Ocean Science Center Mindelo - Here we go
"Good things take time," is an old saying. The beginning of the cooperation between GEOMAR and scientists in the Republic of Cape Verde dates back more than 10 years. Already then, it became apparent that the Cape Verde archipelago would become an important basis in the future, since this region has been playing one of the key roles in ocean and climate research. In addition to GEOMAR, there are also other international research groups regularly out in the Cape Verde region. Reason enough to consider a logistics base, which enables important analyzes in the laboratories on the site and helps to store and maintain necessary equipment. Furthermore, young Cape Verdean scientists and technicians shall receive training in the new center.
"For each expedition we transport several containers full of equipment from Kiel to Cape Verde or to a port of the neighboring countries in West Africa," explains GEOMAR director Prof. Peter Herzig, who visited Mindelo in the past week to convince himself personally of the construction, “The new building will help us to save costs in the long term and to use our equipment more efficiently," Herzig continued.
GEOMAR scientists will not run out of scientific questions as quickly: Oxygen Minimum Zones, complex equatorial current systems, active underwater volcanoes or hydrothermal fields on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge are just a few topics that will be examined further in the long term in the vicinity of Cape Verde. Hence, German research vessels such as the Meteor, the Maria S. Merian or else the Poseidon will certainly continue to regularly visit the port of Mindelo. And a further ship will continue to serve the marine research: the INDP’s RV Islândia, which is currently being overhauled. It will soon again be able to carry out short important trips in the Cape Verde region, such as the regular measurements at the oceanic time-series station off the archipelago or the launching and recovery of gliders. "Again, we are pleased about the progress made. A laying of Islândia would have strongly hindered some of our work, not to mention the colleagues of INDP" says Prof. Herzig. "Here is where our many years of good cooperation, also on a high political level, have proven itself."
