Transient upwelling in the central Baltic Sea

The paper presents a theoretical study to explain the regular occurrence of a cold water upwelling cell at the southern east coast of the Gotland island in the central Baltic Sea. While for a circular island up- and downwelling patterns would rotate around the island, the responses around the elongated Gotland island with narrow tips at its southern and northern ends are different. The study uses the example of the response of a coastal ocean to a wind band to develop an understanding of important aspects of generation of Kelvin waves and how the waves change the response patterns.     

Macroalgal diversity along the Baltic Sea salinity gradient challenges Remane's species-minimum concept

Remane’s species-minimum concept, which states that the lowest number of taxa occurs at the horohalinicum (5-8 psu), was tested by investigating macroalgal diversity on hard substrates along the natural salinity gradient in the Baltic Sea. Field data on species occurrence and abundance were collected by SCUBA diving along 10 transects of the Finnish, Swedish and German coasts, covering a salinity range from 3.9 to 27 psu. Macroalgal species numbers declined steadily with salinity, decreasing until 7.2 psu was reached, but in the horohalinicum, a marked reduction of species number and a change in diversity were indicated by the Shannon index and evenness values. The non-linear decrease in macroalgal diversity at 5-8 psu and the lack of increase in species numbers at salinities below 5 psu imply a restricted applicability of Remane’s species-minimum concept to macroalgae.     

Luminescence dating of Weichselian interstadial sediments from the German Baltic Sea coast

A cliff outcrop called Kluckow, in the Baltic Sea area, with a (glacio-) fluvial to (glacio-) lacustrine succession, provides a unique opportunity to resolve uncertainties in the timing and extent of several poorly constrained Weichselian ice advances. Based on a detailed lithofacies analysis, we selected four sampling horizons for luminescence dating to determine a depositional chronology. We measured both coarse-grain quartz and potassium-rich feldspar for age determination using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and post-IR infrared stimulated luminescence (pIRIR). Furthermore we addressed potential problems such as incomplete bleaching and quartz saturation effects. The resulting luminescence-chronology, supported by one radiocarbon age, illustrates a depositional time interval of the investigated sequence between ∼62 and ∼22 ka. Within this sequence a mussel-bearing fluvial sand indicate interstadial climate conditions at approximately 46 ka. The upper part of the section is composed of a 4 m thick glaciolacustrine silty clay and an overlying glaciofluvial sand; the latter yielded an OSL age of ∼22 ka. Shortly after these sequences formed, the subsequent ice advance (indicated by the overlying till sheet) reached the study area. Based on our new chronology and lithofacies analysis, we conclude that the Scandinavian Ice Sheet did not reach the study area between ∼62 and ∼22 ka.     

Phytoplankton life cycle transformations lead to species-specific effects on sediment processes in the Baltic Sea

In order to study the sediment response to different addition of organic matter, we added cultures of the dinoflagellates Scrippsiella hangoei and Woloszynskia halophila and the diatom Pauliella taeniata to aquaria containing natural sediment. The biomass added was 1550–3260 mg C m⁻², and in the control, no biomass was added (n=3). Oxygen profiles at the sediment–water interface and inorganic nutrients in the near bottom water were determined once a week. In the additions of P. taeniata and W. halophila the sediment quickly became anoxic, and subsequently there was a flux of >1 mmol PO₄³⁻ m⁻² d⁻¹ out of the sediment in these treatments. The majority of the released P came from P stored in the sediment and not from the organic phosphorus added. The result was very different for the S. hangoei addition. This species underwent a life cycle change to form temporary cysts. During this process there was a net uptake of nutrients. After the formation of cysts the concentration of inorganic nutrient was similar to that of the control. Cysts generally survive for long periods in the sediment (months to years) before germinating, but can also be permanently buried in the sediment. The novel idea presented here is that the phytoplankton composition may directly affect sediment processes such as oxygen consumption and phosphorus release, through species-specific life cycle changes and yields of resting stages produced prior to sedimentation. This can be an important aspect of nutrient cycling in eutrophic waters, like the Baltic Sea, where there is large year-to-year difference in the amount of resting stages settling at the sea floor, mainly due to differences in abundance of diatoms and dinoflagellates during the spring bloom. If yields of resting stages change, e.g. due to changes in the phytoplankton community, it may lead to alterations in the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients.     

