Integrated Marine Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Research - IMBER

The ocean constitutes the largest portion of the Earth’s surface and is inextricably involved in the physical, chemical and biological processes that regulate the Earth System. The Integrated Marine Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Research –IMBER- project aims to understand and predict how the ocean responds to accelerating global change. It also investigates the consequent effects on the Earth System and human society. IMBER was launched in 2004 and is co-sponsored by SCOR.

IMBER's sister project GLOBEC completed its work at the end of 2009. Some of its ongoing regional programmes are being incorporated into IMBER. IGBP and SCOR have published a Supplement to the IMBER Science Plan and Implementation Strategy to outline the topics that should be considered for incorporation into IMBER at the close of GLOBEC. The report (number 52A) can be viewed here

IMBER Goal

The goal of IMBER is to study the sensitivity of marine biogeochemical cycles and ecosystems to global change, on time scales ranging from years to decades.