Coastal Blue Carbon

Research Line 

Currently, our research in CBC focus on seagrass meadows. More specifically, we conceptualise, develop and run numerical models to estimate carbon fluxes and standing stocks associated to seagrass meadows, as well as associated habitat suitability models, at a Pan-European scale.

In more detail, we examine how climate change and nutrient management interact to shape the future distribution of the European seagrasses. Using a basin-scale habitat suitability modelling approach, we quantify present-day habitat suitability and project changes under a moderate climate scenario (RCP 4.5) to 2050, using the in-house Blue 2 modelling framework as forcing. We further explore the potential for nutrient mitigation policies to offset climate-driven habitat deterioration by considering upstream nitrogen and phosphorus reduction scenarios. This is combined with a 0-D seagrass carbon-based model, conceptualised, developed and tested in the team to simulate seagrass-associated carbon stocks and provide perception of seagrass-mediated carbon sequestration in European marine basins under different scenarios.