Briefing brochure BALTIC-C project
Carbon forms the basis of life on Earth. The carbon
cycle — the movement of carbon between the atmosphere,
land and oceans — is crucial for the health and
stability of Earth´s ecosystems. Carbon is carried in
rivers from the continents to coastal seas (such as
the Baltic Sea), and finally to the ocean.
It connects ecosystems and human activities across
an entire drainage basin. Human activities directly
influence the carbon cycle, and may cause severe
damage to ecosystems. Scientific knowledge,
improved monitoring programmes and models to
predict the behaviour of the carbon cycle are therefore
strongly needed. The BALTIC-C project addresses
this need through extensive field expeditions, datamining
and computer modelling.
KEY RESULTS
BALTIC-C has developed the first integrated Baltic Basin (the sea
and its catchment) model framework, addressing all major river
inflows of inorganic and organic carbon, alkalinity and nutrients,
atmospheric load and interaction with the North Sea.
Extensive field measurements have also been taken, for example
a fully automated system for the measurement of the surface
water pCO2 was deployed on a cargo ship that commutes regularly
between Lübeck and Helsinki. The high temporal and spatial resolution
of the data facilitated the identification of different production
periods in the Baltic. Neither the post-spring bloom nor the
mid-summer nitrogen fixation production were consistent with the
availability of nutrients and conflicted with our present conception
of the surface water productivity. Results that have strong implications
on the Baltic Sea modelling.
WHO NEEDS THE INFORMATION
Eutrophication, climate change and water acidification threaten
the Baltic Sea ecosystem which calls for improved management.
BALTIC-C´s new modeling system can support managers in
addressing these threats. The information gained by Baltic-C
will be communicated to HELCOM and other water authorities
in the Baltic Sea region.
More information about the BALTIC-C project
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