BALTEX Phase II (2003 - 2012) - Introduction

Phase I of BALTEX (1993 to 2002) has brought major results in both science and infrastructure at the European level. Many BALTEX projects have been conducted - and several are presently ongoing - in different countries funded by both national and European sources. Results of the BALTEX programme are documented in more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles including several dedicated BALTEX journal issues and overview publications. The BALTEX Community is now making plans for enlarging the scientific scope and thus strengthening the outreach of BALTEX. The numerous achievements of BALTEX call for an intensive application to other fields where knowledge on the water and energy cycle is of fundamental importance: Climate variability and climate change studies including scenarios of potential future climate, and environmental investigations related to nutrients and pollutants. Impact studies - responding to social needs and supporting decision makers in a broader context of Global Change issues related to the Baltic Sea basin - are envisaged to accompany the research efforts during BALTEX Phase II. It is important to note that the Objectives of Phase I will continue to be valid for Phase II. Activities will more closely be discussed with and - hopefully - applied by the larger user communities, even beyond the World Climate Research Programme's (WCRP) science community, including e.g. hydropower companies, water resource managers and intergovernmental bodies for the Baltic Sea and its catchments.

An important aspect of BALTEX Phase II will be a more holistic approach towards observing, understanding and modelling major environmental and socio-economic aspects relevant for the entire Baltic Sea basin. Parts of the BALTEX Phase II research activities will thus contribute to the build-up of a high resolution integrated modelling capability for Northern Europe, embedded in an Earth System Model.

Click here for an overview over BALTEX Phase II objectives.

The "upgraded BALTEX Box" of Phase II adds the anthroposphere and the related fluxes of carbon, nutrients and pollutants to the physical scheme of Phase I. Other new dimensions not shown in this sketch are regional climate research, water management and society-related issues.

L = Lateral exchange with the atmosphere outside the BALTEX region
W = Wind stress at the sea surface
E, P = Evaporation and precipitation over land and sea
H = Heat and energy flux at the air-sea and air-land interfaces, including radiation
R = River runoff
F = In- and outflow through the Danish Straits

C = Carbon fluxes, mainly as CO2
Nu = Nutrient fluxes
Po = Pollutant fluxes

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