scholarly journals Gypsum amendment of arable fields as a water protection measure – farmers’ experience, phosphorus reduction potential and associated costs drawn from a large scale pilot

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Markku Ollikainen ◽  
Anna-Kaisa Kosenius ◽  
Eliisa Punttila ◽  
Venla Ala-Harja ◽  
Samuli Puroila ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Reduction Potential ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Water Protection ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Protection Measure ◽  
Arable Fields ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
Phosphorus Reduction

We organized a large-scale pilot on gypsum amendment of arable fields in southwest Finland, along the River Savijoki to examine its effects on phosphorus loads and aquatic environment, and to assess its feasibility as a water protection measure. This paper reports findings on the feasibility aspects of gypsum amendment covering logistics and costs of spreading, abatement potential and farmers’ experience. We found that farmers perceived gypsum amendment positively and the costs of reducing phosphorus are low relative to other measures available in agriculture. Gypsum amendment suits well to 0.5 million hectares of arable land in southern Finland. Gypsum could potentially contribute considerably to the achievement of phosphorus reduction targets of the Baltic Sea Action Plan if applied in all countries having clay soils.

scholarly journals Baltic sea challenge: networking and experience exchange enhancing the implementation of concrete water protection measures

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lotta Ruokanen ◽  
Salla-Maria Lauttamäki
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Free Form ◽  
Water Protection ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Local Actors ◽  
The Baltic

Watercourses are affected by eutrophication, harmful substances, maritime traffic and leisure boating, dredging, littering and building of infrastructure. On the other hand, nature is an important factor for the well-being of coastal municipalities and industries. Monetary value of the ecosystem services produced by the Baltic Sea is about 5 billion Euros annually. These regulating services, natural resources and recreational services are responsible for e.g. recycling of nutrients, flood prevention, providing fish stocks and a framework for tourism. The protection of waters is governed by international and national laws, intergovernmental conventions and regional or local environmental permits. However, also the implementation of EU or HELCOM regulations is usually carried out on the local level. Municipalities, ports and water utilities are examples of local actors which can set their own, more ambitious goals and take further steps for being exemplary – not only complying with regulations but accomplishing voluntarily measures for water protection. Cities of Helsinki and Turku in Finland see the state of the Baltic Sea as a basis for their competitiveness. They decided in 2007 to launch the Baltic Sea Challenge initiative for the protection of the sea: they published a joint Baltic Sea Action Plan with almost 40 activities that were additional to legal requirements, and challenged other organisations to join. In 2014 the network includes 200 organisations around the Baltic Sea. Together, events are organised, materials produced and best practices shared, in order to protect the waters. The network is free of charge and open to all. Helsinki and Turku updated their joint Baltic Sea Action Plan for 2014–2018, and new operating model with priorities for the network were set out. Baltic Sea Challenge continues to provide benefits and function as a strong communication channel for members, while retaining its distinctive nature as a free-form, easy and direct network.

scholarly journals SOCIETAL SECURITY IN THE BALTIC SEA REGION: THE RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Baltic Region ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 4-24
Author(s):  
Alexander A. Sergunin
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
International Terrorism ◽  
Gender Inequalities ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Baltic Countries ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Baltic Sea Region ◽  
The Baltic

This study discusses whether the concept of societal security is embedded in the Russian official and informal discourses as well as in the Russian strategic documents on national security and the Baltic Sea region. Particularly, the paper describes four paradigms of international relations (neorealism, neoliberalism, globalism and postpositivism) and theoretical approaches to the concept of societal security formulated in them. On a practical plane, Russia managed to develop — together with other regional players — a common regional approach to the understanding of societal security threats and challenges in the Baltic Sea region. These challenges include uneven regional development, social and gender inequalities, unemployment, poverty, manifestations of intolerance, religious and political extremism, separatism, large-scale migration, inconsistencies in education systems, climate change, natural and man-made catastrophes, transnational organized crime and cybercrime, international terrorism, so-called hybrid threats, etc. Russia and other Baltic countries agreed that the Council of the Baltic Sea States should be a proper regional institution to implement a common societal security strategy exemplified by the Baltic 2030 Agenda Action Plan (2017).

scholarly journals Deficiency syndromes in top predators associated with large-scale changes in the Baltic Sea ecosystem

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. e0227714 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanna Majaneva ◽  
Emil Fridolfsson ◽  
Michele Casini ◽  
Catherine Legrand ◽  
Elin Lindehoff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Top Predators ◽  
The Baltic

