title: Eutrophication assessment of the Baltic Sea Protected Areas by available data and GIS technologies.
abstract: Concerning increased degradation of marine ecosystems, there is a great political and institutional demand for an array of different tools to restore a good environmental status. Thereby, eutrophication is acknowledged as one of the major human induced stressors which has to be monitored and reduced. The present study concentrates on an assessment of the eutrophication status of the Baltic Sea Protected Areas by use of available data and GIS technologies. Two geodata layers were used for analysis: (1) a map on the eutrophication status of the Baltic Sea generated by the Helsinki Commission applying the HELCOM Eutrophication Assessment Tool (HEAT), and (2) modelled data on atmospheric nitrogen deposition made available by the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP). The results yielded comprehensive and conclusive data indicating that most of the BSPAs may be classified as being 'affected by eutrophication' and underlining the need to decrease the overall emissions of nutrients.
authors.affiliation: University of Vechta, P.O. Box 1553, 49364 Vechta, Germany. susanne.ranft@uni-vechta.de
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ranft
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pesch
authors.forename: Winfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schröder
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boedeker
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Paulomäki
authors.forename: Hilde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fagerli
mesh_terms: D001272:Atmosphere / Q000737:chemistry; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005068:Eutrophication; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D009584:Nitrogen