About DGM

CSIC´s Marine Geosciences Group of Barcelona focus in leading basic research as well as applied technology. In the technical-scientific aspects the Group has devoted much effort in the acquisition and setting of the Oceanographic Research Vessels equipments dedicated to geological investigation.

Additionally, new techniques have been improved in seismic recording, sampling and analysis that allowed the development of relevant aspects in the field of Marine Sciences.

An important framework has also been evolved for geophysical and sedimentological automatic analysis, and a data base has been created providing post-operation data analysis and data exchange with other scientific institutions.

Our general objective is the understanding of the sediment dynamics, stratigraphy, geomorphology, geodynamics and geochemistry that control the evolution of the continental margins, basins and coastal regions. This objective includes a wide range of topics from, the analysis at high resolution of the temporal and spatial variability of sedimentary processes in response to external forcing, to the evolution of geohazards in coastal areas, continental margins and basins. In addition, it comprises the development of new strategies and methods for the study of sediment dynamics and for the study of the structure and physical properties of the seafloor. This knowledge provides the basic support for the study of coastal vulnerability, marine pollution, marine infrastructures (i.e. harbors, pipelines, submarine cables, breakwaters), hydrocarbon exploration, earthquakes, tsunamis, weather and climatic related-sea level changes.

Researchers at the Department of Marine Geosciences lead three research groups: Littoral and Oceànic Processes Group (Dr. Albert Palanques), the Continental Margins Group (Drª Gemma Ercilla) and the Barcelona Subsurface Imaging Center (Dr. Cesar Rodriguez-Ranero) recognized and funded by the "Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca" (AGAUR) dependent of Catalunya governement.