The institutions involved include the Faculty of Marine Sciences at King Abdulaziz University (KAU) and Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences in Kiel, Germany.
"We discussed the scientific issues from the coastal zone to the deep rift basin of the Red Sea and will continue our study," a spokesman for the team told Arab News.
The scientists held a two-day workshop at Durrat Al-Arus, which was followed by a steering committee meeting at KAU's Faculty of Marine Sciences branch office at Obhur.
"The scientific teams of the two research institutions are collaborating in the Jeddah Transect Project (JTP) to provide an integrated view of the biology, ecology, chemistry, geology, and resources of the infant ocean," said Ali Mohammad Al-Aidroos, dean of the KAU faculty and chairman of the steering committee.
"From the point of view of marine scientists, the Red Sea is a unique region. The marginal sea is a newly emerging ocean in which we find the same conditions that must have prevailed in the Atlantic Ocean when it was opening up many millions of years ago. Within its 2 km deep trench in the center that is surrounded by a widespread shelf region with depths of less than 100 meters, is also an outstanding biotope with unique coral reefs lining its borders.”
Within the JTP, the Saudi and German scientists aim to provide a multidisciplinary understanding of the key processes related to the past, present and future environment of the Red Sea.
"Experts in marine biology, chemistry and geology, physical and chemical oceanography, geophysics, ecology, microbiology and coastal management from both institutions have joined forces and formed a partnership of effective research, cooperation and alliances of synergy in these sectors," he added.
The first phase of the project started in summer this year and the German research vessel “Poseidon” will dock at Jeddah Islamic Port from Jan. 13. Several research expeditions that involve three cruises on the Poseidon and coastal observations along the Red Sea coast with a focus on the greater Jeddah region is to be carried out. "We are looking forward to collecting an inventory of representative data from the shallow to deep marine environment of the Saudi Arabian Red Sea region,” Al-Aidroos said, adding that the JTP will be carried out over a period of nine years, consisting of three phases.
Apart from scientific expertise, the Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences, which is collaborating with the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit, is contributing technical and logistical support. KAU is especially interested in training their technicians and students.
