ITMS Projekt CoastGEM

Satellite image of the North Sea and northern Germany (Source: ESA / Hereon)

In the sub-project CoastGEM (Coastal Greenhouse gas Emissions), we estimate the greenhouse gas emissions from coastal waters and transitional waters, with a focus on the Elbe Estuary as most important contributary to the German Bight. We investigate emissions of three most important greenhouse gasses, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, in the coastal and marine environment, i.e. from the beginning of the estuary in Geesthacht, over the port in Hamburg, along the estuary and into the North Sea.

Especially coastal regions can be hot-spots of greenhouse gas (GHG) production, but an exact quantification of emissions and controls remains difficult. We combine existing flux data of greenhouse gases with stationary measurements (e.g., Research Platform Tesperhude) and research cruises in the coastal German Bight. Our data will add to a national inventory of greenhouse gas emissions, in which emissions from aquatic regions so far are underrepresented.

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