Lead institution:
Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) on behalf of International Center for Deep Life Investigation (IC-DLI) – China
The subseafloor environment, hosting a microbial population comparable to the entire ocean, is Earth’s largest reservoir of organic carbon. It also serves as the interface between the swift carbon dynamics in the upper hydrosphere and gradual carbon sequestration in the deep lithosphere.
GSES delves into microbial life, carbon dynamics, and historical records in this critical but vulnerable ocean environment. With global efforts, capacity-building, and inclusive co-design and collaboration, GSES is committed to developing international standard protocols, novel investigation platforms and tools, and ecological indices to facilitate the exploration, monitoring, and management of the subseafloor environment. GSES contributes to ocean science and governance, addressing gaps in the Decade actions with temporal perspectives and environmental threat mitigation, providing innovative solutions for a sustainable blue economy.
Start Date: 01/01/2024
End Date: 31/12/2030
Lead Contact: Fengping Wang (fengpingw@sjtu.edu.cn)