VECTOR – VulnErability of the Italian coastal area and marine Ecosystems to Climatic changes and Their rOle in the Mediterranean caRbon cycles

Background and Goals

The VECTOR project investigates the most important climate effects for the Mediterranean marine environment and their role in the global carbon cycle. Possible future scenarios for the Italian coast are also being developed.

The project studies nine different areas:

  1. Effects of climate fluctuations on the dynamics of wind waves;
  2. Vulnerability of estuary regions and lagoons to climate changes;
  3. Effects of changes in sea levels for coastal regions;
  4. Climate fluctuations, species diversity and coastal ecosystems;
  5. Sensitivity of the Venetian Lagoon  to climate change and climate fluctuations: a case study;
  6. The role of the Northern Adriatic continental plate in the carbon cycle;
  7. The role of the living resources of the Mediterranean continental plate in the carbon cycle;
  8. The role of the Mediterranean pelagic zone in the carbon cycle;
  9. Test region for the carbon cycle in the Southern Ocean.

The objective of the project is to study Mediterranean ecosystems in terms of:

- their role as carbon sinks and sources,

- their sensitivity to global changes,

- the carbon cycle for the next 200 years, and

- to provide data on CO2 sequestration by Italian seas for international negotiations.

Content time

to

Research area/region

Country
  • Italy

Steps in the process of adaptation to climate change

Step 1: Understand and describe climate change

Approach and results 

The project consortium is developing scenarios for climate effects for the Italian coast, in order to study changes to the extent of coastal areas, the morphology of the surf zone and the shore area, the coastal length and aerosol transfer from the sea to the coastal region and associated effects for populated areas and freshwater incidence.

High-resolution numerical models are used for the hydrodynamics and biogeochemical carbon cycle in the northern Adriatic Sea, including CARADRI, ESIM, INGV model, MITgcm model, and OPATM-BFM model.

Parameter (climate signals)
  • Altered rainfall patterns
  • Higher average temperatures
Further Parameters 

light exposure, humidity, wind speed

Step 2a: Identify and assess risks - climate effects and impact

Approach and results 

Considered are species diversity, tourism, agriculture, fishing and livestock management, as well as the carbon cycle.

Participants

Funding / Financing 

Ministry of Education, University and Research Ministry of Economy and Finance Ministry of the Environment and Protection of Natural Resources Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry With Integrated Special Fund for Research (FISR)

Project management 

Milano-Biccocca University, Co.N.I.S.Ma.

Cooperation/Partners 

National Interuniversity Consortium for Marine Sciences - CoNISMa;

National Italian Agency for New Technologies, Energy and the Environment - ENEA;

Institute for coastal marine environment - IAMC;

CNR Central Institute for Scientific and Technological Applied Marine Research - ICRAM;

Institute of Environmental Process Dynamics - IDPA;

CNR Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change - CMCC;

Institute of Marine Sciences - ISMAR;

CNR National Institute of Oceanography and Geophysics - OGS;

Stazione Zoologica A. Dohrn (Neapel) - SZN;

Contact

Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare(CoNISMa)
Via Isonzo 32
00198 Rom
Italy

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Fields of action:
 biological diversity  coastal and marine protection  fishery  tourism industry