Baltic Sea - Science topic

Free fall cone penetrometer testing (FFCPT) allows for efficient site reconnaissance and soft seabed undrained shear strength (su) assessment in a shallow water environment. The FFCPT is a particularly useful tool for near-surface characterization for cable route assessment associated with offshore renewable developments. This study presents result...

The Nord Stream pipeline leaks on 26 September 2022 released 465 ± 20 kt of methane into the atmosphere, which is the largest recorded transient anthropogenic methane emission event. While most of the gas escaped directly to the atmosphere, a fraction dissolved in the water. So far, studies on the fate of this dissolved methane rely on pipeline vol...

During the fourth quarter of 2024 Latvia’s security along with that of Europe has become increasingly frail. The incoming Trump administration’s positions on European and wider security, NATO, economic protectionism (tariffs) and possible territorial ambitions are not yet clear. The weakness of the French and German governments together with a shak...

A suspected 443-486 kt of methane escaped from the Nord Stream pipelines in September 2022 at four explosion sites across three pipelines. Much of this methane rapidly escaped to the atmosphere, while an unknown amount was dissolved. We use sustained high-resolution observations of methane concentrations from autonomous gliders and an instrumented...

The Oder/Szczecin Lagoon is one of the largest Baltic Sea lagoons and is subject to very high nutrient loads from the Oder/Odra River. For our study, we employ a modified, high-resolution 3D ecosystem model specifically adapted for this shallow lagoon. The model demonstrates stable and reliable performance over 25 years of simulation, enabling a de...

Background Zostera marina is an important ecosystem engineer influencing shallow water environments and possibly shaping the microbiota in surrounding sediments and water. Z. marina is typically found in marine systems, but it can also proliferate under brackish conditions. Changes in salinity generally have a strong impact on the biota, especially...

This overview paper details the findings from the Diving Deep: Forecasting Sea Surface Temperatures and Anomalies Challenge at the European Conference on Machine Learning and Principles and Practice of Knowledge Discovery in Databases (ECML PKDD) 2024. The challenge focused on the data-driven predictability of global sea surface temperatures (SSTs)...

Climate change is projected to cause elevated precipitation in northern Europe, leading to increased runoff of terrestrial matter to coastal areas. The consequences for food web production and ecosystem function remain unclear. A mesocosm experiment was performed to investigate the impacts of elevated terrestrial matter input, using a natural plank...

MetaCity is an innovative smart city and urban concept that champions open innovation through digital platforms and social networks. It goes beyond being merely a research idea or a single technical advancement, instead embodying a holistic approach that encompasses innovators, innovations, users, and facilitators within a new narrative of innovati...

The rising global significance of sea lettuce ( Ulva spp.) in aquaculture stems from its versatility, rapid growth, and nutritional benefits. Cultivation expansion into lower salinity areas, like the Baltic Sea, is crucial for advancing aquaculture beyond traditional environments. This study investigated the impact of long-term (8 weeks) low salini...

Energy is often described as the lifeblood of a nation’s economy, and the world energy trilemma calls for collaboration and innovative solutions at the national level. This is where Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) plays a crucial role, helping integrate the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while add...

In the coastal zone, two types of habitats—linear and areal—are distinguished. The main differences between both types are their shape and structure and the hydro- and litho-dynamic, salinity, and ecological gradients. Studying linear littoral habitats is essential for interpreting the ’coastal squeeze’ effect. The study’s main objective was to ass...

Human impact on fish populations extends beyond mere exploitation. Rivers and streams, essential conduits for these fish migrations, have undergone substantial anthropogenic modifications driven by navigation, hydropower generation, and water regulation imperatives. An example of one species that has been affected from the anadromous lampreys is ri...

There is a need to accelerate the deployment of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) throughout Europe. As a part of this, the CCUS ZEN project has looked at identifying promising value chains based on technical mapping of emission sources, utilization options, transport infrastructure and storage sites. This high-level screening has bee...

The city of Rostock, located on the Baltic Sea, is the largest city in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. With around 200.000 inhabitants, Rostock is known for its port, which has played a major role in ferry trade and traffic for centuries. The University of Rostock, founded in 1419, is one of the oldest universities in Northern Europe and characterizes the...

In 2023, exceptionally few salmon (Salmo salar) ascended from the Baltic Sea to spawn in the Rivers Tornionjoki and Simojoki, regardless of the proper number of smolts descending to the sea in preceding years. We investigated how the numbers of age-0 and young herring (Clupea harengus) and sprat (Sprattus sprattus), which are the principal prey spe...

