Research project Legacy nutrient dynamics in the Baltic Sea catchment

Nutrients that accumulate in soils and in the bottom sediments of lakes and streams have a long-term impact on eutrophication in the Baltic Sea. The modeling project “Legacy nutrient dynamics in the Baltic Sea catchment: implications for managing eutrophication” will estimate the magnitude of these legacies and suggest appropriate measures.

Nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus are the prerequisite for all life and form an important part of various forms of fertilizer. But in the last century, the handling of manure in agriculture and lack of sewage treatment have led to large amounts of nutrients accumulating in the soil and in the bottom sediments of lakes and rivers.

The project Legacy nutrient dynamics in the Baltic Sea catchment: implications for managing eutrophication (LegNut) will estimate this legacy nitrogen and phosphorus pools at regional scales, the contribution of these pools to current and future loads under different management scenarios, and eutrophication responses of the sea. 

Understanding the contributions of legacy nutrients to loads to the sea is critical for developing eutrophication mitigation plans. The knowledge may enable decision makers to establish reasonable expectations for progress in meeting the goals of the HELCOM BSAP and the Water and Marine Strategy Framework Directives, as well as developing the appropriate tools in the frame of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre

Legacy effects are expected to reduce phosphorus loads

The accumulation of nutrient legacies on land and in inland waters will lead to excessive nutrient loads to the Baltic Sea for still a long time to come, according to a new study. That's one side of the story. On the positive side, measures already taken to reduce the inputs of nutrients to the catchment will have an impact on future loads to the sea as legacies are depleted, thereby reducing the need for additional mitigation measures. In a recently published comprehensive modelling study, researchers at the Stockholm University Baltic Sea Centre, have analysed more than a century of nutrient dynamics in the Baltic Sea catchment, covering 1.6 million km2 and 14 countries. The construction of a model enabled them to link the net anthropogenic inputs of nitrogen (NANI) and phosphorus (NAPI) to the Baltic Sea catchment to the waterborne loads to the sea from 1900 and up to today.

No events available.

Cookie settings

By allowing third-party services, you accept their cookies and the use of tracking technologies necessary for them to function properly.