The EU Horizon 2020 project GRACE : integrated oil spill response actions and environmental effects

This article introduces the EU Horizon 2020 research project GRACE (Integrated oil spill response actions and environmental effects), which focuses on a holistic approach towards investigating and understanding the hazardous impact of oil spills and the environmental impacts and benefits of a suite of marine oil spill response technologies in the cold climate and ice-infested areas of the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea. The response methods considered include mechanical collection in water and below ice, in situ burning, use of chemical dispersants, natural biodegradation, and combinations of these. The impacts of naturally and chemically dispersed oil, residues resulting from in situ burning, and non-collected oil on fish, invertebrates (e.g. mussels, crustaceans) and macro-algae are assessed by using highly sensitive biomarker methods, and specific methods for the rapid detection of the effects of oil pollution on biota are developed. By observing, monitoring and predicting oil movements in the sea through the use of novel online sensors on vessels, fixed platforms including gliders and the so-called SmartBuoys together with real-time data transfer into operational systems that help to improve the information on the location of the oil spill, situational awareness of oil spill response can be improved. Methods and findings of the project are integrated into a strategic net environmental benefit analysis tool (environment and oil spill response, EOS) for oil spill response strategy decision making in cold climates and ice-infested areas

The Variability of Parameters Controlling the Cyanobacteria Bloom Biomass in the Baltic Sea

The formation of wintertime excess of dissolved inorganic phosphorus concentration (eDIP) in the surface layer and its influence to the late-summer diazotrophic cyanobacteria development have been evaluated on the base of 30 years nutrients and river runoff monitoring data in different Baltic Sea sub-basins, relatively short satellite chlorophyll a (Chl a) and modelled upper mixed layer depth (UMLD) data. The processes responsible for the formation of the surface and bottom phosphate concentration pools in winter, the exchange processes between the pools and the amount of phosphate transported from the bottom pool to the surface are not fully understood. We did not find any significant correlation between the wintertime bottom layer (BL) DIP and upper mixed layer (UML) DIP for the deeper Baltic Sea sub-basins. Instead, we found a significant correlation between UML DIP and UMLD in winter. With the present considerable trend of decrease of the dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentration (DIN) in the Baltic Proper mainly the DIP variability determines the excess phosphate, which is regarded as the main phosphate source for the late summer cyanobacterial blooms in theJRC.H.3-Global environement monitorin

Observation, Parameterization and Simulation of Turbulent Mixing in the Gulf of Finland, the Baltic Sea

Abstract-Three time series of shear microstructure measurements (duration 13, 24 and 14 h respectively) were performed in 3 different wind forcing regimes as well as in 3 different background density stratification and current velocity shear situations at the entrance to the Gulf of Finland, in July 1998. Vertical shear of current velocity was enhanced by near-inertial waves during the first (A1) and third (A3) time series. We compared a Richardson number based parameterization and an estimation using the two equation k-e turbulence closure (General Ocean Turbulence Model, GOTM) with ¿measured¿ eddy diffusivities. For two out of the three time series eddy diffusivities calculated via a Richardson number parameterization and via simulation using the k-e model agreed well with the experimental data. However, in the case of relatively high current velocity shear and weak background density stratification (time series A3) both applied methods resulted in a remarkable discrepancy against the measured eddy diffusivity. On the contrary, calculations with a new parameterization scheme, which considers the internal wave kinetic energy fitted well for all three time series. Similarly the modified k-e simulations which considered the internal wave energy level better matched the measured profiles.JRC.H.3-Global environement monitorin

A Simple Tool for the Early Prediction of the Cyanobacteria Nodularia Spumigena Bloom Biomass in the Gulf of Finland

A fuzzy logic model for predicting the maximum biomass of the toxic cyanobacteria Nodularia spumigena bloom in the Gulf of Finland is suggested. The model bloom biomass depends on the phosphate conditions up to15 June, including the excess phosphate left over after the spring bloom and on the phosphate inputs parameterised by wind mixing and upwelling from 1 May to 15 June. The surface layer temperature, set to vary from 14 to 23ºC, is regarded as a bloom regulating parameter. The model simulations showed that the predicted N. spumigena biomasses differ markedly from year to year and clearly depend on phosphate conditions up to 15 June.JRC.H.3-Global environement monitorin

Characteristics of high-resolution sea ice dynamics in the Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea

High-resolution Eulerian and Lagrangian sea ice kinematics are examined based on an ADCP and four icebound drifting buoys in the Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea. The measurements were performed in the central Gulf of Finland in winter 2010 from January to March. Ice drift was mostly in near-free drift state driven by winds and ice-independent currents in the basin. Internal friction was significant, apart from off-ice forcing toward the open boundary. The averaged asymptotic ice/wind speed ratio and deviation angle at higher wind speeds were 0.034 and 9 degrees in the oceanic boundary layer, respectively. The ratio depended on the direction of the wind indicating the role of morphometry of the coast to the local ice kinematics. The maximum values of wind ratio were observed in cases of NE winds and minimum values in cases of SW winds. Coherent ice drift was observed up to a distance of 42 km.High-resolution Eulerian and Lagrangian sea ice kinematics are examined based on an ADCP and four icebound drifting buoys in the Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea. The measurements were performed in the central Gulf of Finland in winter 2010 from January to March. Ice drift was mostly in near-free drift state driven by winds and ice-independent currents in the basin. Internal friction was significant, apart from off-ice forcing toward the open boundary. The averaged asymptotic ice/wind speed ratio and deviation angle at higher wind speeds were 0.034 and 9 degrees in the oceanic boundary layer, respectively. The ratio depended on the direction of the wind indicating the role of morphometry of the coast to the local ice kinematics. The maximum values of wind ratio were observed in cases of NE winds and minimum values in cases of SW winds. Coherent ice drift was observed up to a distance of 42 km.Peer reviewe

Late Summer Vertical Nutrient Fluxes Estimated from Direct Turbulence Measurements: a Gulf of Finland Case Study.

Abstract not availableJRC.H-Institute for environment and sustainability (Ispra

Observations of Stratified Turbulence Depending on the Different Wind, Strtification and Shear Scenarios.

Abstract not availableJRC.(SAI)-Space Application Institut