<p>During the past few years a vast amount of research has been done to increase the understanding of the complex ecosystem of the Baltic Sea. Modelling and simulations are important tools to increase knowledge of the system. A suitable model must be simple to use and the parameters and variables needed in the model must be easy to access.</p><p>In this paper a dynamical mass-balance model, CoastMab, which is validated for smaller coastal areas, has been used to predict concentrations and transports of phosphorus in three large coastal areas - the Gulf of Finland, the Gulf of Gdansk and the Gulf of Riga. CoastMab uses ordinary differential equations to regulate inflow, outflow and internal flows. To reflect seasonal variations in temperature and different types of flows the model has a temporal resolution of a month. The main purposes of this paper have been to evaluate CoastMab, predict the concentrations and the transports of phosphorus in each coastal area and to analyse how much and why the results differ from empirical data.</p><p>The performed simulations show the importance of a correct calculation of the wave base. This is due to its influence on the division between surface and deep water as well as the division of areas of accumulation and areas of erosion and transport. The retention times of surface and deep water calculated by the model also is of great importance because of their direct influence on the flow of water between the study area and the sea outside the area. This together with the concentration of phosphorus determines the flow of phosphorus in and out of the study area.</p><p>The dynamical mass-balance model is considered to work well in the three studied areas even though the areas are outside the model domain in several respects. Even if the predictions of the phosphorus concentration in the gulf of Riga was less accurate than in the other study areas, the prediction was inside the interval of standard deviation that has been calculated from empirical data. The major flow of phosphorus in the model was in the cross section between the Baltic proper and the modelled coastal area.</p><p>Since the model is easy to use and requires only a small number of obligatory input variables it would be appealing to continue development of the model to handle coastal areas of the same size and larger than the study areas in this paper.</p> / <p>Under senare år har mycket forskning utförts för att öka förståelsen av det komplexa ekosystem Östersjön utgör. Viktiga redskap för att öka förståelsen för systemet är modellering och simulering. För att en modell ska vara lämplig att använda är det viktigt att den inte är för komplicerad och att de parametrar och variabler som används i modellen är lättillgängliga.</p><p>I detta arbete har en dynamisk massbalansmodell, CoastMab, som är validerad för mindre kustområden använts för att modellera fosforkoncentrationer och fosforflöden i tre större kustområden - Finska viken, Gdanskbukten och Rigabukten. CoastMab reglerar genom ordinära differentialekvationer inflöden, utflöden och interna flöden. För att kunna hantera säsongsvariationer i temperatur och olika typer av flöden har modellen en temporär upplösning på en månad. Syftet med arbetet har främst varit att se hur väl CoastMab predikterar fosforkoncentrationen och fosforflöden inom respektive område, samt att analysera hur mycket och varför prediktionerna skiljer sig från empiriska data.</p><p>De simuleringar som utfördes visade att djupet på den teoretiska vågbasen, som modellen beräknar, är av stor betydelse eftersom den i sin tur bestämmer fördelningen yt- och djupvatten samt fördelningen av ackumulationsbottnar och erosions- och transportbottnar. De utbytestider för yt- och djupvatten som modellen beräknar är också av största vikt eftersom de har en direkt inverkan på vattenflödet mellan studerat område och havet utanför, vilket i sin tur tillsammans med fosforkoncentrationen bestämmer fosforflöden in och ut ur det studerade området.