Untitled - The Future Ocean

2.3 Research PlatformsThe Cluster has established four overarching research platforms to provide infrastructure andresources for all scientists within the Cluster. They offer a wide range of high-end instrumentationwhich was mostly acquired over the past few years (Section 3.1). Many aspects of Clusterresearch require access to high performance computing facilities, specialized analysis systemsand will benefit from modern numerical techniques. Hence, numerical expertise and support will beoffered by a network connecting the recently established Interdisciplinary Center for NumericalSimulation at CAU, the Seismic Processing Center and the ocean and climate modeling groups atIFM-GEOMAR with the Computing Centers of both CAU and IFM-GEOMAR (P1).Research into the ocean conditions of the past and its important role in guiding our understandingof the future ocean requires highly specialized and accurate isotope and trace metal analysis, bothcurrently performed at CAU and at IFM-GEOMAR. High-end instruments and advanced techniquesavailable at CAU in the Leibniz-Laboratory for Radiometric Dating and Isotope Research and theInstitutes of Physical Chemistry and Geosciences will be integrated with the analytical facilitiesassembled at IFM-GEOMAR to establish the new virtual Tracer Analysis Center which will offer acomprehensive analytical support for the Cluster (P2)Improved understanding of human deseases by the study of marine organisms and mechanisticstudies of pH-sensitive processes in plankton at the molecular level will benefit from the recentlyestablished Center for Molecular Biosciences (ZMB) at CAU. ZMB provides unique expertise inmolecular biosciences and access to high throughput molecular techniques (P3).In-situ observations of current conditions and on-going trends in the ocean require an array ofspecialized oceanographic sampling and observing platforms. The newly established Technologyand Logistics Center for Ocean Observations at IFM-GEOMAR and the soon-to-be-delivered deepseaRemotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) financed by the State of Schleswig-Holstein serve as theideal nucleus for a new platform offering cutting edge technology to explore the ocean over spaceand time and in remote regions from the oceanic crust to the air-sea interface (P4).The novel platforms set up in the Cluster allow for a more efficient use of resources and will befurther developed and strengthened according to the needs of the Cluster.91