Upwelling events, coastal offshore exchange, links to biogeochemical processes - Highlights from the Baltic Sea Sciences Congress at Rostock University, Germany, 19-22 March 2007

The Baltic Sea Science Congress was held at Rostock University, Germany, from 19 to 22 March 2007. In the session entitled"Upwelling events, coastal offshore exchange, links to biogeochemical processes" 20 presentations were given,including 7 talks and 13 posters related to the theme of the session.This paper summarises new findings of the upwelling-related studies reported in the session. It deals with investigationsbased on the use of in situ and remote sensing measurements as well as numerical modelling tools. The biogeochemicalimplications of upwelling are also discussed.Our knowledge of the fine structure and dynamic considerations of upwelling has increased in recent decades with the advent ofhigh-resolution modern measurement techniques and modelling studies. The forcing and the overall structure, duration and intensity ofupwelling events are understood quite well. However, the quantification of related transports and the contribution to the overall mixingof upwelling requires further research. Furthermore, our knowledge of the links between upwelling and biogeochemical processes is stillincomplete. Numerical modelling has advanced to the extent that horizontal resolutions of c. 0.5 nautical miles can now be applied,which allows the complete spectrum of meso-scale features to be described. Even the development of filaments can be describedrealistically in comparison with high-resolution satellite data.But the effect of upwelling at a basin scale and possible changes under changing climatic conditions remain open questions

Uncovering the mechanisms of research capacity development in health and social care: a realist synthesis

BACKGROUND: Research capacity development (RCD) is considered fundamental to closing the evidence-practice gap, thereby contributing to health, wealth and knowledge for practice. Numerous frameworks and models have been proposed for RCD, but there is little evidence of what works for whom and under what circumstances. There is a need to identify mechanisms by which candidate interventions or clusters of interventions might achieve RCD and contribute to societal impact, thereby proving meaningful to stakeholders. METHODS: A realist synthesis was used to develop programme theories for RCD. Structured database searches were conducted across seven databases to identify papers examining RCD in a health or social care context (1998-2013). In addition, citation searches for 10 key articles (citation pearls) were conducted across Google Scholar and Web of Science. Of 214 included articles, 116 reported on specific interventions or initiatives or their evaluation. The remaining 98 articles were discussion papers or explicitly sought to make a theoretical contribution. A core set of 36 RCD theoretical and conceptual papers were selected and analysed to generate mechanisms that map across macro contexts (individual, team, organisational, network). Data were extracted by means of 'If-Then' statements into an Excel spreadsheet. Models and frameworks were deconstructed into their original elements. RESULTS: Eight overarching programme theories were identified featuring mechanisms that were triggered across multiple contexts. Three of these fulfilled a symbolic role in signalling the importance of RCD (e.g. positive role models, signal importance, make a difference), whilst the remainder were more functional (e.g. liberate talents, release resource, exceed sum of parts, learning by doing and co-production of knowledge). Outcomes from one mechanism produced changes in context to stimulate mechanisms in other activities. The eight programme theories were validated with findings from 10 systematic reviews (2014-2017). CONCLUSIONS: This realist synthesis is the starting point for constructing an RCD framework shaped by these programme theories. Future work is required to further test and refine these findings against empirical data from intervention studies

Distinctive features of water exchange across the Słupsk Sill (a full-scale experiment)

The flows of brackish waters in the upper layer and saline waters in the lower layer meet above the Słupsk Sill, which makes this one of the most significant features of the Baltic Sea, controlling as it does the ventilation of the deep basins in its central region. Earlier high-resolution measurements using towed scanning probes conducted here for more than ten years had revealed the complexity and variability of the water dynamics in this area. Mapping surveys repeated in quick succession are needed to study the water exchange in such an area. A survey of this kind was attempted in October 2003 during the 57th cruise of the r/v ‘Professor Shtokman’. Three surveys were carried out in the areas of the Słupsk Sill, the eastern Bornholm Basin, and the western Słupsk Furrow by means of a scanning probe towed along closely-spaced transects. The water structure around the sill was different each time, despite the rather short time gaps between the surveys. As follows from the data analysis, during the first survey, the saline Bornholm waters flowed over the sill as an axially symmetrical jet and entrained the adjacent freshened cold waters of the intermediate layer. In ten days, this joint flow displaced to the southern flank of the sill and propagated in the Słupsk Furrow along its southern border, with the dense core of saline waters gradually moving over the bottom to the northern border. Concurrently, the contrary flow of the main volume of cold freshened waters, originating from northern areas and leaving the Baltic Sea, was pushed away from the southern wall of the furrow and blocked at a significant distance from the sill. In three days, the blocked waters forced their way through towards its northern flank. Just below these waters, waters of elevated salinity were found above the eastern slope of the sill at the depth of its ridge, while waters of a similar salinity occurred below the depth of the ridge above the western slope of the sill. There were no indications of intensive overflow in the central and southern areas of the sill. Accordingly, the return flow of Bornholm waters across the sill became possible