Long-term observation data from the Baltic Sea, collected and hosted at the IOW and its predecessor since the 1950s, are a valuable treasure for the entire coastal sea research community, both nationally and internationally. These time series ensure high-quality data support for hydrodynamic and ecosystem models and enable the institute to analyse trends. In addition, the data are used to support "what-if“ model scenarios as future projections.
The IOW contributes significantly to the sound scientific knowledge that is needed to implement the marine strategy for the Baltic Sea. Therefore, the institute cooperates with ministries, agencies and authorities, at both the federal and state level. The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) has entrusted the IOW with the Baltic Sea Monitoring Programme, to which Germany and the other countries bordering the Baltic Sea committed themselves in the Helsinki Convention. Besides, the IOW runs for the BSH three autonomous measuring stations in the western Baltic Sea (at Darss Sill, in the Arkona Basin and Odra Bight) which deliver oceanographic data from different water levels around the clock.
The nine IOW professors are simultaneously members of the universities in Rostock and Greifswald. In Rostock, they are also members of the department “Maritime Systems” of the Interdisciplinary Faculty (INF).
The IOW scientists have r/v Elisabeth Mann Borgese (length o.a.: 56.50 m) and r/v Maria S. Merian (length o. a.: 94.80 m) at their disposal.
