An environmental status for year 2000 of the North Sea and Skagerrak has been
done based on outputs from a biophysicaf model (NORWECOM). The model results
suggests that in year 2000 the mean annua1 primary production in the North Sea
was the highest in the period 1985-2000, and that the net inflow through the English
Channel, due to an extreme strong influx in the fourth quarter, was the highest on
an annua1 basis in the period 1955-2000. Also the oxygen levels and sedimentation
rates in the North Sea and Skagerrak have been examined, and a eutrophication
assessment conclude that, except for the winter values of nitrate, eutrophication is
not a big problem in most of the Skagerrak and Kattegat area.
Key words : Skagerrak, North Sea, environmental status
NORSK SAMMENDRAG:
En koblet fysisk, kjemisk og biologisk havmodell (NORWECOM) er brukt for å
simulere år 2000 i Nordsjøen og Skagerrak. Resultatene fra denne modelkjøringen
er så brukt for å lage en miljøstatus for dette året. I statusen presenteres blant annet
verdier for primærproduksjon, oxygen-nivå, sedimenteringsrate og vanntransport
inn til Nordsjøen. Til slutt blir det gitt en vurdering av eutrofieringsgraden i Skage-
rak og Kattegat basert på referanseverdier foreslått av svenske miljøstyresmakter
