) combined with autonomous observation programs
2031-2033: FUTUROsyn - evaluation, development of a digital ocean twin and establishment of a permanent observation network as well as expansion of international graduate programs in West Africa; transfer to politics and society.
Funding required:
The ocean-based measurements are funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).
However, funding sources still need to be found for the scientifically necessary expansion of the core project with an atmospheric component. The expected costs amount to €850k for land and sea transportation, construction and dismantling of the KIT-cube observatory in West Africa, measurement operations (expected March-August 2029) and the procurement of meteorological balloon probes that ascend to altitudes of 25 km.
A further € 450,000 is required for a four-week deployment of the TU Braunschweig research aircraft.
The total funding sum is therefore € 1,300,000
Project responsibility KIT
Prof. Peter Knippertz, Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research Troposphere Research (IMKTRO)
Francois Croissant, M.A.
- Senior Fundraiser
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+49 152 27493501 - francois croissant ∂does-not-exist.kit edu
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