{"title":"Dives under the ice dome on geographical North Pole","authors":"A. Sagalevitch","doi":"10.1109/BALTIC.2008.4625514","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/BALTIC.2008.4625514","url":null,"abstract":"This article presents an experimental dive to the ocean bottom under the North Pole ice dome using the Mir submersibles. The water depth at the real North Pole is estimated to be 4300 metres after analysing the Mir-1 and Mir-2 dive data. The ocean bottom at this unique point is described as a featureless flat muddy-brown sediment.","PeriodicalId":6307,"journal":{"name":"2008 IEEE/OES US/EU-Baltic International Symposium","volume":"21 1","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77805358","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Seatrack Web: A numerical tool to protect the Baltic Sea marine protected areas","authors":"A. Kostianoy, C. Ambjorn, D. Soloviev","doi":"10.1109/BALTIC.2008.4625487","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/BALTIC.2008.4625487","url":null,"abstract":"Shipping activities in the Baltic Sea, including oil transport and oil handled in harbors, have a number of negative impacts on the marine environment, marine protected areas (MPAs) and coastal zone. One of the main tasks in the ecological monitoring of the MPAs in the European seas is an operational satellite and aerial detection of oil spillages, determination of their characteristics, establishment of the pollution sources and forecast of probable trajectories of the oil spill transport. The interactive numerical model Seatrack Web SMHI is a powerful operational tool that can be used for a forecast of the oil spill drift in the vicinity of MPAs and for assessment of ecological risks related to potential oil pollution of every MPAs in the Baltic Sea. Three examples of oil spill drift modelling and of calculation a probability of the oil drift for specific points along main ship routes in the Gulf of Finland and southward of Gotland for July and August 2007 are shown.","PeriodicalId":6307,"journal":{"name":"2008 IEEE/OES US/EU-Baltic International Symposium","volume":"1 1","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83110370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Role of sedimentation and resuspension of particulate matter in fluctuations of trophic status of the Neva Estuary","authors":"M. Golubkov, S. Golubkov, L. P. Umnova","doi":"10.1109/BALTIC.2008.4625559","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/BALTIC.2008.4625559","url":null,"abstract":"Primary production of phytoplankton, concentrations of chlorophyll a, suspended particulate organic and mineral matters and total phosphorus were measured in the Neva Estuary during the field summer expeditions in 2003-2007. Obtained data were compared with the results of earlier investigations. Impacts of natural and anthropogenic factors on the trophic status of the Neva Estuary have been analyzed. Relationships between biotic and abiotic environmental factors of natural and anthropogenic origin, which influence the trophic status of the Neva Estuary, have been analyzed. Analysis of the data shows that fluctuation of trophic status of the inner part of the Neva Estuary closely related with resuspension and sedimentation processes. Resuspension of bottom sediments during engineering works in the Neva Estuary probably lead to return of phosphorus to water column and to involvement of phosphorus into small biological cycle of elements. Moreover, according to our data, maximum rate of photosynthesis and concentration of chlorophyll a in the Neva Estuary were observed in zone of geochemical barrier, where fresh river waters mix with saline marine waters. The main part of suspended matter in the Neva Estuary deposited in the zone of geochemical barrier, which is characterized by the highest rate of photosynthesis. The investigations have shown that primary production of the Neva Estuary affected by sedimentation and resuspension of particulate matter and its transformation in a water column. Combine influence of natural and anthropogenic factors (resuspension and sedimentation of particulate matter) results in considerable fluctuation of the trophic status of the Neva Estuary during the last thirty years.","PeriodicalId":6307,"journal":{"name":"2008 IEEE/OES US/EU-Baltic International Symposium","volume":"43 1","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76668033","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Negotiated decisions on baltic fishery resource allocation","authors":"R. Aps","doi":"10.1109/BALTIC.2008.4625517","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/BALTIC.2008.4625517","url":null,"abstract":"Negotiation is important in settings where stakeholders have conflicting interests and a desire to cooperate. In that relation argumentation analysis is a promising approach to support the idea that it should be possible to say more about the certainty of a particular decision than just assessing a degree of its probabilistic certainty. In particular, it should be possible to assess the potential reasons (i.e., arguments) why a