Efficient logistics is a key factor in the competitiveness of seaports, especially in regions such as the Baltic Sea, where ports play important roles as hubs in the European Union’s Trans-European transport network (TEN-T). However, there are a lack of comprehensive studies focusing on the logistics efficiency of Baltic Sea ports, especially those...

This paper presents a series of laboratory free‐fall cone penetrometer (FFCP) tests conducted on marine clay samples collected from the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea. Subsequently, these tests are replicated numerically with the generalized interpolation material point method (GIMP) simulations. First, the paper gives laboratory‐scale FFCP expe...

This study introduces an open software Lagrangian particle tracking model designed for simulating the transport of microplastics (MPs), which incorporates crucial processes such as horizontal diffusion, beaching, resuspension, and biofouling. A sensitivity analysis for the parametrization of these processes was conducted on a regional scale – in th...

A controversy on the degree of marine influence in the paleoenvironments represented by many Paleozoic stegocephalian-bearing fossiliferous localities has persisted for decades. Many authors have equated the absence of a typical stenohaline marine fauna with freshwater environments, but this ignores continental salt lakes and the many transitional...

The 27 th IAHR International Symposium on Ice, held in Gdańsk, Poland, between 9 and 13 June 2024, gathered 153 scientists and industry professionals from 14 countries. Organized by Gdańsk University of Technology, the event focused on key global ice-related challenges, including ice mechanics, ice-structure interactions, climate change impacts on...

The paper describes the situation of Polish cod fishery in the Baltic Sea and its perspectives in the future. The paper sets up a general model and exemplifies it by simple functional forms taking its offset in the problem of overcapacity in Polish fleet causing lack of profitability of the sector. The viable control approach is used in order to de...

The Late Bronze Age (1100–500 cal BC) has been the focus of many recent studies in the Baltic region. The contacts between societies in the Baltic Sea area are identified by bronze, amber, pottery and other artefacts, but there is still little evidence of contact between the western and eastern coasts. This article presents analysis of a pottery as...

Simple Summary: The grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) is an apex predator in the Baltic Sea, serving as a final host for various parasites. This study examined the endoparasite fauna of 59 grey seals caught in Latvian fisheries and its impact on their nutritional status. Six parasite species were identified, with all seals infected by Contracaecum sp....

This paper presents the results of analysis of lead isotope ratios (208Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, 206Pb/204Pb, 208Pb/206Pb, 207Pb/206Pb) in copper alloys combined with chemical composition studies of archaeological artefacts by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS). The study covers a total of 208 samples collected from 55 sites spread a...

Fine‐grained hypermonosulfidic sediments are widespread on the coastal plains of the northern Baltic Sea that when drained, cause the formation and dispersion of acid and toxic‐metal species. In this study, a 30‐month laboratory oxidation experiment with such a sediment was performed in incubation cells. To minimize or prevent acidification, limest...

Invasive non-native marine species have significant and far-reaching impacts on ecosystems, recreation, human health, and various industries worldwide. To mitigate this, it is crucial to be able to predict the likelihood of the establishment of non-native species. To that end, we reviewed twenty-two published lists of non-native species from the NE...

Arctic Russia is home to more than 90 % of all Long-tailed Ducks in the Clangula hyemalis species from the Western Si-beria/Northern Europe population. The main wintering grounds of Long-tailed Ducks are situated in the Baltic Sea. The principal migratory routes of the Long-tailed Duck between the breeding and wintering grounds are relatively well-...

Accelerated Mean Sea level rise has a significant impact on the shape of the future coastline. For example, increasing hydrodynamic loads (higher water levels and waves) on the coast promote the erosion of beaches, dunes and cliffs. Increasing costs for coastal protection and interventions in the ecosystem are among the most severe consequences. Co...

Knowledge of the structure and spatial distribution of coastal water habitats is crucial for understanding coastal water systems. However, spatial habitat data are largely lacking, hampering ecological and ecosystem service assessments as required by EU policies. Mapping the structure, spatial distribution, and temporal dynamics of macrophytes is a...

Motives: Seaports are key nodes in the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), handling a significant part of the European Union’s trade and freight transport. Baltic Sea ports, including those in Poland, have gained strategic importance due to their high growth rates and intense maritime traffic. Aim: This article examines the economic role of B...

The circumstances under which species diversify to genetically distinct lineages is a fundamental question in biology. Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) is an extremely abundant zooplanktivorous species that is subdivided into multiple ecotypes that differ regarding spawning time and genetic adaption to local environmental conditions such as tempe...

Estuarine systems, being situated at the interface between land and marine environments, are important sites for nitrate (NO3 –) retention and processing due to large inputs, long retention time, and high biogeochemical activity. However, it remains uncertain how pelagic and benthic processes control NO3 – cycling and how the relative importance of...

Research purpose The purpose of this study is to analyse the progress of the Baltic Sea Region countries in implementing the LNOB in a short-term trend. The study seeks to identify the stability of progress in a five-year period and examine which LNOB index dimensions and the sustainable development goals pose the greatest challenges in ensuring th...

Coastal zones, critical for their ecological and economic significance, are increasingly vulnerable to storm surges, sea-level rise, and land subsidence. Traditional defense mechanisms, such as dikes and seawalls, are often costly and environmentally taxing. This research highlights how beach and dune systems, key components of coastal protection i...

In this study, the results of a comprehensive assessment of the variability in the occurrence of ten perfluorinated compounds (PFAS) in fish tissues originating from 2014 to 2019 from six fisheries in the Baltic Sea are presented. A total of 360 fish samples of three species (perch, herring and flatfish) were analysed. For the determination of PFAS...

The article is devoted to the analysis of the routes of the Euro-Asian international transport corridor (ITC) "North-South," changing the status, conditions of functioning and directions of development in the context of the water transport component. The basis for the transformation of the North-South MTK is a number of strategic problems: the firs...

The Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) represents a dynamic model of regional cooperation that has united the five Nordic and three Baltic states in security, development and solidarity efforts since the 1990s. The evolution of NB8’s areas of cooperation – from supporting the Baltic states’ post-Soviet transition to current priorities like defense policy, c...

The aim of the study is to develop a conceptual framework for the analysis of the diversity of coastal plant species of the Baltic Sea in relation to adaptation to specific conditions and participation in the provision of ecosystem services. The possibilities of coastal plant classification for further analysis of their properties will be described...

Mussels from the genus Mytilus, key inhabitants of the benthos, are important for the aquaculture industry and one of the most sustainable sources of animal protein available. Species within the Mytilus edulis complex ( M. edulis, M. galloprovincialis and M. trossulus ) are commonly found in temperate regions globally and can easily hybridise whene...

The article explores stone disks discovered at medieval sites in Rus’. A total of eight pyrophyllite slate objects, sourced from outcrops near Ovruch (Ukraine), were analysed. These disks have been previously interpreted as various items, including calendars, craft tools such as needle sharpeners and polishing stones, as well as components of hand-...

https://helcom.fi/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Guidelines-on-monitoring-of-microlitter-in-biota-in-the-Baltic-Sea-for-bivalves.pdf

Knowledge of migration patterns plays an essential role for understanding spatiotemporal distribution of birds. Here we used >15,000 sightings of 1,473 colour-ringed Common Cranes Grus grus to study migration patterns of birds breeding in five regions along a longitudinal gradient of Fennoscandia. Our results confirm that Fennoscandian cranes mainl...

In the current economic conditions, an active search is conducted for cost-effective and well-balanced feeds and feed mixtures for fish farming. The development of functional feeds using biomass of wild algae is becoming a central focus in the fish feed production. Although these supplements offer a promising path to sustainable and environmentally...

Executive Summary Interregional innovation corridors are designed to create long-term collaborations between European regions. They tackle challenges like high resource demands, fragmentation, and complex governance by reducing barriers such as information gaps and limited access to public testing facilities. These corridors are built on three main...

In recent years, the first cases have been observed of Whooper Swans Cygnus cygnus nesting on the offshore islands and coasts of the eastern Baltic Sea, in Finland and the Leningrad region of Russia. Based both on our own data and a review of the literature, we suggest that the tendency for Whooper Swans to breed on offshore islands was probably th...

Between late January and early March of 1990 Europe was hit by a sequence of severe winter storms that caused significant infrastructure damage and a large number fatalities. The storm sequence started with Hurricane Daria on 25–26 January 1990, which was one of the most serious events of the storm cluster, especially for the UK. The low pressure c...

Microplastics are ubiquitous in marine ecosystems and are suitable matrices for bacterial attachment and growth. Studies on the microbes growing on plastics are mainly done using flow cytometry and massive sequencing, which do not allow for the quantification of specific groups and their activity. Here we present the results from a mesocosm experim...

The construction industry is a major contributor to na­tional gross domestic product (GDP) in the Baltic Sea Region, but at the same time it contributes to en­vironmental degradation due to hazardous chemicals, carbon emissions, and excessive waste. Many studies indicate that indoor air pollution, caused by chemicals in building materials, is a sig...

The zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha (Bivalvia: Dreissenidae), is one of the most aggressive and actively spreading freshwater species worldwide. In this study, we examined the genetic diversity and dispersal vectors of D. polymorpha from native and invasive populations using mtDNA COI and nuclear ITS2 sequences. We discovered a low level of the...

In this document, we: 1) outline which measures need to be prioritized and facilitated to achieve BSAP targets by 2030 and to make sure that the Baltic Sea ecosystem is healthy and resilient; 2) formulate priority ACTIONS under each segment of the BSAP by outlining associated CHALLENGES and SOLUTIONS; 3) highlight the priority ACTIONS, whilst empha...

We report the genomic characteristics of the human pathogen Vibrio cidicii isolated from seawater and green algae in the Baltic Sea. Initially misidentified as Vibrio vulnificus through culture and MALDI-TOF, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) confirmed them as V. cidicii, highlighting the importance of WGS analysis in accurate classification of emergin...

Understanding the dynamics of thermohaline intrusions is crucial for predicting changes in water masses and their impact on marine ecosystems, especially in highly stratified semi‐enclosed seas and other coastal environments. We use high‐resolution (up to 1–2 m) Argo profiling float data collected over 15 years in the Black Sea, an excellent test a...

This work deals with topics related to mobility, contacts and transmission of knowledge. The study of these topics regarding the past can promote an understanding of the social implications of migration, communication and learning today through long-term perspectives of change. This volume focuses on these topics in the Mesolithic by analysing a sp...

Hypoxia is a major environmental threat for coastal seas, including the strongly-stratified Baltic Sea in northern Europe. There, a pronounced increase in nutrient loads since the 1950s led to the development of one of the largest hypoxic areas worldwide. So far, other drives of hypoxia, like the increase in water temperatures due to global warming...

Anaerobic oxidation of methane at the sulfate–methane transition in marine sediments is generally considered to be a near-perfect barrier against methane release from the seabed, but the mechanisms involved are not well understood. On the basis of a survey of Baltic Sea sediments we show that a highly variable amount (0–100%) of subseafloor methane...

Commercial small-scale fisheries along the Baltic Sea coasts have declined over the years although these fisheries are viewed as important for coastal development and food security at the local, national, and EU levels. The viability and future of small-scale fisheries are severely challenged by problems caused by grey seals. The conflict, occurrin...

The leaching of phosphorus (P), together with nitrogen (N), into deep water and runoff from fields into surface water has caused the dangerous phenomenon of eutrophication, which threatens the Baltic Sea. This process has led to a revision of fertilizer recommendations for farmers in most European countries. The basis for proper recommendations is...

Measurements of dissolved methane were performed in a sequentially connected system of water bodies that form the Pregolya River Estuary: Pregolya River – Kaliningrad Sea Canal – Vistula and Curonian Lagoons – Baltic Straight – Baltic Sea. Methane concentrations were detected on a gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector, and the fluxes w...

Primary biological aerosol particles (PBAPs) can influence the climate and affect human health. To investigate the aerosolization of PBAPs by sea spray aerosol (SSA), we conducted ship-based campaigns in the central Baltic Sea near Östergarnsholm in May and August 2021. Using a plunging-jet sea spray simulation chamber filled with local seawater, w...

According to the results of a comparative analysis of morphological and molecular genetic data, the marine form of the fourhorn sculpin from the Baltic Sea and the two freshwater forms from Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega belong to the nominative subspecies Triglopsis quadricornis quadricornis (Linnaeus, 1758). The observed differences are at the intras...

Dzhankent is a deserted town of the Early Middle Ages referred to in written sources as the capital of the Turkic Oguz nomads. Located in the Syr-Darya delta, it sits on the intersection of two transcontinental trade routes: the Northern Silk Road, and the north-south corridor linking Khwarazm to the Volga and ultimately the Baltic Sea province. Ne...