</p><p>Den dynamiska massbalansmodellen kan anses fungera väl för samtliga tre studerade områden, trots att de ligger utanför modellens domän i flera avseenden. Även om prediktionen av fosforkoncentrationen i Rigabukten blev sämre än för de två övriga områdena, låg prediktionen inom det intervall för standardavvikelsen som beräknats utifrån empiriska data. De största fosforflödena i modellen förekom för samtliga områden i gränssnittet mellan egentliga Östersjön och det modellerade kustområdet.</p><p>Enkelheten i att använda modellen och det låga antalet obligatoriska drivvariabler gör att den är väl värd att utveckla för att hantera områden av samma eller större storlek än de nu studerade områdena.</p>

<p>Naturvårdsverket rankar övergödningen som det allvarligaste hotet mot Östersjön. Strategin för att bekämpa övergödningen i Östersjön har varit att reducera antropogena utsläpp av fosfor och kväve från punktkällor och diffusa källor. Många forskare anser att primärproduktionen i egentliga Östersjön huvudsakligen är begränsad av kväve varför Sverige har infört ett ambitiöst och kostsamt program för avancerad kväverening på reningsverk. Andra experter hävdar istället att reducerade kväveutsläpp är meningslösa eller rent av skadliga.</p><p>I ljuset av dessa fundamentalt olika åsikter och de helt motsatta strategier de innebär syftar denna studie till att försöka klargöra vilka åtgärder som borde vidtas för att minska övergödningen genom att undersöka området Himmerfjärden som ofta används som ett exempel på lyckad kväverening. Området har också studerats intensivt sedan 1970-talet.</p><p>Detta arbete har använt en processbaserad dynamisk massbalansmodell för salt för att beräkna vattenutbytestider i Himmerfjärden. Flöden av vatten och näringsämnen till och från fjärden har beräknats och det har visats att bidraget av kväve och fosfor till Himmerfjärden från reningsverket är mycket marginellt jämfört med bidraget från Östersjön.</p><p>Denna studie har också genom att granska litteratur och mätdata från Himmerfjärden visat att det finns goda skäl att ifrågasätta hypotesen om att primärproduktionen i Himmerfjärden skulle vara långsiktigt begränsad av kväve. Resultaten av denna studie kommer att användas i framtida massbalansmodelleringar av fosfor, kväve och cyanobakterier i Himmerfjärden.</p> / <p>The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency has ranked eutrophication as the most severe threat to the Baltic Sea. The strategy to combat the eutrophication in the Baltic has been to reduce antrophogenous emissions of phosphorus and nitrogen from point and diffuse sources. Many scientists argue that the primary production in the Baltic proper is primarily limited by nitrogen which is why Sweden and other countries have implemented an ambitious and expensive program of advanced nitrogen removal in sewage treatment plants. Other experts argue that reduced nitrogen load to the Baltic Sea is either pointless or even harmful.</p><p>In the light of these fundamentally different views and the very opposite management strategies they imply, this study aims to more bring clarity to which measures should be taken to reduce eutrophiction by investigating the area of Himmerfjärden. Himmerfjärden is often used as an example of successful removal of nitrogen and the area has been intensively monitored since the 1970’s.</p><p>This work used a process-based dynamic mass balance model for salt to calculate water retention times in Himmerfjärden. Water and nutrient flows to and from the bay have been calculated. It was shown that the contribution of nutrients to Himmerfjärden from the treatment plant is small compared to the contribution from the Baltic Sea.</p><p>This study showed by reviewing literature on Himmerfjärden that there are good reasons to question the hypothesis of Himmerfjärden being nitrogen limited in the long-run. The findings of this study will be used in future mass balance modelling of phosphorus, nitrogen and cyanobacteria in Himmerfjärden.</p>

No description available.

