NETHERLANDS
National Contact	Jacqueline Stefels
Email	J.Stefelsrug.nl
Website	None
Full Report (pdf)	May 02 Mar 06

Current status of SOLAS planning

In June 2001 a one-day SOLAS workshop was held at the University of Groningen with Paul Crutzen as keynote speaker and a poster session with some 25 presentations. This produced a little booklet, containing a listing of Dutch scientists having expressed interest in SOLAS.

A fairly large number of SOLAS-type activities is already under way. To mention a few

Eddy accumulation technique

Among many projects the NOP has supported the eddy accumulation technique of Henk Zemmelink for air/sea exchange of both CO2 and DMS, for which Zemmeling successfully participated in the US GASEX field study last February 2001, as well as a previous field experiment in autumn 2000, both kindly facilitate d by Rik Wanninkhof, Wade McGillis, John Dacey and others in c ontext of US programmes. improved Ocean Biogeochemical Climate Modeling. By in cluding a realistic plankton ecosystem module within OBCM's there will be more realistic simulation for five major bloom- taxon groups (diatoms, coccolithophorids, phaeocystis sp., N2-fixers like trichodesmium, small prokaryotic picoplankton) with co-limitation by four nutrients (Fe, N, P, Si) towards improved modelling and prediction of air/sea fluxes of both CO2 and DMS. Within IRONAGES there are twelve participating institutes. Overall IRONAGES is about 2.5 million Euro subsidy.

The effects of breaking waves and bubbles on air-sea gas transfer

TNO-FEL has coordinated the EU laboratory study LUMINY on the effects of breaking waves and bubbles on air-sea gas transfer. Results from LUMINY have in part been published, other publications are in preparation.

Atmospheric Nitrogen Inputs in the Coastal Environment

TNO has also coordinated the EU project ANICE (Atmospheric Nitrogen Inputs in the Coastal Environment). Results have been submitted. In both projects CO2 transfer was included. Techniques applied were micro-meteorological and geochemical. Bubbles, which have a large influence on gas transfer, are studied with optical techniques. The bubble measurements are still being analyzed, in particular as regards the behaviour of bubble plumes (classification).

North Sea Platform (MPN)

KNMI is currently carrying out continuous flux measurements at Meetpost Noordwijk. These will be complemented with a wave follower experiment. A DMS experiment in planned for the Spring of 2003. Recently, Jan Fokke Meirink completed his PhD thesis entitled “The role of wind waves and sea spray in air/sea interaction”.

Modelling and measuring of DMS and CO2

The group of Winfried Gieskes is working on gas exchange. Winfried is also chairing SCOR Working Group 120 (Marine phytoplankton and global climate regulation: the phaeocystis species cluster as model). This working groups will study the role of the ocean’s microalgae in the cycling of elements that determine, to a large extent, the global climate. More in particular, this group will make an inventory of aspects that relate to cycling of biogeochemically relevant elements.

Earth System Modelling

Gerbrand Komen and Guy Brasseur are coordinating a modelling project which aims at the development of a flexible European Earth System Model. Three ocean biogeochemistry models participate: HAMOCC (MPI-MET), PISCES (IPSL) and HadOCC (Hadley Ventre). A special effort goes into the definition of the interfaces with other components of the Earth System Model

Future plans for national SOLAS activities

Several activities are in the planning stage:

European Network on Ocean Carbon Cycle

Hein de Baar is preparing a proposal for an Integrated Project under the Sixth Framework Programme of the European Union. The topic is Ocean Carbon cycle and the Uptake of Fossil Fuel.

Eurocores

Prof. Gerhard Herndl and Hein de Baar have been working towards setting up an European network of six laboratories to be supported under the Eurocores umbrella of the European Science Foundation ESF. This initiative is supported by NWO, the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research. When successful there would be a five years funding amounting to about Euro 250.000 per annum per nation, surely helpful for getting SOLAS underway.

National SOLAS committee

Prof. Hein de Baar (marine chemistry; NIOZ / RuG), chairman
Prof. Gerbrand Komen (air/sea physics, KNMI and University Utrecht), member SOLAS SSC
Vacancy (atmospheric chemistry)
Prof. Gerrit de Leeuw (air/sea fluxes, TNO)
Dr. Lucas Stal (plankton ecology, NIOO/CEMO)
Dr. Winfried Gieskes (plankton ecology, RuG)