Remote Sensing Supported Sea Surface pCO(2) Estimation and Variable Analysis in the Baltic Sea

Marginal seas are a dynamic and still to large extent uncertain component of the global carbon cycle. The large temporal and spatial variations of sea-surface partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO(2)) in these areas are driven by multiple complex mechanisms. In this study, we analyzed the variable importance for the sea surface pCO(2) estimation in the Baltic Sea and derived monthly pCO(2) maps for the marginal sea during the period of July 2002-October 2011. We used variables obtained from remote sensing images and numerical models. The random forest algorithm was employed to construct regression models for pCO(2) estimation and produce the importance of different input variables. The study found that photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) was the most important variable for the pCO(2) estimation across the entire Baltic Sea, followed by sea surface temperature (SST), absorption of colored dissolved organic matter (a(CDOM)), and mixed layer depth (MLD). Interestingly, Chlorophyll-a concentration (Chl-a) and the diffuse attenuation coefficient for downwelling irradiance at 490 nm (Kd_490nm) showed relatively low importance for the pCO(2) estimation. This was mainly attributed to the high correlation of Chl-a and Kd_490nm to other pCO(2)-relevant variables (e.g., a(CDOM)), particularly in the summer months. In addition, the variables' importance for pCO(2) estimation varied between seasons and sub-basins. For example, the importance of a(CDOM) were large in the Gulf of Finland but marginal in other sub-basins. The model for pCO(2) estimate in the entire Baltic Sea explained 63% of the variation and had a root of mean squared error (RMSE) of 47.8 mu atm. The pCO(2) maps derived with this model displayed realistic seasonal variations and spatial features of sea surface pCO(2) in the Baltic Sea. The spatially and seasonally varying variables' importance for the pCO(2) estimation shed light on the heterogeneities in the biogeochemical and physical processes driving the carbon cycling in the Baltic Sea and can serve as an important basis for future pCO(2) estimation in marginal seas using remote sensing techniques. The pCO(2) maps derived in this study provided a robust benchmark for understanding the spatiotemporal patterns of CO2 air-sea exchange in the Baltic Sea

Net precipitation over the Baltic Sea for one year using several methods

Precipitation and evaporation over the Baltic Sea are calculated for a one-year period from September 1998 to August 1999 by four different tools, the two atmospheric regional models HIRLAM and REMO, the oceanographic model PROBE-Baltic in combination with the SMHI (1 × 1)° database and Interpolated Fields, based essentially on ship measurements. The investigated period is slightly warmer and wetter than the climatological mean. Correlation coefficients of the differently calculated latent heat fluxes vary between 0.81 (HIRLAM and REMO) and 0.56 (SMHI/PROBE-Baltic and Interpolated Fields), while the correlation coefficients between model fluxes and measured fluxes range from 0.61 and 0.78. Deviations of simulated and interpolated monthly precipitation over the Baltic Sea are less than ±5 mm in the southern Baltic and up to 20 mm near the Finnish coast for the one-year period. The methods simulate the annual cycle of precipitation and evaporation of the Baltic Proper in a similar manner with a broad maximum of net precipitation in spring and early summer and a minimum in late summer. The annual averages of net precipitation of the Baltic Proper range from 57 mm (REMO) to 262 mm (HIRLAM) and for the Baltic Sea from 96 mm (SMHI/PROBE-Baltic) to 209 mm (HIRLAM). This range is considered to give the uncertainty of present-day determination of the net precipitation over the Baltic Sea

Seasonal and diurnal patterns in the dispersion of SO2 from Mt. Nyiragongo

Mt. Nyiragongo is an active volcano located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, close to the border of Rwanda and about 15 km north of the city of Goma (~ 1,000,000 inhabitants). Gases emitted from Nyiragongo might pose a persistent hazard to local inhabitants and the environment. While both ground- and satellite-based observations of the emissions exist, prior to this study, no detailed analysis of the dispersion of the emissions have been made. We have conducted a dispersion study, using a modelling system to determine the geographical distribution of SO2.A combination of a meteorological model (WRF), a Lagrangian particle dispersion model (FLEXPART-WRF) and flux data based on DOAS measurements from the NOVAC-network is used. Since observations can only be made during the day, we use random sampling of fluxes and ensemble modelling to estimate night-time emissions.Seasonal variations in the dispersion follows the migration of the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone. In June-August, the area with the highest surface concentrations is located to the northwest, and in December-February, to the southwest of the source. Diurnal variations in surface concentrations were determined by the development of the planetary boundary layer and the lake-/land breeze cycle around lake Kivu. Both processes contribute to low surface concentrations during the day and high concentrations during the night. However, the strong northerly trade winds in November-March weakened the lake breeze, contributing to higher daytime surface concentrations along the northern shore of Lake Kivu, including the city of Goma. For further analysis and measurements, it is important to include both seasonal and diurnal cycles in order to safely cover periods of high and potentially hazardous concentrations