<p>Seasonal changes in reproduction, recruitment, occurrence and growth of marine plant and animal species is a common phenomenon world-wide. This thesis investigates whether such seasonal changes could determine the succession in subtidal phytobenthic communities on free space in the Baltic Sea. My results showed circular seasonal patterns both in the settlement of species and in the annual appearance of communities. The circular seasonal pattern was also observed in the succession. Initial species assemblages were determined by the time space became available for colonisation. Although the succession seemed to be directed towards one site-specific final community structure determined by physical factors, the time of the year when space became available influenced the rate of the succession through species interactions. Rapid growth and timing of settlement and free space occurrence allowed early species to occupy all available space and prevent further colonisation, thereby slowing the succession. My results also showed that both settlement and community structure are influenced by substrate characteristics. Studying community development on vertical artificial structures revealed communities with few species and different composition compared to communities on vertical natural substrates. A field study showed that settlement and community structure changed significantly between 60º and 90º substrate slopes. This thesis shows that some differences in the final community structure are determined already at the settlement stage and that the succession pattern varies depending on when free space occurs. However, small inter-annual and site-specific differences in seasonal settlement periods and site-specific final communities mainly determined by physical factors, suggest that succession patterns are relatively predictable. Seasonal changes seem to cause a spiralling succession towards a final, seasonally undulating, state.</p>

Svarstymai apie ekologinio saugumo sampratą bei šio sektoriaus reikšmę valstybių nacionalinių interesų kontekste prasidėjo dar praeito šimtmečio viduryje. Dėl spartaus ekonominio vystymosi kilo daugybė aplinkos saugumo problemų, tiek visame pasaulyje, tiek Baltijos jūros regione. Ekologinio saugumo problemos bei jų sprendimas savo prigimtimi peržengia nacionalinių valstybių sienas. Dėl šios priežasties pradėtos kurti tarptautinės institucijos arba režimai, atsirado poreikis tarptautiniam bendradarbiavimui. Siekiant spręsti aplinkos saugumo klausimus Baltijos jūros regiono valstybės įkūrė Helsinkio Komisiją bei aktyviai dirba šioje srityje. Pagrindinis darbo tikslas yra susipažinti ekologinio saugumo problematika Baltijos jūros regione, įvardijant pagrindinus tikslus bei iššūkius, bei jų įgyvendinimo galimybes ir efektyvumą. Siekiant geriau atskleisti temą darbe yra lyginami Švedijos ir Lietuvos atvejai. Pagrindiniai darbo uždaviniai yra apibrėžti valstybių nacionalinių interesų saugumo sampratą ir plačiau apžvelgti pagrindinius ekologinio arba aplinkos saugumo apibrėžimus ir perspektyvas politikos mokslų teorijoje. Aptarti svarbiausias grėsmes ir iššūkius Baltijos jūros regiono ekologiniam saugumui, atkreipiant dėmesį į pagrindines aplinkos saugumo problemas su kuriomis susiduria Švedija ir Lietuva. Susipažinti su Helsinkio Komisijos vaidmeniu Baltijos jūros regiono ekologinio saugumo srityje. Siekiant įgyvendinti darbo tikslą bei uždavinius naudojamas aprašomasis... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Ecological security problems, such as climate change and severe air and water pollution, have reached global attention over the last couple of decades. Environmental threats are usually caused not only by one state and can have impacts well beyond national borders. Hence, there is an obvious need for cross-national cooperation. The main object of this study is the challenges of ecological security in the Baltic Sea region and the efforts to meet them through cooperation within the Helsinki Commission. The Helsinki Commission is one of the main institutions seeking to ensure marine environment protection in the Baltic Sea through international cooperation between Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the wider European Union. To better understand the role and possible effects of the Helsinki Commission, a comparison between Sweden and Lithuania is being made. The main focus is on recent developments of ecological security, particularly after the adoption of the Helsinki Commission’s Baltic Sea Action Plan in 2007. The central question of this work is: what are the main ecological security problems and objectives set by the Helsinki Commission and what are the challenges for implementation in Sweden and Lithuania? Descriptive, comparative, and analytical research methods are employed in order to analyze this question. Numerous studies have revealed that pollution, caused by the agricultural sector, marine transportation and other... [to full text]