Prospects for cost-efficient water protection in the Baltic Sea

2015 ◽  
Vol 90 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 188-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kari Hyytiäinen ◽  
Lassi Ahlvik
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Water Protection ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
The Baltic

scholarly journals Effect of ocean acidification and elevated <i>f</i>CO<sub>2</sub> on trace gas production by a Baltic Sea summer phytoplankton community

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 4595-4613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison L. Webb ◽  
Emma Leedham-Elvidge ◽  
Claire Hughes ◽  
Frances E. Hopkins ◽  
Gill Malin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Trace Gas ◽  
Research Station ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Chl A ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
Upwelling Event ◽  
Ambient Co2

Abstract. The Baltic Sea is a unique environment as the largest body of brackish water in the world. Acidification of the surface oceans due to absorption of anthropogenic CO2 emissions is an additional stressor facing the pelagic community of the already challenging Baltic Sea. To investigate its impact on trace gas biogeochemistry, a large-scale mesocosm experiment was performed off Tvärminne Research Station, Finland, in summer 2012. During the second half of the experiment, dimethylsulfide (DMS) concentrations in the highest-fCO2 mesocosms (1075–1333 µatm) were 34 % lower than at ambient CO2 (350 µatm). However, the net production (as measured by concentration change) of seven halocarbons analysed was not significantly affected by even the highest CO2 levels after 5 weeks' exposure. Methyl iodide (CH3I) and diiodomethane (CH2I2) showed 15 and 57 % increases in mean mesocosm concentration (3.8 ± 0.6 increasing to 4.3 ± 0.4 pmol L−1 and 87.4 ± 14.9 increasing to 134.4 ± 24.1 pmol L−1 respectively) during Phase II of the experiment, which were unrelated to CO2 and corresponded to 30 % lower Chl a concentrations compared to Phase I. No other iodocarbons increased or showed a peak, with mean chloroiodomethane (CH2ClI) concentrations measured at 5.3 (±0.9) pmol L−1 and iodoethane (C2H5I) at 0.5 (±0.1) pmol L−1. Of the concentrations of bromoform (CHBr3; mean 88.1 ± 13.2 pmol L−1), dibromomethane (CH2Br2; mean 5.3 ± 0.8 pmol L−1), and dibromochloromethane (CHBr2Cl, mean 3.0 ± 0.5 pmol L−1), only CH2Br2 showed a decrease of 17 % between Phases I and II, with CHBr3 and CHBr2Cl showing similar mean concentrations in both phases. Outside the mesocosms, an upwelling event was responsible for bringing colder, high-CO2, low-pH water to the surface starting on day t16 of the experiment; this variable CO2 system with frequent upwelling events implies that the community of the Baltic Sea is acclimated to regular significant declines in pH caused by up to 800 µatm fCO2. After this upwelling, DMS concentrations declined, but halocarbon concentrations remained similar or increased compared to measurements prior to the change in conditions. Based on our findings, with future acidification of Baltic Sea waters, biogenic halocarbon emissions are likely to remain at similar values to today; however, emissions of biogenic sulfur could significantly decrease in this region.

scholarly journals An integrated simulation model to evaluate national measures for the abatement of agricultural nutrients in the Baltic Sea

2009 ◽  
Vol 18 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 440-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. HYYTIÄINEN ◽  
H. AHTIAINEN ◽  
J. HEIKKILÄ
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Simulation Model ◽  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Gulf Of Finland ◽  
Nutrient Loads ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
Bothnian Bay ◽  
The Gulf Of Finland

This study introduces a prototype model for evaluating measures to abate agricultural nutrients in the Baltic Sea from a Finnish national perspective. The stochastic simulation model integrates nutrient dynamics of nitrogen and phosphorus in the sea basins adjoining the Finnish coast, nutrient loads from land and other sources, benefits from nutrient abatement (in the form of recreation and other ecosystem services) and the costs of agricultural abatement activities. The aim of the study is to present the overall structure of the model and to demonstrate its potential using preliminary parameters. The model is made flexible for further improvements in all of its ecological and economic components. The results of a sensitivity analysis suggest that investments in reducing the nutrient load from arable land in Finland would become profitable only if the neighboring countries in the northern Baltic committed themselves to similar reductions. Environmental investments for improving water quality yield the highest returns for the Bothnian Bay and the Gulf of Finland, with smaller returns for the Bothnian Sea. Somewhat surprisingly, in the Bothnian Bay the abatement activities become profitable from the national viewpoint, because the riverine loads from Finland represent a high proportion of the total nutrient loads. In the Gulf of Finland, this proportion is low, but the size of the coastal population benefiting from improved water quality is high.;

scholarly journals A century of genetic homogenization in Baltic salmon—evidence from archival DNA

