Biogeochemical functioning of the Baltic Sea

• Published in: Earth system dynamics Vol. 13; no. 1; pp. 633 - 685
• Main Authors: KuliÅski, Karol, Rehder, Gregor, Asmala, Eero, Bartosova, Alena, Carstensen, Jacob, Gustafsson, Bo, Hall, Per O. J, Humborg, Christoph, Jilbert, Tom, Jürgens, Klaus, Meier, H. E. Markus, Müller-Karulis, Bärbel, Naumann, Michael, Olesen, Jørgen E, Savchuk, Oleg, Schramm, Andreas, Slomp, Caroline P, Sofiev, Mikhail, Sobek, Anna, Szymczycha, Beata, Undeman, Emma
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Gottingen Copernicus GmbH 31.03.2022; Copernicus Publications
• Subjects: Anoxia; Anoxic conditions; Anthropogenic factors; Availability; Baltic Sea; Biogeochemistry; Brackish water; Carbon dioxide; Chemical elements; Climate change; Climatic changes; Coastal zone; Coastal zones; Contaminants; Cyanobacteria; Deep water; Ecosystems; Eutrophication; Hypoxia; Loads (forces); Microorganisms; Mineral nutrients; Nitrogen; Nitrogen fixation; Nutrient loading; Nutrients; Oceanografi, hydrologi, vattenresurser; Oceanography, Hydrology, Water Resources; Organic phosphorus; Oxygen; Phosphorus; Productivity; Remineralization; Response time; Review; Salinity; Sediment; Sediments; Stratification; Ventilation; Water circulation; Water column; Water stratification; Baltic Sea; North Sea
• ISSN: 2190-4987; 2190-4979; 2190-4987
• DOI: 10.5194/esd-13-633-2022

This assessment reviews the available and published knowledge on the biogeochemical functioning of the Baltic Sea. In its content, the paper covers the aspects related to changes in carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus (C, N, and P) external loads, their transformations in the coastal zone, changes in organic-matter production (eutrophication) and remineralization (oxygen availability), and the role of sediments in burial and turnover of C, N, and P. In addition to that, this paper focuses also on changes in the marine CO.sub.2 system, the structure and functioning of the microbial community, and the role of contaminants for biogeochemical processes. This comprehensive assessment allowed also for identifying knowledge gaps and future research needs in the field of marine biogeochemistry in the Baltic Sea.