Disertacijos tikslas – integruotas teršalų pasklidimo aplinkoje ir jų biologinio poveikio Baltijos jūros Lietuvos zonoje vertinimas. Darbe buvo apibendrinti ilgalaikių aplinkos taršos tyrimų Baltijos jūros Lietuvos zonoje duomenys, aprašyti teršalų pasklidimo ypatumai Klaipėdos uosto, grunto gramzdinimo jūroje, Būtingės naftos terminalo, D-6 naftos platformos ir cheminio ginklo nuskandinimo rajonuose, tirti aplinkos taršos biožymenų jūrų organizmuose iš skirtingų pietrytinės Baltijos jūros rajonų ypatumai bei atliktas eksperimentas sąryšio tarp teršalų ir biožymenų atsako moliuskų audiniuose ypatumams nustatyti. Darbas atitinka HELCOM Baltijos jūros veiksmų plano ir ES Jūrų strategijos pagrindų direktyvos iškeltus tikslus – „Baltijos jūros aplinka nepaveikta pavojingų medžiagų“ ir „teršalų koncentracijos lygis yra toks, kad nesukelia taršos poveikio“. Norint pasiekti šiuos tikslus, būtina atlikti kompleksinį Baltijos jūros aplinkos būklės vertinimą. Šiems tikslams sukurtas HELCOM Cheminės būklės vertinimo įrankis CHASE (angl. Chemical Status Assessment Tool), buvo panaudotas kompleksiškai vertinant Lietuvos Baltijos jūros rajonų aplinkos taršą. Atsiranda vis daugiau moksliniais tyrimais pagristų įrodymų, kad biologinių efektų tyrimai yra svarbūs. Šis darbas yra dar vienas biologinių efektų tyrimų svarbos įrodymas ir tokio pobūdžio tyrimų įtraukimo į valstybinės stebėsenos programą aktualumo patvirtinimas. / The aim of the study is an integrated assessment of the spread of contaminants and their biological effects in the Lithuanian zone of the Baltic Sea. Long-term monitoring data on contaminants in water, sediments and biota were summarized; the peculiarities of distribution of contaminants in the Klaipėda harbour, Būtingė oil terminal, dredged sediments dumping site, adjacent area to the Russian D-6 oil platform and chemical munitions dumpsite were described; biomarker responses in marine organisms from the different areas of the southeastern Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon were evaluated and the impact of contaminants on biomarker responses in mussels was assessed. The thesis reflects the overall goals of the hazardous substances segment of the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan – to achieve a Baltic Sea with life undisturbed by hazardous substances and of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive – concentrations of contaminants are at levels not giving rise to pollution effects. The ongoing activities of HELCOM and EU are aimed at the integrated holistic assessments of the environmental state of the Baltic Sea. The combination of contaminant concentrations with the biological effects were used in the HELCOM Chemical Status Assessment Tool CHASE, which also has been applied for Lithuanian waters. Whereas more scientific evidences appear the biological effects become an important issue of the environmental research. This study also reflects the importance of integration of... [to full text]

Šis magistrantūros studijų baigiamasis darbas atskleidžia ir leidžia labiau įsigilinti į Lietuvos pajūrio išsaugojimą, skiriamas priemones, susipažinti su gaunamomis paramomis aplinkosaugai, sužinoti, kur jos panaudojamos bei labiau įsigilinti į pajūrio svarbą Lietuvai. Gilintasi, kokie veiksniai daro didžiausią žalą mūsų pajūriui, bei kokią iniciatyvą aplinkosaugos atžvilgiu rodo ir kaip prisideda turistai, vietos bei kiti Lietuvos gyventojai. Tiriamojoje dalyje buvo vykdomas ekspertų apklausos tyrimas vakarų Lietuvoje (Palangos, Klaipėdos, Kretingos, taip pat rajonų savivaldybių specialistų). Ekspertų pagalba vertintos pajūrio apsaugos priemonės, veiksniai, darantys žalą Lietuvos pajūriui. Atlikta norminių dokumentų analizė, išanalizuotos gaunamos lėšos ir parama Lietuvos pajūriui išsaugoti bei padaryti darbai. Atlikta stiprybių, silpnybių, galimybių ir grėsmių (SSGG) analizė, teikiami pasiūlymai kaip pagerinti ir išsaugoti stabilią teritorijų būklę. Taip pat išanalizuoti norminiai dokumentai Baltijos šalyse (Latvijoje ir Estijoje), nagrinėta, kaip saugomas pajūris ir kokią reikšmę jis turi kaimyninėse šalyse. Informacija palyginta su Lietuvos teisine sistema. Aptarta kokia pajūrio teritorijų svarba ir kaip jis saugomas Latvijoje ir Estijoje. Darbe nagrinėjama Baltijos pajūrio pakrantės aplinkosauginė situacija (tarša, atliekų rūšiavimas, ekologinės būklės gerinimas ir išsaugojimas, analizuoti teisės aktai, paramos, projektai). Aptariama Baltijos jūros pakrantės svarba... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / This Master's thesis reveals and allows more insight into the Lithuanian coastal conservation measures on access to the support they received for the Environment, to find out where they are used, and more aware of the importance of coastal Lithuania. Jurisprudence which factors have the greatest damage to our beaches, as well as any environmental initiative, demonstrates and contributes to tourists, locals and residents of Lithuania. The research was carried out in the expert survey in west Lithuania (Palanga, Klaipeda in municipality, as well as areas of municipal officers). It has been questioned by experts whose opinion then analyzed and conclusions drawn about the coastal protection measures, factors which caused the Lithuanian coast. Normative document analysis was performed, analysis of received funds and support for the preservation of Lithuania seaside as well as the work performed. The survey and analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, documenting the opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis and conclusions on how to improve and change the state of preservation. Also analyze regulatory documents in the Baltic States (Latvia and Estonia) were analyzed, protected seashore and the significance of the neighborhood were researched. A comparison of the Lithuanian legal system. Comparable any seaside importance and how it is stored in Latvia and Estonia. The paper examines the Baltic seaside coastal environmental side (pollution, waste handling, treatment, preservation... [to full text]

In recent years there has been an increase in offshore wind energy, which poses the need for accurate wind speed estimates in the marine environment, especially in coastal areas where most wind turbines will be placed. This thesis is focused on the Baltic Sea, which is a small, semi-enclosed sea where land-sea interaction play an important role in explaining the wind patterns. Mesoscale model simulations can be used to study the marine environment, where observations are often scarce. In this thesis the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is used. In the first study simulations show that stable stratification over sea is very common in spring and summer and is associated with an increase in low-level jet occurrence and increased wind shear below 200 m, at heights where wind turbines are erected. The model performance in stable conditions is evaluated against aircraft measurements using several boundary layer parametrization schemes, and it is shown that the low-level jet height and strength is not accurately captured with any of the parametrizations. In the second study the advection of land features is investigated. From simulations, aircraft observations and satellite images it is shown that boundary layer rolls are created in the convective boundary layer over land, and advected several tens of kilometres out over sea surface, despite the stable stratification, where convective turbulence dissipates quickly. The occurrence of boundary layer rolls gives rise to horizontal wind speed variations of several meters per second over distances of kilometres, which can increase the uncertainty of short term wind speed forecasts in coastal areas with offshore flow. It is shown that mesoscale processes in and above the marine boundary layer are important in modifying the wind field in distances of at least 100 km from the coast and that models still need to be improved in order to capture these conditions. / Under de senaste decennierna har vindkraftsutbyggnaden ökat till havs, vilket innebär att det krävs tillförlitliga vindhastighetsuppskattningar över hav, särskilt i kustområden, där de flesta vindturbinerna kommer att placeras. Den här avhandlingen kommer att fokusera på Östersjön, vilket är ett relativt litet hav omgivet av landmassor, där land-hav-interaktion har en stor påverkan på vindmönstren över havet. Mesoskaliga modeller kan användas för att studera den lägre delen av den marina atmosfären. I den här avhandlingen används modellen "Weather Research and Forecasting" (WRF). I den första studien visar simuleringar att stabila förhållanden över havet är vanligt förekommande under sommar och vår, och sker i samband med en ökad förekomst av vindmaxima på låg höjd och ökad vindskjuvning under 200 m - alltså på höjder där vindkraftverk förekommer. Modellen, med flertalet gränskiktsparametriseringar, utvärderas för stabila fall mot flygplansmätningar, och resultaten visar att styrkan och höjden för vindmaxima är antingen över- eller underskattade oavsett parametrisering. I den andra studien undersöks advektiva fenomen. Simuleringar, flyplansobservationer och satellitbilder visar att avlånga rullvirvlar uppstår i det konvektiva gränsskiktet över land och advekteras flera tiotals kilometer över hav ut från kusten. Detta trots stabila förhållanden över havet, där den konvektiva turbulensen snabbt dör ut. Rullvirvlarna ger upphov till variationer i horisontell vindhastighet på flera meter per sekund över avstånd på några kilometer, vilket kan öka osäkerheten hos korttidsprognoser för vind när det är blåser från land. Sammanfattningsvis har det har visats att mesoskaliga processer i och ovanför det marina gränsskiktet har en stor inverkan på vindfältet åtminstone 100 km från kusten, och modeller behöver fortfarande förbättras för att kunna fånga dessa företeelser. / StandUp for Wind

