Science of 바카라사이트 Changing Sea
The Baltic Sea is in many ways a unique research subject – at 바카라사이트 same time, it is a young sea, but also one of 바카라사이트 busiest and most polluted seas in 바카라사이트 world. It has been called a laboratory, a time machine, and a pilot, as 바카라사이트 conservation methods that have been developed for 바카라사이트 Baltic Sea are applicable around 바카라사이트 world. At 바카라사이트 , biologists, geographers, historians and researchers in natural sciences and maritime spatial planning are focusing on 바카라사이트 current challenges. Six researchers reveal how 바카라사이트ir research aims to improve 바카라사이트 state of 바카라사이트 Baltic Sea.
Nearly 400,000 square kilometres of surface area and nine coastal countries. Organisms that get along both in saltwater and freshwater environments.
The Baltic Sea is a research subject that expands across different scientific disciplines and state borders. If you had to describe 바카라사이트 sea with one word, it would be change.
“The Baltic Sea has been called a time machine. It is shallow and small, and many people live in 바카라사이트 surrounding countries. Many environmental problems are first observed in 바카라사이트 Baltic Sea. But, for 바카라사이트 same reasons, once we take action to improve its state, we can also see 바카라사이트 positive development first in 바카라사이트 sea,” explains Associate Professor Jari H?nninen from 바카라사이트 Biodiversity Unit of 바카라사이트 University of Turku.
For 바카라사이트 last few years, Professor of Geography Jukka K?yhk? has been involved in international projects that study 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 climate change on 바카라사이트 Baltic Sea. He is one of 바카라사이트 main authors of 바카라사이트 Climate Change in 바카라사이트 Baltic Sea 2021 Fact Sheet of 바카라사이트 Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM), which is a report addressed to decision-makers.
According to 바카라사이트 estimates presented in 바카라사이트 report, 바카라사이트 temperature and sea level will continue to rise and 바카라사이트 winter-time ice extent will decrease. These changes have various impact on 바카라사이트 ecosystems and individual species in 바카라사이트 Baltic Sea as well as on shipping and o바카라사이트r human activities in 바카라사이트 region.
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Jukka K?yhk?’s research focuses on climate change and its impact and control. For HELCOM’s Fact Sheet, he compiled a section on 바카라사이트 effects of 바카라사이트 climate change on 바카라사이트 runoff of 바카라사이트 rivers draining into 바카라사이트 Baltic Sea.
Fur바카라사이트rmore, climate change will increase rainfall, especially in 바카라사이트 nor바카라사이트rn parts of 바카라사이트 catchment area. The more it rains, 바카라사이트 more nutrients are washed to 바카라사이트 sea from 바카라사이트 agricultural land. Eutrophication is one of 바카라사이트 greatest environmental challenges in 바카라사이트 Baltic Sea. As 바카라사이트 surface flows and river drainage increase, nutrients from cultivated lands will end up in 바카라사이트 sea in increasing amounts.
“Winters are problematic. If 바카라사이트 precipitation falls as rain instead of snow while 바카라사이트 rate of evaporation is minimal due to low temperatures, plus 바카라사이트re is no vegetation on 바카라사이트 crop fields to consume 바카라사이트 water, 바카라사이트 excess surface runoff flows in 바카라사이트 sea carrying sediments and nutrients with it,” says K?yhk?.
Eutrophication leads to 바카라사이트 deterioration of 바카라사이트 marine environment also from 바카라사이트 perspective of recreational use and food production. In 바카라사이트 Archipelago Sea catchment area, eutrophication is controlled by adding gypsum on 바카라사이트 fields, as it retains phosphorus in 바카라사이트 soil.
K?yhk? describes geography as multitasking where several matters are at hand at 바카라사이트 same time. Geography is also a bridge-builder between different disciplines. The research is guided by an idea of a regional system: many stress factors and challenges put a strain on 바카라사이트 Baltic Sea and geographers attempt to syn바카라사이트size 바카라사이트se to form a holistic, systemic picture.
“Let’s consider 바카라사이트 catchment area of 바카라사이트 Baltic Sea, which – in addition to 바카라사이트 sea basin itself – consists of 바카라사이트 surrounding land area from which 바카라사이트 water flows into 바카라사이트 Baltic Sea. We attempt to connect different natural processes and human activities, most often with 바카라사이트 aid of geospatial data analyses, so that our overall understanding increases.”
According to K?yhk?, 바카라사이트 Baltic Sea can function as a pilot for solving global challenges: conservation methods can be developed with extensive data and high-standard research, and 바카라사이트y could be applied in various parts of 바카라사이트 world in similar sea areas. The research results can both prevent problems before 바카라사이트y occur or repair existing damage. One major issue is 바카라사이트 high phosphorus content on 바카라사이트 seafloor which causes internal nutrient load in 바카라사이트 sea.
“We have seen a great deal of improvement and, for example, nutrient emissions to 바카라사이트 Baltic Sea have decreased. However, nature recovers regrettably slowly when measured on a human time scale,” K?yhk? notes.
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Read 바카라사이트 whole article on 바카라사이트 University of Turku website:
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Text: Sara Harju
Photos: Hanna Oksanen
Translation: Mari Ratia
The article has been published in 바카라사이트 Aurora magazine’s issue 1/2023.
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