Biogeochemical control of the coupled CO2-O2 system of the Baltic Sea: A review of the results of Baltic-C
Author
Summary, in English
Past, present, and possible future changes in the Baltic Sea acid-base and oxygen balances were studied using different numerical experiments and a catchment-sea model system in several scenarios including business as usual, medium scenario, and the Baltic Sea Action Plan. New CO2 partial pressure data provided guidance for improving the marine biogeochemical model. Continuous CO2 and nutrient measurements with high temporal resolution helped disentangle the biogeochemical processes. These data and modeling indicate that traditional understandings of the nutrient availability-organic matter production relationship do not necessarily apply to the Baltic Sea. Modeling indicates that increased nutrient loads will not inhibit future Baltic Sea acidification; instead, increased mineralization and biological production will amplify the seasonal surface pH cycle. The direction and magnitude of future pH changes are mainly controlled by atmospheric CO2 concentration. Apart from decreasing pH, we project a decreasing calcium carbonate saturation state and increasing hypoxic area.
Department/s
Publishing year
2014
Language
English
Pages
49-59
Publication/Series
Ambio: a Journal of Human Environment
Volume
43
Issue
1
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Springer
Topic
- Physical Geography
Keywords
- Eutrophication
- Ocean acidification
- Climate change
- Baltic Sea
- Kattegat
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 0044-7447