Genetic variation is a prerequisite for the viability and evolution of species. Information on population genetic patterns on spatial and temporal scales is therefore important for effective management and for protection of biodiversity. However, incorporation of genetics into management has been difficult, even though the need has been stressed for decades. In this thesis population genetic patterns in continuous environments are described, compared among species, and related to conservation management. The model systems are moose (Alces alces) in Sweden and multiple species in the Baltic Sea, with particular focus on the Northern pike (Esox lucius). The spatial scope of the studies is large, and much focus is dedicated towards comprehensive sampling over large geographic areas. The moose population in Sweden is shown to be divided into two major subpopulations, a northern and a southern one. Both subpopulations show genetic signals of major population bottlenecks, which coincide with known population reductions due to high hunting pressure (Paper I). The Northern pike in the Baltic Sea shows relatively weak, but temporally stable population genetic structure. An isolation by distance pattern suggests that gene flow primarily takes place among neighboring populations, either over shortest waterway distance or along the mainland coast, with island populations acting as stepping stones (Paper III). In a comparative study of seven Baltic Sea species no shared genetic patterns were found, either in terms of genetic divergence among or genetic diversity within geographic regions. These results complicate the incorporation of genetic data into management, because it suggests that no generalization can be made among species in the Baltic Sea, but that species-specific management is needed (Paper II). Over the last 50 years, 61 species in the Baltic Sea have been studied with respect to spatial genetic patterns. For over 20 of these species information of direct relevance for management is available. Relevant information is synthesized into management recommendations (Paper IV). This thesis provides vital information on spatial and temporal genetic structure for a number of ecologically and socio-economically important species. It shows that such information is important to consider species by species and that both local and metapopulation approaches are needed to effectively manage genetic diversity in e.g. moose and pike. Further, it identifies for which organisms in the Baltic Sea genetic information exists, how it can be used, and where important information is lacking. In order to successfully make use of genetic data in management, effective communication channels between academia and policy-makers are needed. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 3: Manuscript. Paper 4: Manuscript.</p>

This paper examines what happened when Sweden recognized Estonia and Latvia as sovereign states. The recognising process was part of what during the time was called "the Baltic problem". The Baltic problem was the new situation that arose around the Baltic Sea after World War I in 1918, where several new states were added. Sweden's geostrategic position was considerably better but the time after the war was a turbulent period in Sweden. Sweden needed to take into account how the victorious powers Britain and France acted in international politics. In this situation Sweden was faced with the decision to recognize the new states. This paper used the theoretical perspectives of "realism" and "idealism". Realism says that states do not respect international law, unless it is in the state's self-interest. Instead realism empathizes that the realpolitik and power politics are the main instruments of the state to achieve security. Idealism emphasizes that states will gladly take into account international law because it is morally right and also emphasizes the democratic institutions and economic cooperation to create an interdependency between states and thus achieve security. Sweden takes into account international law in the sense that Sweden wants to admit the two states when they meet the constitutional criteria. However, Sweden chose to not recognize any of the states before Britain and France had recognized them. Sweden's cautious behaviour towards the recognition and the negative attitude towards closer cooperation on security issues provide support to the realism as the theory that best explains Sweden's actions in their relationship with the newly proclaimed states of Estonia and Latvia.