2021 ◽  
Vol 288 (1949) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Östergren ◽  
Stefan Palm ◽  
John Gilbey ◽  
Göran Spong ◽  
Johan Dannewitz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Isolation By Distance ◽  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Genetic Change ◽  
Past Century ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
Archival Dna

Intra-species genetic homogenization arising from anthropogenic impacts is a major threat to biodiversity. However, few taxa have sufficient historical material to systematically quantify long-term genetic changes. Using archival DNA collected over approximately 100 years, we assessed spatio-temporal genetic change in Atlantic salmon populations across the Baltic Sea, an area heavily impacted by hydropower exploitation and associated with large-scale mitigation stocking. Analysis was carried out by screening 82 SNPs in 1680 individuals from 13 Swedish rivers. We found an overall decrease in genetic divergence and diminished isolation by distance among populations, strongly indicating genetic homogenization over the past century. We further observed an increase in genetic diversity within populations consistent with increased gene flow. The temporal genetic change was lower in larger wild populations than in smaller wild and hatchery-reared ones, indicating that larger populations have been able to support a high number of native spawners in relation to immigrants. Our results demonstrate that stocking practices of salmon in the Baltic Sea have led to the homogenization of populations over the last century, potentially compromising their ability to adapt to environmental change. Stocking of reared fish is common worldwide, and our study is a cautionary example of the potentially long-term negative effects of such activities.

SOKO PROJECT: DEVELOPING DETAILED OIL COMBATING PLAN FOR MANAGING ON-SHORE CLEAN-UP PROCEDURES IN FINLAND

2008 ◽  
Vol 2008 (1) ◽  
pp. 373-379
Author(s):  
Justiina Halonen ◽  
Melinda Pascale
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Steering Committee ◽  
Further Education ◽  
Gulf Of Finland ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
Railway Transportation ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Rescue Services ◽  
The Baltic

ABSTRACT Shipping on the Baltic Sea, especially the transportation of oil, has grown significantly over the past few years. One of the most accident risky areas for Finland is situated in the Eastern Gulf of Finland (lat. 60° 11’ long. 027° 45’ E). The Baltic Sea has officially been classified by the International Maritime Organization as Particularly Sensitive Sea Area in 2005. In Finland the Regional Rescue Services (RRS) are responsible for organising on-shore clean-up with the assistance of the Regional Environmental Centres (REC). These oil combating authorities of Kymenlaakso region in south-eastern Finland have developed a thorough preparedness for oil incidents with the help of SOKO – Management of on-shore oil combating - project (SOKO). SOKO, innovated and administrated by the Kymenlaakso University of Applied Sciences (KyAMK), produced a detailed guidebook for oil combating authorities and the response commander (RC). The scope of the guidebook was achieved as an interdisciplinary effort between educational institutes, rescue services, environmental centres, authorities, civic organisations and businesses. The guidebook provides detailed information on how to conduct oil combating in the case of a major oil incident where the oil reaches the shores. The guidebook is used as an action plan, as a manual for the response commander (RC) as well as for training both authorities and volunteers. It is an extensive collection of studies undertaken by further education students and specialists under the supervision of the project steering committee, formed by local oil combating authorities and KyAMK SOKO project personnel. The guidebook discusses the oil combating organisation and the management, the human resources, the communication and the financing issues. The guidebook also covers the arranging cleaning operations, the oil combating equipment and the temporary storage sites in the mainland and the archipelago and the construction specifications for the temporary storages. Transportation of oily wastes was also examined including the methods for loading and discharging oily wastes, as well as the sea, road and railway transportation methods using a database for estimating the best and most economic routes from the archipelago to the mainland. In addition, detailed operative charts were produced, with indications of the cleaning sectors and the oil waste transportation spots. The SOKO contingency plan differs from the governmental plans by focusing only on the on-shore response excluding the at-sea response. The role of the oil combating authorities in the project was to identify unresolved issues in preparedness, provide practical information, supervise and accept the outcome. The main financier of SOKO in 2003–2007 was the Finnish Ministry of Education. The SOKO concept is currently expanding to cover more coastal area in the Gulf of Finland (SOKO II -project 2007–2011).

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