CIIMAR is part of the Atlântida II strategic project, which aims to implement the North Atlantic Coastal Observatory of Portugal funded with around €3 million.
CIIMAR is part of the Atlântida II strategic project, which aims to implement the North Atlantic Coastal Observatory of Portugal, a scientific infrastructure dedicated to the integrated monitoring and sustainable management of marine and coastal ecosystems.
With funding of around €3 million under the NORTE 2030 Regional Programme, the project will run until December 2027 and positions CIIMAR as a national reference in the production of scientific knowledge applied to climate change adaptation and ocean conservation.
Atlântida II is coordinated by the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto and involves researchers from various institutions, namely CIIMAR, the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, the Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences, the University of Minho and the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro.
Project objectives
One of the central axes of Atlântida II is the development and application of advanced numerical models to simulate climate change scenarios, assessing their impacts on waves, ocean currents and mean sea level. These data will be essential for anticipating coastal evolution and supporting informed public policies and strategic decisions.
“With Atlântida II, we want to put Northern Portugal at the forefront of coastal monitoring, providing essential data to protect marine ecosystems and support decisions that reconcile environmental conservation and economic development,” says Vítor Vasconcelos, project coordinator, professor at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto and Director of CIIMAR.
The project continues the work begun in Atlântida between 2020 and 2023, deepening and expanding coastal observation capabilities through the implementation of an integrated monitoring network up to 12 nautical miles, with potential extension beyond the Portuguese territorial sea limit.
An integrated approach: from microorganisms to large marine vertebrates
Under the scientific coordination of Catarina Magalhães, a researcher at CIIMAR, Atlântida II is based on a multidisciplinary approach covering different aquatic habitats, from estuaries and subtidal zones to open ocean areas.
Through regular oceanographic campaigns, the team will continuously characterise the coastal ecosystems of northern Portugal, integrating chemical, physical, geological and biological dimensions, recognising their high ecological, economic and social value.
“We study ecosystems as a whole, from bacteria and other microorganisms to large marine vertebrates, such as dolphins. All these communities are interconnected and influence the balance of natural systems,” explains Catarina Magalhães.
Photo: CETUS/CIIMAR