Model simulations of dense bottom currents in the Western Baltic Sea

Only recently, medium intensity inflow events into the Baltic Sea have gained more awareness because of their potential to ventilate intermediate layers in the Southern Baltic Sea basins. With the present high-resolution model study of the Western Baltic Sea a first attempt is made to obtain model based realistic estimates of turbulent mixing in this area where dense bottom currents resulting from medium intensity inflow events are weakened by turbulent entrainment. The numerical model simulation which is carried out using the General Estuarine Transport Model (GETM) during nine months in 2003 and 2004 is first validated by means of three automatic stations at the Drogden and Darss Sills and in the Arkona Sea. In order to obtain good agreement between observations and model results, the 0.5×0.5$0.5\times 0.5$ nautical mile bathymetry had to be adjusted in order to account for the fact that even at that scale many relevant topographic features are not resolved. Current velocity, salinity and turbulence observations during a medium intensity inflow event through the Øresund are then compared to the model results. Given the general problems of point to point comparisons between observations and model simulations, the agreement is fairly good with the characteristic features of the inflow event well represented by the model simulations. Two different bulk measures for mixing activity are then introduced, the vertically integrated decay of salinity variance, which is equal to the production of micro-scale salinity variance, and the vertically integrated turbulent salt flux, which is related to an increase of potential energy due to vertical mixing of stably stratified flow. Both measures give qualitatively similar results and identify the Drogden and Darss Sills as well as the Bornholm Channel as mixing hot spots. Further regions of strong mixing are the dense bottom current pathways from these sills into the Arkona Sea, areas around Kriegers Flak (a shoal in the western Arkona Sea) and north–west of the island of Rügen.     

Anthropogenic nutrient load of the Baltic Sea

The discharge of nutrients is investigated in relation to their sources and effects in two case studies. The reduction of 47% in the phosphorus load from Denmark to marine areas between 1989 and 1993 has resulted in significantly lower phosphorus concentrations in most Danish coastal waters, and tendency to decrease can be seen in the Belt Sea and Kattegat as well. No general changes in nitrogen concentrations have been observed. This is due to the fact that more than 80% of the nitrogen load in Danish waters originate from diffuse agricultural sources.In the Pomeranian Bight strong nutrient gradients are generated by the mixing of Odra river water and coastal water. The spreading of the river plume could be exactly observed especially in winter, when biological activity is low. In general, different types of distribution, transport and modification patterns can be described.The annual input of nutrients from the catchment area to the Baltic Sea was estimated to be around 1000 kt N and 46 kt P. As a result, winter concentrations of phosphate and nitrate are characterized by positive overall trends in the surface layer in all subregions of the Baltic Proper for the period 1969 to 1993. These trends stem mainly from the strong increase in the 1970ies and early 1980ies. Thereafter, the concentrations of both nutrients fluctuate strongly around a high level. The drastic decrease in fertilizer consumption since the late 1980ies mainly caused by the great economic changes in the countries of the former East Bloc is not yet significantly reflected in decreasing winter concentrations, but first signs already have been found in the decrease in averaged phosphate concentrations in winter, especially in the Arkona and Bornholm Seas.     

Model-based long-term reconstruction of weather-driven variations in chronic oil pollution along the German North Sea coast

Lagrangian passive tracer transport simulations covering the 46-year period 1958-2003 were utilized to compare the exposures of different parts of the German North Sea coast to ship-related chronic oil pollution. Assuming the spatial distribution of oil releases to be proportional to estimated ship traffic density, detailed drift reconstructions allowed for the reconstruction of wind-induced inter-annual variations in coastal pollution. For the winter months, a statistical relationship between simulated advective transports and prevailing sea surface pressure fields was established via Canonical Correlation Analysis. Wind effects were found to be more important for the northern (Schleswig-Holstein) than for the southern (Lower Saxony) part of the German North Sea coast. For Schleswig-Holstein, simulations showed consensus with beached bird survey data from this region. Proper identification of weather-driven inter-annual and spatial variations in monitoring data helps to avert misjudgments with regard to trends in the general level of chronic oil pollution.     

Testes specific accumulation of tributyltin in turbot Scophthalmus maximus from the southern Baltic Sea

Concentrations of tributyltin (TBT) and its breakdown products, dibutyltin (DBT) and monobutyltin (MTB), were measured in tissues of male turbot Scophthalmus maximus from the Gulf of Gdańsk (GDA) and the Pomeranian Bay (POM) in the southern Baltic Sea. The fish (n = 206) were collected during the spawning seasons of 2008-2009. All specimens were at the same maturity stage and in full breeding condition. The ripe testes of the turbot appeared to be a target tissue for TBT accumulation. We report that TBT is extensively eliminated at the specific whole-body level and that the males from TBT-contaminated location (GDA) reach this specific level at 23-24 cm in total length.     

