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Just as the physical time series the biological AWI time series are also generated at pretty much all AWI sites and encompass almost all components of the marine foodweb from bacteria to fish. The data are collected useing a multitude of methods from counts to automated sensors and molecular methods to capture the full diversity local communitiesThe AWI is in a unique position in that its scientists jointly generate a particularly large set of time series, in the Arctic, Antarctic as well as the North Sea. These data are used in the context of AWI research programmes, but also in a range of external projects and collaborations. Ecological, physical and chemical time series are an essential tool for the study of climate-related topics. They can document long-term changes in the environment and also serve as background data for experimental studies. The main goals are the quality-controlled collection, archival and analysis of the different parameters. Cruicially AWI-LTO combines these extensive data holdings with IT and modelling approaches, thus supporting the whole data life cycle from collection to publication.

Collectively and individually our time series deliver vital baseline data for the evaluation of future climate change related impacts on marine ecosystems but also help to understand fundamental ecosystem processes in often not easily accesible geographic areas. All our time series are also integral components of well connected and networked in a large number of national and international collaborations in EU projects and Boards and organizations such as ICES and SCOR. 

Important publications for some key AWI North Sea time series:

Helgoland Roads phytoplankton: Wiltshire, K. H., A. Kraberg, I. Bartsch, M. Boersma, H. D. Franke, J. Freund, C. Gebühr, G. Gerdts, K. Stockmann, and A. Wichels. 2010. Helgoland Roads: 45 years of change in the North Sea. Estuaries and Coasts DOI 10.1007/s12237-009-9228-y.

Helgoland zooplankton: Boersma, M., K. H. Wiltshire, S.-M. Kong, W. Greve, and J. Renz. 2015. Long-term change in the copepod community in the southern German Bight. Jornal of Sea Research 101:41-50.

The main goals are the quality-controlled collection, archival and analysis of the Helgoland Roads phytoplankton, zooplankton and physico-chemical time series at Helgoland as well as xxx at Sylt.

• To continue/establish time series of relevant and representative ecological parameters at different levels of ecosystem organization.

• To create well documented databases and archives of samples and specimens that are accessible to the scientific community.

• To analyze these time series for trends and cycles by means of modern analytical  and modelling approaches.

• To relate the observed patterns to external forcing factors on regional and global scales by means of empirical and mechanistic models.

• To establish a cause-and-effect understanding of these relationships by analytical and experimental approaches.

• To model future ecological developments based on the observed relationships between forcing factors and ecological parameters.

• To provide knowledge to the broader scientific community, general public, resource managers, and policy makers to address complex environmental challenges.

initiatives including   ICES, SCOR, OSPAR and LTER.

Helgoland has a long tradition in ecological time series research and the scientists of the Biological Station Helgoland produce a number of extremely valuable time series that have been used for scientific research by scientists around the world. The core time series are known as Helgoland Roads and comprise phytoplankton and zooplankton as well as physico-chemical parameters.

Helgoland Roads forms an important component of the overall pool of the AWIs time series which comprises 30 individual time series resourcees ranging from physical and chemical time series via periglacial to a range of biodiversity data sets (see LTO@AWI)

Marine Data

The Marine Data Portal is the single-entry point to near real-time data, platforms, expeditions and data visualisation of the German marine research vessels, infrastructures and beyond. Explore the large collection of sensors and our interactive maps. Create your own dashboard to explore the real-time data flow and analyse your data in the workspace.