On 6 July 2011, numerous guests from Greifswald and the surrounding area had the opportunity to see the research ship "Ludwig Prandtl" in the harbor of Greifswald/Wiek up close and to ask researchers questions about their work on the ship and about the RADOST project.
The Open-Ship Day, part of this year’s "Research at Anchor" tour of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht Center for Material and Coastal Research (HZG), was carried out in cooperation with RADOST and was dedicated to the topic of climate change adaptation.
On the evening of 6 July, a public informational event on "Coastal Adaptation" took place at the University of Greifswald. Dr. Marcus Reckermann of the international BALTEX secretariat at the HZG presented scientific findings on climate change and its effects on the Baltic Sea region.
Prof. Reinhard Lampe of the University of Greifswald emphasised that, on the Baltic Sea coast, the general rise in sea level, which is occurring due to the warming of the earth’s atmosphere, is controlled by the different elevations and depressions of the surrounding land masses and will therefore have different consequences in different coastal regions. It is in fact on the sub-region level that the RADOST project, which was presented by project leader Dr. Grit Martinez, undertakes a major part of its acitivities, be it models for specific focus areas or the development of local adaptation solutions.
Prof. Mike Orbach of the Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, USA presented on how the current sea level rise is being dealt with across the world in many different ways. Whereas the Netherlands, for instance, after years of intensive coastal protection measures, is now discussing pull-out strategies, new buildings are still being constructed "on the sea" in many Asian countries.
On the morning of 7 July, RADOST invited political decision-makers and other scientists for a ride on the Ludwig Prandtl to present its scientific work on site and to use this opportunity to initiate new cooperation on climate adaptation in the region. Following this, the Ludwig Prandtl continued its "Research at Anchor" tour, heading for Szczecin, Poland.
Impressions of the 'Research at Anchor' tour and 'Open Ship' day in Greifswald/Wiek 2011
Further links:
- Ecologic Institute Project: Regional Adaptation Strategies for the German Baltic Sea Coast (RADOST)
- RADOST project website
- Ecologic Institute Publication: 1st RADOST annual report
- Ecologic Institute Publication: Emerging Climate Change Coastal Adaptation Strategies and Case Studies around the World
- Ecologic Institute Event: Regional availability of climate knowledge in the Baltic Sea region
- KLIMZUG – Managing climate change in the regions for the future
- BALTEX secretariat
Keywords: climate change, adaptation, regional adaptation strategies, maritime economy, coastal protection, Baltic Coastline, climate data, knowledge transfer