Dynamics of medium-intensity dense water plumes in the Arkona Basin, Western Baltic Sea

In this study, the dynamics of medium-intensity inflow events over Drogden Sill into the Arkona Sea are investigated. Idealised model simulations carried out with the General Estuarine Transport Model suggest that most of the salt transport during such inflow events occur north of Kriegers Flak, a shoal with less than 20 m water depth surrounded by water depths of more than 40 m. This assumption about the pathway is supported by recent ship-based observations in the Arkona Sea during a medium-intensity inflow event. The propagation of a saline bottom plume could be observed during several days after having passed Drogden Sill. In the area north of Kriegers Flak the plume was about 10 m thick, and propagated with more than 0.5 m s⁻¹ and a salinity of up to 20 psu (with ambient water salinity being 8 psu) eastwards. Although the model simulations were idealised, the structural agreement between the observation and model result was good. The structure and pathways of these medium-intensity inflow events are of specific interest due to the plans for erecting extensive offshore wind farms in the Arkona Sea which may under certain circumstances lead to increased entrainment of ambient water into the bottom plumes.     

Modelling the uptake and release of carbon dioxide in the Baltic Sea surface water

We present and analyse a fully coupled physical–biogeochemical model of the uptake and release of carbon dioxide in the Baltic Sea. The modelling includes the interaction between physical (stratification, temperature, salinity, penetration of solar radiation, and ice), chemical (total alkalinity, pH, dissolved inorganic carbon, oxygen, and nutrients), and biological processes (plankton and dissolved organic carbon (DOC)). These processes have been built into an advanced process-oriented coupled basin ocean model that has been extensively explored and validated for the Baltic Sea.     

Seasonal variation of polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations in the southern part of the Baltic Sea

The impact of seasonal fluctuations in forcing factors such as atmospheric concentration, temperature, and biological productivity on the concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the surface water of the southern part of the Baltic Sea was investigated. Water samples were collected on eight cruises over 2 years. A clear seasonal variability in dissolved PCB concentrations was observed with higher levels in summer than in winter and spring. This was attributed to changes in atmospheric concentrations and water temperature, based on measurements showing the PCB levels in the atmosphere and surface water to be close to a partitioning equilibrium. Concentrations in the suspended particulate material (SPM) fraction were also variable, and when the quotient of the organic carbon normalised concentration in SPM and the dissolved concentration was calculated (i.e., the bioaccumulation factor (BAF)), a seasonal pattern was observed which was consistent with kinetic limitations on partitioning into particles caused by plankton growth. However, seasonal variability in the partitioning properties of the SPM may also contribute to this variability.     

On sediment pollution in selected german coastal waters of the Baltic Sea

In order to determine and assess their status sediments from the German coastal waters of the baltic sea were analyzed for structural parameters and for several groups of harmful substances. Regarding all groups of harmful substances, i.e. nutrients, heavy metals and organic toxicants the sediments of the eastern sections investigated (Strelasund, Peenestrom and Stettin Lagoon) are generally more polluted than the sediments of the other ones.The sediments of the examined sections of the Baltic coast compare with North Sea sediments by factors of between 0.05 and 4 with regard to heavy metals.Because of the variability of the concentration of harmful substances in the various coastal sections, it is imperative to make a differentiated assessment of the polluted sediments and to set district-related targets for the various sections of the Baltic coast.     

Toxicity Assessment by Microtox® in Sediments,Pore Waters and Sediment Saline Elutriates in the Gulf of Gdansk (Baltic Sea)

The toxicity of sediments in the Gulf of Gdansk is analyzed in relation to the chemical composition of interstitial and near‐bottom waters, and sediment properties. The toxicity of sediments, pore waters and saline elutriates is determined by using the Microtox® test based on changes in light production of the luminescent bacteria Vibrio fischeri. The results indicate considerable toxicity in the majority of examined sediments. Since the sediment elutriates and pore waters are toxic in some cases, the total toxicity of the sediments is likely to be due to both sediment‐bound and water soluble substances. The sediment toxicity is related to the percentage contribution of the fine fraction of sediments. A significant correlation between the toxicity of the sediments and the black carbon content implies anthropogenic contamination. The toxicity of the sediments is seen to increase with the increase of hydrogen sulfide concentration in pore waters. The ammonia in pore waters was found not to be responsible for the toxicity of the sediments.     

