OC2 objective is to provide well-anchored basic and integrated knowledge of the present-day oceanic processes at the regional scale, as well as to investigate their response to past global warm climate conditions.

RESEARCH PLAN

Develop interdisciplinary and integrated projects aiming to:

•Characterize different oceanic ecosystems and biodiversity to guarantee its sustainability and the good state of the marine environment;

•Observe and monitor regional oceanic circulation (superficial, intermediate, bottom), and the coastal upwelling system, which has major implications for climate, primary productivity and related fisheries, ocean acidification, formation of bottom anoxic conditions;

•Investigate marine archives of past climate to understand and characterize ocean-land-atmosphere interactions, and investigate the ocean reaction (circulation, primary productivity, biogeochemical cycles, ecosystem, biodiversity) to those conditions in past warming transitions, warm periods and rapid climate change. Information that is essential to identify potential changes for the near future;