Scientific departments
	Physical Oceanography
	Marine Geology
	Marine Ecology
	Marine Organic Biogeochemistry
	Biological Oceanography
Large Projects
Research links

 

To contribute to the multidisciplinary research themes, NIOZ scientists work in five scientific departments:
Physical Oceanography		Department head: Dr. Hendrik van Aken
	The large-scale circulation as well as specific physical processes like tides, internal waves and turbulence are studied in the World Ocean, the North Sea and the Wadden Sea. In these studies use is made of hydrographic surveys by research vessels, monitoring of the ocean with moored instruments and remote sensing, instrumented commercial ships, and mathematical-physical analyses.
Marine Geology		Department head: Dr. Jens Greinert
	The dynamics of the seafloor are studied with respect to its formation and capability to store paleo climate and environmental information. Sediment cores and tropical corals are used as climate archives; lander deployments, mooring and geophysical investigations monitor present day processes helping to better decipher past environmental changes in the sedimentary record. The department is strongly open-ocean oriented with a focus in the Atlantic, Indic and Arctic Oceans.
Marine Organic Biogeochemistry		Department head: Prof. Dr. Ir. Jaap Sinninghe Damsté
	The molecular analysis of natural organic matter in marine organisms and sediments offers another way to reconstruct natural climate changes in the past. The environmental fate and the impact of man-made organic compounds such as brominated flame retardants, PCBs is another research topic in this department.
Biological Oceanography		Acting department head: Dr. Klaas Timmermans
	The functioning of the food web is studied in the open ocean and the North Sea during sea-going expeditions and at the institute by means of large experimental facilities and modeling. Particularly, the conditions for sustainable use of the ocean and the interactions between biodiversity and productivity are investigated.
Marine Ecology		Department head: Dr. Henk van der Veer
	Seasonal, interannual and even interdecadal changes in the Waddensea and North sea are closely monitored in long-term records of numbers, growth rates and compositions of benthic animals, fish and birds to investigate short and long term ecosystem changes. In addition intricate feeding relationships between waders, fish and benthic animals are investigated in the field and in large experimental facilities such as the new and unique wader facility.