Eutrophication in the Polish coastal zone: the past, present status and future scenarios

In the Baltic Sea eutrophication processes have accelerated in the past 50 years of the 20th century and presently there exists a major ecological problem for this sea. The Polish coastal zone of the southern Baltic Sea is the recipient of riverine inputs from two major sources, namely the Odra and Vistula, as well as a number of smaller rivers along the central coast. Hence, the entire coastal zone remains under severe anthropogenic pressure. The variability of nutrient concentrations, especially the winter nutrient pool in the euphotic zone, summer level of total nitrogen and total phosphorus, together with such eutrophication indicators as water oversaturation with oxygen and the summer oxygen minimum, were analysed in the data time series 1959-2001. The temporal trends were investigated using linear regression and the non-parametric Whirsch test. The future characteristics of the Baltic Sea are discussed taking into account the development of driving forces.     

OSL chronology for a sediment core from the southern Baltic Sea: A continuous sedimentation record since deglaciation

A chronology based on optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating is presented for the late- and post-glacial evolution of the southern Baltic Sea (15 ka to present). During this period, large water level and salinity changes occurred in the Baltic Basin due to opening and closing of connections to the North Atlantic. Previous attempts to establish a chronology for these palaeoenvironmental changes have mainly been conducted in coastal settings where organic material for ¹⁴C dating is abundant. Many of these records are, however, discontinuous due to the large water level fluctuations. In contrast, in the relatively deep water of the Arkona Basin, the sediment record is expected to be more or less continuous. The single aliquot regenerative dose (SAR) procedure was used to date 32 samples of fine quartz sand from a 10.86 m long sediment core from the centre of this basin (45 m water depth). Tests of luminescence characteristics confirmed the suitability of the material for OSL dating and the ages agree well with the available AMS ¹⁴C ages on shells. The Baltic Ice Lake drainage to the North Atlantic appears to occur 11.6 ka, agreeing with other published evidence. However, we suggest that the main marine Littorina transgression appears in the Arkona Basin at about 6.5 ka, rather than at 8.5 ka, as previously thought.     

Coastal protection of the isle of usedom — conceptional design of an offshore breakwater system at the streckelsberg, Baltic Sea

The Isle of Usedom is located in the South of the Baltic Sea on the border between Poland and Germany. The Streckelsberg is midway along the coastline of the island. The cliff coast area is extremely exposed to waves.Coastal protection works have been carried out here for the last 100 years, starting in 1895 with the construction of a revetment. All efforts could not solve the erosion problems in the long-term. Therefore, it was decided to install a new system of coastal protection measures in 1994. The conceptional design includes a system of three offshore breakwaters in combination with a beach nourishment system. To minimize downdrift erosion a groyne scheme will be additionally installed.The aim of the offshore breakwaters is to reduce the wave energy transformed into the sheltered area and to consequently reduce the longshore sediment transport. It is expected to support the natural development of a salient which will form the main part of the complete coastal protection system.     

Bioindicative potential of shell abnormalities occurring in the clam Macoma balthica (L.) from the Baltic Sea

This study reports the occurrence of shell deformities in the Baltic clam Macoma balthica from the Northern Baltic Sea (Trösa Archipelago, Sweden). The functional significance and the bioindicative potential of observed exoskeleton’ anomalies was assessed using a suite of physiological and morphological biomarkers.Analyzed shell deformations (SD) included damages of the dorsal margin visible as shell excavations, destruction of the beak, umbo and hinge ligament and decreased shell’ transparency. Deformed clams exhibited worse physiological conditions and increased frequency of micronuclei. Skewed sex ratio towards male domination was observed in all studied populations. Spatial differences in the occurrence of deformed clams are reported, with more than 50% of deformed clams inhabiting polluted locations and 8% the reference station. These results are encouraging for the use of described SDs as initial and cost effective indicators of environmental health.     

Evidence of chromosomal damage in common eiders (Somateria mollissima) from the Baltic Sea

Common eiders nesting in the Baltic Sea are exposed to generally high levels of contaminants including potentially genotoxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and organochlorines. Blood samples were collected from eiders at eight sites in the Baltic Sea and two sites in the Beaufort Sea. DNA content variation was estimated using the flow cytometric method, and subsequently utilized as a biomarker of genetic damage. We observed no significant differences in genetic damage among populations within either the Baltic or Beaufort Seas. However, eider populations from the Baltic Sea had significantly elevated estimates of genetic damage compared to populations from the Beaufort Sea.