decision is made, and to combine and compare arguments in order to understand the balance of interests behind the decision. This paper explores the issue of negotiation based decision making using argumentation frameworks for arguing about knowledge (science based advice) and justification of objectives adopted by stakeholders. Fishing fleet overcapacity, being clearly conducive to over-fishing and economic underperformance, is believed to be an important negotiation context element in striking the balance between divergent short-term interests, environmental on the one hand, and socio-economic on the other, often authorizing catch quantities that are higher than those recommended by the scientists, in order to protect the immediate social and economic interests of those employed in the industry.","PeriodicalId":6307,"journal":{"name":"2008 IEEE/OES US/EU-Baltic International Symposium","volume":"297 1","pages":"1-5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77182989","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Biodiversity of microzooplankton (ciliates and rotifers) in the Baltic Sea","authors":"E. Mironova, I. Telesh, S. Skarlato","doi":"10.1109/BALTIC.2008.4625505","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/BALTIC.2008.4625505","url":null,"abstract":"Microzooplankton (e.g. ciliates and rotifers) is an important ecosystem compartment responsible for the transfer and recycling of nutrients in pelagic ecosystems. In the Baltic Sea, species diversity of microzooplankton is high. The characteristic feature of the Baltic Sea planktonic fauna is that great part of it is represented by the freshwater species. In comparison with other seas, species composition of the Baltic Sea's ciliates and rotifers have been studied more completely. Now, 789 species of ciliates are known for the Baltic Sea, and only 160 of them are true planktonic. Thus, the need to define better the diversity of planktonic ciliates is essential. In particular, nanociliates (<20 mum) and their functional role in the Baltic pelagic ecosystems are poorly known. Several species of ciliates that are new for the Baltic Sea were discovered by the authors in the Neva Estuary (eastern Baltic Sea). Diversity of rotifers in the Baltic estuarine ecosystems was investigated in more details and accounts to ca. 150 species; meanwhile the species composition of rotifer assemblages in the open Baltic Sea is still in need of revision.","PeriodicalId":6307,"journal":{"name":"2008 IEEE/OES US/EU-Baltic International Symposium","volume":"78 1","pages":"1-5"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85066669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Seatrack Web forecasts and backtracking of oil spills - an efficient tool to find illegal spills using AIS","authors":"C. Ambjorn","doi":"10.1109/BALTIC.2008.4625512","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/BALTIC.2008.4625512","url":null,"abstract":"Seatrack Web is a fully operational oil drift forecasting system. It covers the Baltic Sea and part of the North Sea. The system is available over the Internet and has the latest weather and ocean forecasts, thus giving the user the best possible decision tool in an oil combating situation. The drift model calculates the three-dimensional movements of substances or objects at sea, including sinking, stranding and turbulent dispersion. For oils, the evaporation, emulsification and wave-induced vertical dispersion are also calculated. Seatrack Web is the HELCOM system for forecasting of oil drift, and the primary users are oil combating authorities in the countries surrounding the Baltic Sea. It has been in operation since the early 1990s. The system now includes several new features, where a coupling to an AIS (Automatic Identification System) ship track data base is the most important. When finding a spill in the sea, it is possible to make a backtracking calculation with the system. The result shows every hour the location of the oil back in time. Adding AIS data to those oiled areas shows clearly which ships have been close to the oil during the whole calculation period. The system then fetches new ship tracks in space and time depending on the changing positions of the oil. A large number of possible ships are often found, and those can then be deleted successively after analyses and more information about the circumstances. The first year of experience with using AIS in Seatrack Web have led to many suggestions for improvement. It now, for instance, works faster to identify the suspected ships and it is also easier to ignore irrelevant ships. One valuable new feature is that if AIS data are missing it is possible to take those data from the log book and fill in so the ship track will be completed, thus having correct information when analysing the situation. During 2008 satellite information will be shown in the map, which simplifies the identification of illegal polluters even further. The satellite image can also show an ongoing release of a spill, by showing a ship connected to the oil while releasing it. Two radar satellites will be used, RADARSAT 1 and ENVISAT. A case with all information included can also be saved to show as evidence in court at later occasions as animation or special pictures.","PeriodicalId":6307,"journal":{"name":"2008 IEEE/OES US/EU-Baltic International Symposium","volume":"35 1","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85699001","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Marine science contribution to the ecosystem-based management of Baltic Sea","authors":"K. Kononen","doi":"10.1109/BALTIC.2008.4625564","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/BALTIC.2008.4625564","url":null,"abstract":"Summary form only given. Ecosystem-based management has become a corner stone in the modern marine environment management strategies and directives. It is a management approach, which is relying on information derived from the scientific knowledge of the marine ecosystem structure and function under external forcing. The conditions for the successful application of the ecosystem-based management are that (1) research is producing the knowledge required for decision making on environment management issues, (2) there are contact surfaces between scientists and decision makers and (3) there are appropriate mechanisms for synthesis and analysis. These conditions do not evolve by themselves. How could they be fostered? A major driving force for new research is research itself - a new finding usually generates new scientific questions and challenges the curiosity of the researcher. It is the challenge to the RTD authorities to make this self directioning knowledge producing process to proceed into the direction, which in the best way gives benefit to the society. The main tool serving that purpose is research funding, which is channeled through a research programmes addressing the questions of societal importance. The funding agencies around the Baltic Sea have recognized the power of funding in fostering marine science contribution to the ecosystem based management of the Baltic Sea. During the past four years nine research funding agencies around the Baltic Sea have joined their forces, and systematically developed a joint Baltic Sea Research Programme, BONUS-169. The goal of the programme is to create a cooperative, interdisciplinary, well integrated and focused transnational research programme in support of the Baltic Sea region's sustainable development and to provide scientific outputs that facilitate the implementation of ecosystem-based management of the Baltic Sea environmental issues. The aim is to form the basis for prudent management aimed at safeguarding the sustainable use of the ecosystem's goods and services. The funding cooperation has been institutionalized through the establishment of the 'Baltic Organisations Network of Funding Science EEIG' - BONUS EEIG. The first call for proposals with total funding of ca. 23 million euro and jointly funded by the national funding agencies and the European Commission was opened in the fall 2007. It was received well by the scientific community with over 900 participations. The scientific and relevance evaluation process will ensure that research combining best scientific quality with high relevance to the ecosystem-based management will be funded. Coordination of the research to be funded is an instrumental part of the funding cooperation. The strategy is described in the 'BONUS-169 Science Plan and Implementation Strategy' (Hopkins et al. 2006). The novelty is the firm involvement of both scientists and knowledge end users in the programme.","PeriodicalId":6307,"journal":{"name":"2008 IEEE/OES US/EU-Baltic International Symposium","volume":"48 1","pages":"1-1"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77806750","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
K. Orviku, H. Tõnisson, R. Aps, J. Kotta, I. Kotta, G. Martin, U. Suursaar, R. Tamsalu, V. Zalesny
{"title":"Environmental impact of port construction: Port of Sillamäe case study (Gulf of Finlad, Baltic Sea)","authors":"K. Orviku, H. Tõnisson, R. Aps, J. Kotta, I. Kotta, G. Martin, U. Suursaar, R. Tamsalu, V. Zalesny","doi":"10.1109/BALTIC.2008.4625538","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/BALTIC.2008.4625538","url":null,"abstract":"The aim of the study was to assess and map the location and status of environmentally sensitive areas (valuable marine habitats) near the Port of Sillama umle, and to assess the potential impacts from the dredging and disposal operations on the local marine ecology (especially on valuable habitats). The observations and field measurements were carried out there since the time when the dumping site of radioactive substances from the former uranium enrichment plant at Sillama umle was in use. The rate of erosion of the narrow separating dam of the dumping site and the velocities of accumulation of shore sediment were assessed in this study. The monitoring of seashore dynamics in recent years has been focused on an area east of the port. While being an attractive recreation area for the local people, that area is characterized by active natural processes. Repetitive measurements are carried out with the aim of