Research infrastructure The Mesocosm Facility at Umeå Marine Sciences Centre is one of Europe's most modern. The mesocosms provide possibilities to conduct large scale water and sediment experiments under highly controlled conditions. The mesocosm facility is available for researchers from universities all over the world.
The indoor facility consists of 12 cylindrical mesocosms with water columns 4.86 m high and 0.73 m in diameter (volume approximately 2 m3).
The temperature can be controlled and manipulated in 3 different sections in each mesocosm. This allows for experiments which require temperature stratification, controlled convective stirring, or both. The temperature is computer controlled by sensors, which gives an accuracy of at least +/- 0.5º C from the selected temperature. A halocline can be created by addition of salt.
Spectrum from the mesocosm light source.
ImageThe outdoor facility is available during summer. It consists of 4 large pools, each carrying 6 cubic mesocosms of 1 m3. The temperature in the pools is kept the same as in the water intake by using high rates of water flow.
Through an internet-based database there is access to long time series of ecological variables, which can be used in designing experiments.
Through an easy available database on the Internet, there are access to long research time series of ecological variables, which can be used in designing experiments.
Please visit the following webpage to find information about ongoing research and available infrastructure within marine science: www.umu.se/en/marinescience
EU network of mesocosms for research on marine and freshwater ecosystems open for global collaboration.
UMF is a dynamic environment for marine research including a complete suite of analytical platforms.