2. |
- Omstedt, Anders, 1949, et al.
(author)
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Knowledge of the Baltic Sea physics gained during the BALTEX and related programmes
- 2004
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In: Progress in Oceanography. - : Elsevier BV. - 0079-6611. ; 63:1-2, s. 1-28
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Review is given about the main results of the oceanographic component of the BALTEX research programme (one of the six continental scale experiments within GEWEX-WCRP to study water and energy cycles in the regional climate system) and related programmes/projects over the last 10 years. Working closely together with two other components regional meteorology and hydrology of the Baltic Sea drainage basin - oceanographic research has considerably improved the understanding of and ability to model the Baltic Sea marine system. In the Baltic Sea physics seven different broad topics are identified where knowledge has significantly improved. These are reviewed together with a discussion of gaps in knowledge. The focus is on the water and energy cycles of the Baltic Sea, but various aspects of forcing and validation data and modelling are also discussed. The major advances achieved through BALTEX and related programmes are: Meteorological, hydrological, ocean and ice data are now available for the research community. Progress in understanding of the strong impact of large-scale atmospheric circulation on Baltic Sea circulation, water mass exchange, sea ice evolution, and changes in the ocean conditions of the Baltic Sea. Progress in understanding of the importance of strait flows in the exchange of water into and within the Baltic Sea. Progress in understanding of intra-basin processes. Ocean models introduced into Baltic Sea water and energy studies. Development of turbulence models and 3D ocean circulation models for application to the Baltic Sea. Improved Baltic Sea ice modelling and increased understanding of the need for coupled atmosphere-ice-ocean-land models. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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3. |
- Omstedt, Anders, 1949, et al.
(author)
-
Progress in physical oceanography of the Baltic Sea during the 2003–2014 period
- 2014
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In: Progress in Oceanography. - : Elsevier BV. - 0079-6611 .- 1873-4472. ; 128, s. 139-171
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We review progress in Baltic Sea physical oceanography (including sea ice and atmosphere–land interactions) and Baltic Sea modelling, focusing on research related to BALTEX Phase II and other relevant work during the 2003–2014 period. The major advances achieved in this period are: Meteorological databases are now available to the research community, partly as station data, with a growing number of freely available gridded datasets on decadal and centennial time scales. The free availability of meteorological datasets supports the development of more accurate forcing functions for Baltic Sea models. In the last decade, oceanographic data have become much more accessible and new important measurement platforms, such as FerryBoxes and satellites, have provided better temporally and spatially resolved observations. Our understanding of how large-scale atmospheric circulation affects the Baltic Sea climate, particularly in winter, has improved. Internal variability is strong illustrating the dominant stochastic behaviour of the atmosphere. The heat and water cycles of the Baltic Sea are better understood. The importance of surface waves in air–sea interaction is better understood, and Stokes drift and Langmuir circulation have been identified as likely playing an important role in surface water mixing in sea water. We better understand sea ice dynamics and thermodynamics in the coastal zone where sea ice interaction between land and sea is crucial. The Baltic Sea’s various straits and sills are of increasing interest in seeking to understand water exchange and mixing. There has been increased research into the Baltic Sea coastal zone, particularly into upwelling, in the past decade. Modelling of the Baltic Sea–North Sea system, including the development of coupled land–sea–atmosphere models, has improved. Despite marked progress in Baltic Sea research over the last decade, several gaps remain in our knowledge and understanding. The current understanding of salinity changes is limited, and future projections of salinity evolution are uncertain. In addition, modelling of the hydrological cycle in atmospheric climate models is severely biased. More detailed investigations of regional precipitation and evaporation patterns (including runoff), atmospheric variability, highly saline water inflows, exchange between sub-basins, circulation, and especially turbulent mixing are still needed. Furthermore, more highly resolved oceanographic models are necessary. In addition, models that incorporate more advanced carbon cycle and ecosystem descriptions and improved description of water–sediment interactions are needed. Thereoceanographic coupled model systems. These and other research challenges are addressed by the recently formed Baltic Earth research programme, the successor of the BALTEX programme, which ended in 2013. Baltic Earth will treat anthropogenic changes and impacts together with their natural drivers. Baltic Earth will serve as a network for earth system sciences in the region, following in the BALTEX tradition but in a wider context.
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