Current Projects
Environmental assessment of novel technologies
Technologies are an important tool to help solve pressing environmental challenges such as climate change and pollution. At the same time, new technologies need to ensure that there is a net environmental benefit, i.e., that the harm reduction achieved by the remediation exceeds potential negative impacts caused by the technology. In this project, we develop and apply novel environmental impact assessment frameworks to evaluate the net environmental benefit of emerging technologies.
Technologies are an important tool to help solve pressing environmental challenges such as climate change and pollution. At the same time, new technologies need to ensure that there is a net environmental benefit, i.e., that the harm reduction achieved by the remediation exceeds potential negative impacts caused by the technology. In this project, we develop and apply novel environmental impact assessment frameworks to evaluate the net environmental benefit of emerging technologies.
Sources and fate of plastic debris in the ocean
Plastic waste accumulating in the global ocean is an increasingly threatening environmental issue. In this project, we investigate the transport and transformation processes of plastic debris in the ocean. Such knowledge is of paramount importance to assess the long-term risks of ocean plastic pollution for marine ecosystems, fisheries and food supply to humans, as well as to advance optimized mitigation strategies.
Plastic waste accumulating in the global ocean is an increasingly threatening environmental issue. In this project, we investigate the transport and transformation processes of plastic debris in the ocean. Such knowledge is of paramount importance to assess the long-term risks of ocean plastic pollution for marine ecosystems, fisheries and food supply to humans, as well as to advance optimized mitigation strategies.
Environmental and ecological impacts of plastic pollution and cleanup efforts
To effectively minimize adverse effects of plastic pollution on marine life, a rapid reduction in plastic emissions into the ocean is needed in combination with removal of legacy plastic debris that has already accumulated in the environment. In this project, we investigate the direct impact of organism bycatch during plastic removal, as well as of the potential benefits of reducing the negative effects of plastic pollution on aquatic life. Such knowledge allows for an efficient removal of plastic debris from aquatic systems while maintaining a net positive environmental gain.
To effectively minimize adverse effects of plastic pollution on marine life, a rapid reduction in plastic emissions into the ocean is needed in combination with removal of legacy plastic debris that has already accumulated in the environment. In this project, we investigate the direct impact of organism bycatch during plastic removal, as well as of the potential benefits of reducing the negative effects of plastic pollution on aquatic life. Such knowledge allows for an efficient removal of plastic debris from aquatic systems while maintaining a net positive environmental gain.
Development of new plastic detection technologies
Remote sensing technologies and citizen science provide promising new tools to map the extent of plastic pollution in our waterways on a global scale. In this project, we are supporting the development and implementation of vessel-based AI camera systems and a global citizen science project together with The Ocean Cleanup.
Remote sensing technologies and citizen science provide promising new tools to map the extent of plastic pollution in our waterways on a global scale. In this project, we are supporting the development and implementation of vessel-based AI camera systems and a global citizen science project together with The Ocean Cleanup.
Past Projects of Egger Matthias
Role of sediment oxygen consumption in the marine carbon cycle
The seabed is the largest reservoir of organic matter on Earth and is a main long-term sink for new biomass produced in the ocean. Deposition and subsequent burial of organic matter therefore plays a key role in the global marine carbon cycle. In this project, we are developing empirical algorithms that can be used to map the global distribution of oxygen uptake at the seafloor and determine the environmental controls on benthic oxygen and organic carbon turnover.
The seabed is the largest reservoir of organic matter on Earth and is a main long-term sink for new biomass produced in the ocean. Deposition and subsequent burial of organic matter therefore plays a key role in the global marine carbon cycle. In this project, we are developing empirical algorithms that can be used to map the global distribution of oxygen uptake at the seafloor and determine the environmental controls on benthic oxygen and organic carbon turnover.
Global production and removal of methane in the seabed
Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas and plays an important role for climate on Earth. Anaerobic oxidation of methane with sulfate provides a globally important barrier for the vast amounts of methane produced in the subseafloor. In this project, we identified the key controls on methane removal with sulfate in marine sediments and provided a global map and budget for the production and removal of methane in the seabed.
Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas and plays an important role for climate on Earth. Anaerobic oxidation of methane with sulfate provides a globally important barrier for the vast amounts of methane produced in the subseafloor. In this project, we identified the key controls on methane removal with sulfate in marine sediments and provided a global map and budget for the production and removal of methane in the seabed.
Iron-mediated anaerobic oxidation of methane
The biological conversion of methane in marine sediments, largely controlled by anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM), is a crucial part of the global carbon cycle. Our research revealed new insights into the role of iron oxides as an oxidant for AOM in marine sediments. Besides its role in mitigating methane emissions, iron-dependent AOM strongly impacts sedimentary iron cycling and related biogeochemical processes through the reduction of large quantities of iron oxides.
The biological conversion of methane in marine sediments, largely controlled by anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM), is a crucial part of the global carbon cycle. Our research revealed new insights into the role of iron oxides as an oxidant for AOM in marine sediments. Besides its role in mitigating methane emissions, iron-dependent AOM strongly impacts sedimentary iron cycling and related biogeochemical processes through the reduction of large quantities of iron oxides.
Efficiency of the methane oxidation barrier in marine sediments
Globally, the methane efflux from the ocean to the atmosphere is small, despite high rates of methane production in continental shelf and slope environments. This low efflux results from the biological removal of methane through anaerobic oxidation with sulfate in marine sediments. In some settings, however, porewater methane is found throughout the sulfate-bearing zone, indicating an apparently inefficient oxidation barrier for methane. In this project, we investigated the apparent limited capacity of sedimentary methane removal in marine Lake Grevelingen (the Netherlands).
Globally, the methane efflux from the ocean to the atmosphere is small, despite high rates of methane production in continental shelf and slope environments. This low efflux results from the biological removal of methane through anaerobic oxidation with sulfate in marine sediments. In some settings, however, porewater methane is found throughout the sulfate-bearing zone, indicating an apparently inefficient oxidation barrier for methane. In this project, we investigated the apparent limited capacity of sedimentary methane removal in marine Lake Grevelingen (the Netherlands).
Phosphorus burial in marine sediments
Phosphorus (P) is an important nutrient controlling primary production in aquatic ecosystems. In this project, we studied the burial of phosphorus in sediments of the Black and Baltic Seas, as well as of the South China Sea. The findings of this research highlight the importance of reduced iron-phosphate minerals such as vivianite in the sedimentary burial of phosphorus.
Phosphorus (P) is an important nutrient controlling primary production in aquatic ecosystems. In this project, we studied the burial of phosphorus in sediments of the Black and Baltic Seas, as well as of the South China Sea. The findings of this research highlight the importance of reduced iron-phosphate minerals such as vivianite in the sedimentary burial of phosphorus.
Ocean acidification in the Humboldt Current System
The Humboldt Current System (HCS), located in the eastern South Pacific, is one of the most productive marine ecosystems in the world. It naturally exhibits lower surface pH due to the Ekman-driven coastal upwelling of CO2-rich subsurface waters. As a consequence, the HCS may be particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic ocean acidification. In this project, we used numerical simulations of the Regional Oceanic Modeling System (ROMS) coupled to an NPZD (nutrient - phytoplankton - zooplankton - detritus) -type biogeochemical model to study the progression of past and future ocean acidification in the HCS.
The Humboldt Current System (HCS), located in the eastern South Pacific, is one of the most productive marine ecosystems in the world. It naturally exhibits lower surface pH due to the Ekman-driven coastal upwelling of CO2-rich subsurface waters. As a consequence, the HCS may be particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic ocean acidification. In this project, we used numerical simulations of the Regional Oceanic Modeling System (ROMS) coupled to an NPZD (nutrient - phytoplankton - zooplankton - detritus) -type biogeochemical model to study the progression of past and future ocean acidification in the HCS.
