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They are microscopic, yet play a gigantic role in the climate system: the tiny microalgae collectively known as phytoplankton. Through photosynthesis, they play a vital role in absorbing CO2 in the ocean. These hidden climate heroes are at the centre of the new KIMMCO lighthouse project. In this project, researchers from the GEOMAR and Kiel University are developing AI-based methods to measure the role of phytoplankton and climate-relevant gases, such as CO2 and methane more rapidly and efficiently. The Baltic Sea will serve as the first test area. Today, the Federal Ministry for the Environment in Berlin awarded the project around 2.16 million euros in funding.
– Joint press release by the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel and Kiel University –
Although phytoplankton in the ocean are tiny, they are of global importance: they account for only about 1-2 per cent of plant biomass, yet are responsible for nearly 40 per cent of global CO2 uptake through photosynthesis. The new project at GEOMAR and CAU will use AI to determine the role of phytoplankton in climate protection more precisely and quickly. The project aims to improve our understanding of the ocean’s natural climate protection functions and to strengthen them. The project is funded with around 2.16 million euros as part of the initiative AI Lighthouses for the Environment, Climate, Nature and Resources. Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUKN), presented the funding notification in Berlin today.
The KIMMCO project – short for KI-gesteuertes Monitoring mariner Mikroalgen als CO2-Senke, AI-based monitoring of marine microalgae as a CO2 sink – is embedded in the Action Programme for Natural Climate Protection (ANK), which was launched by the Federal Ministry for the Environment to protect ecosystems and to enhance their role as natural allies in climate protection.
Artificial intelligence meets climate protection
“Understanding the relationship between biodiversity and the CO2 storage capacity of phytoplankton is a key prerequisite for effective marine conservation,” says Prof. Dr Anja Engel, project leader and Professor of Biological Oceanography at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel.
This is precisely where KIMMCO comes in. The researchers combine approaches at different scales – from in situ sensor measurements and microscopic camera systems to optical water properties and satellite-based remote sensing. AI applications analyse and integrate the collected data, providing a near real-time picture of phytoplankton productivity and species composition.
“With KIMMCO, our goal is to make large-scale measurements more efficient and accurate, while reducing resource usage and speeding up the process,” explains Prof. Dr Kevin Köser, Head of the Marine Data Science group at Kiel University. “This not only saves time and ship operations, but also aims to reduce the CO2 footprint of marine observation itself.”
A lighthouse for science and policy
The project will run until the end of 2027, first being tested in the Baltic Sea. Its aim is to generate new insights into the ocean’s natural climate protection function and make these available to policymakers. KIMMCO will contribute valuable data to international monitoring programmes and environmental indicators, including those employed under the European Water Framework Directive, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and within HELCOM.
The project will also include biodiversity and sustainability checks, comparing the new AI-based methods with classical techniques in terms of accuracy, resource use, and CO2 footprint.
About: Action Programme for Natural Climate Protection (ANK)
Through the ANK, the Federal Ministry for the Environment is enhancing the capacity of ecosystems, including forests, moors, rivers, lakes and seas, to act as natural climate protectors. Between 2024 and 2028, more than 3.5 billion euros will be made available for this purpose. AI Lighthouses for the Environment, Climate, Nature and Resources, of which KIMMCO is one, are a key part of the programme.
https://www.geomar.de/n10038 Images for Download
https://www.z-u-g.org/foerderung/ki-leuchttuerme-fuer-umwelt-klima-natur-und-res... AI Lighthouses for the Environment, Climate, Nature and Resources
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