Sinking Coasts: Geosphere, Ecosphere and Anthroposphere of the Holocene Southern Baltic Sea

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Jan Harff
• Subject Area: Palaeontology
• Term: from 2002 to 2007
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5469791

The general target of SINCOS is the development of a model of the relation between geo-system, eco-system, climate and socioeconomic system for sinking coasts of tideless seas to be developed as an example for the southern Baltic Sea since the Atlantikum. Geoscientists (geologists, geomorphologists, geodesists), biologists (palaeobotanists, palaezoologists), climate researchers and archaeologists will collaborate in order to investigate the cause and effect relation between driving forces (climatic and geological processes) and the response of the natural and social environment in the coastal areas of a transgressive sea. The reconstruction of the Litorina transgression west and east of the Darss sill structure plays the central role. Seven projects under the roof of SINCOS will deal with the acqusition and interpretation of proxy-data in order to reconstruct the history of the southwestern Baltic Sea since 8.000 calendar years BC. In the frame of two projects data will be integrated and models will be developed that mirror the processes of interrelation of different spheres to be investigated. Depending on the varying degree of quantification between measurable variables and qualitative observations models will differ between statistical data exploration and deterministic differential equations. A 4D GIS plays the central role in modelling and data integration. Results will be presented as time-dependent regionalizations of geo-, eco-, and socio-economical parameters. Simulations of future relative sea level change scenarios based on models developed are planned.

• DFG Programme: Research Units
• Subproject of: FOR 488: Sinking Coasts: Geosphere, Ecosphere and Anthroposphere of the Holocene Southern Baltic Sea
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Friedrich Lüth