Apply the RITE benthic chamber to assess marine fauna impacts from CO2 exposure. Norwegian contribution.

The two institutes RITE, Japan and NIVA, Norway have established a collaborative Agree-ment on research related to CO2 impacts in the marine biosphere, 2004-2006. This is an important study subject for both countries, both from the perspective of intentio nal storage of CO2 from fossil fuel burning in the ocean or sub-seabed, and from the increasing invasion of CO2 from the atmosphere to the ocean. A prerequisite for the fulfillment of the Agreement is that NIVA obtains funding for the planned research (ex penses for Norway), as is herewith applied for. RITE covers their own costs. The pilot project will include two joint experiments in Norway in 2005 with the advanced, autonomous benthic chamber of RITE, in order to investigate the impacts from CO2 over-ex posure on marine bottom fauna and sediments.