monitoring the impact of the port on shore processes, particularly on increasing erosion of the shores. The most recent investigations since 2004 have not revealed any direct impact of the port facilities on shore dynamics. At the same time, changes caused by extremely strong storms of January 2005 or of winter 2006-2007 are evident. Over the last 30 years, the average freezing date has shifted from December to January and ice break-up begins earlier. As a result, the ice-free period, when wave action can freely access the coast, gets gradually longer, and it happens mainly on account of more stormy autumn and winter months. Dredging and disposal operations may have either direct (removal or burial) or/and indirect effects (enhanced turbidity and sedimentation rates, and changes in hydrographic regime) on benthic invertebrates. Thus, the magnitude and direction of the effects depend on the processes involved. The data obtained before, during and after dredging and disposal revealed the re-establishment of directly affected communities following a year after the cessation of disturbance. The results of special monitoring program concluded that the environmental impact of the dredging operations on the benthic communities was minimal to moderate. Using the results of hydrodynamic modeling of the area at the Port of Sillama umle, the behavior of suspended sediment plumes from dredging and disposal of concrete material was modeled using FRESCO high resolution, sigma coordinate, non-hydrostatic, baroclinic model system. Wind waves are calculated by narrow directional approximation model and the turbulent mixing based on the k-omega turbulence closer model. Numerical experiments have been performed for four nested marine basins with different space resolution. In the highest resolution nested domain the horizontal grid size was approximately 1/10 of nautical miles. Modeling results included spatial information on suspended sediment concentrations and sedimentation rates.","PeriodicalId":6307,"journal":{"name":"2008 IEEE/OES US/EU-Baltic International Symposium","volume":"15 1","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81644401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
E. Lindén, A. Lehikoinen, J. Kotta, R. Aps, H. Pitknen, A. Raike, P. Korpinen, S. Kuikka
{"title":"EVAGULF — protection of the aquatic communities in the Gulf of Finland: risk-based policymaking","authors":"E. Lindén, A. Lehikoinen, J. Kotta, R. Aps, H. Pitknen, A. Raike, P. Korpinen, S. Kuikka","doi":"10.1109/BALTIC.2008.4625520","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/BALTIC.2008.4625520","url":null,"abstract":"Most of the analyses related to eutrophication focus on cyanobacterial blooms or increased primary production. However, eutrophication may also lead to disappearance of species, which is a real risk to the ecosystem. In this paper, we introduce a prototype of a decision assessment model that takes into account the biodiversity risks of eutrophication. The model was developed within the EVAGULF project and it also includes a Bayesian classification tool for water areas, needed in the implementation of the EU water framework directive. Existing monitoring databases, results from published literature and expert knowledge have been integrated and analyzed by Bayesian risk assessment methodology. The selected computational methods enable combining data that are of different nature as well as concrete elucidation of benefits and risks associated with alternative management decisions. The preliminary results enable evaluation of the country-specific abatement measures: e.g. which areas and populations can be managed only by national management actions and in which cases international co-operation is needed to achieve the objectives. The role of the global climate change is also considered. This kind of knowledge is essential for more cost-effective use of the financial resources available for the protection of the Gulf of Finland.","PeriodicalId":6307,"journal":{"name":"2008 IEEE/OES US/EU-Baltic International Symposium","volume":"15 1","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76476779","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The impact of sea level rise and how it will effect on the Nile delta coast","authors":"S.H.S. El Din, A. M. Fanos","doi":"10.1109/BALTIC.2008.4625501","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/BALTIC.2008.4625501","url":null,"abstract":"Records for more than 30 years of hourly sea level data at Alexandria and Port Said were used in these analyses. From these analyses the extreme sea level distribution was derived using a statistical analysis technique. A model for sea level prediction was constructed. The results indicate that the sea level rise if any will not exceed 15 cm in the worst weather condition for the next 50 years.","PeriodicalId":6307,"journal":{"name":"2008 IEEE/OES US/EU-Baltic International Symposium","volume":"35 1","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2008-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78922163","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}