Victoria's Secret-modellen, den perfekta kvinnan

Media spelar en stor roll i dagens samhälle och är ständigt med och sätter agendan för vad som ska diskuteras i vardagliga sammanhang. I denna text har en diskursanalys gjorts av den senaste Victoria’s Secret modevisningen som presenterats i ett ihopsatt TV-program. Detta för att granska hur bilden av kvinnan ser ut och medias framställning av kvinnlighet. Forskning tyder på att tonåringar påverkas av det media visar. Vi har därför även tittat närmare på ifall detta även gäller efter tonåren. Åtta kvalitativa intervjuer med unga kvinnor i 20-25 års ålder har gjorts, därefter har intervjupersonernas tankar kring Victoria’s Secret granskats samtidigt som vi har undersökt och försökt förstå deras syn på ideal och om Victoria's Secret är en del av det ideal som finns. I analysen har vi kommit fram till att Victoria’s Secrets modevisning visar en stereotyp bild av kvinnan som ett sexobjekt och upprätthåller således synen på kvinnan som just detta. Vi har även upptäckt att det råder en diskrepans i identitetsskapandet då det finns fler diskurser i samhället som man vill följa och passa in i. Dels vill man vara den unika individen och således inte följa medias representation av kvinnan och det ideal som finns och samtidigt vill man passa in i gemenskapen och försöker därför efterlikna det media framställer som rätt och fel

Аутсорсінгова модель реалізації корпоративної соціальної відповідальності

У статті обґрунтовано необхідність і визначено шляхи використання аутсорсінгу корпоративної соціальної відповідальності в соціальній політиці України. Основним аргументом на користь такого аутсорсінгу є надзвичайна складність (а відтак – і ресурсоємність) процесу управління програмами корпоративної соціальної відповідальності. Використання різних форм (насамперед, повної та часткової) аутсорсінгу корпоративної соціальної відповідальності має найбільшу перспективу на регіональному рівні здійснення соціальної політики – в структурі фондів розвитку громади.В статье обоснована необходимость и определены пути использования аутсорсинга корпоративной социальной ответственности в социальной политике Украины. Основным аргументом в пользу такого аутсорсинга служит чрезвычайная сложность (а значит – и ресурсоемкость) процесса управления программами корпоративной социальной ответственности. Использования разных форм (прежде всего, полной и частичной) аутсорсинга корпоративной социальной ответственности имеет наибольшую перспективу на региональном уровне осуществления социальной политики – в структуре фондов местного развития.The paper argues the necessity and defines means of application of outsourcing to corporate social responsibility (CSR) in social policy of Ukraine. As CSR (corporate charity) is a secondary (not-product-related) activity to any for-profit organization, the allocation of recourses (human, managerial, financial etc.) to this activity may decrease effectiveness of the major (productrelated) functions, lessening the competitive ability of an enterprise. Initiation of specialized CSR-departments within an organizational structure (in order to provide expenditure control, feedback control and social effect monitoring) is a luxury, which most businesses in Ukraine can not afford. CSR-ignoring practices contradict imperatives of conventional modern business rules (e.g. sustainable development doctrine), which have presented CSR as a “must” for prosperous firms and successful for-profits throughout the world. Ukraine is also involved in the deployment of those imperatives as a new market economy country. Taking the burden of CSR-caused extra costs off a firm, outcontracting of CSR may contribute to wide spreading of corporate philanthropy, thus providing social policy and social-oriented activities in Ukraine with potentially essential assets. The paper derives, that deployment of CSR-outsourcing will produce the best effect on the regional level of social policy of Ukraine – within community foundations as community-based non-profit organizations, usually established in an area to help solving local social problems through accumulation and distribution chiefly local resources, aimed for social projects and programs of different kind

Progress in physical oceanography of the Baltic Sea during the 2003-2014 period

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. There is also a need for new climate projections and simulations with improved atmospheric and oceanographic 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. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe