Dataset description:

This spatial dataset displays catchment areas of the Baltic Sea sub-basins for which the nutrient input to the marine environment and the fulfilment of the maximum allowable inputs of nutrients (MAI) are assessed. Attributes to the polygonal features reflect results of the latest assessment of total normalized input of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) to the sub-basin from all pathways (riverine, direct, airborne), which are used as HELCOM Core indicator to assess progress towards maximum allowable input (MAI) of nutrients to the Baltic Sea Inputs of nutrients - HELCOM indicators.

The assessment takes into account statistical uncertainty which is added to the computed input value. Thus, the fulfilment of MAI means that the nutrient input after adding the statistical uncertainty is below the agreed maximum allowable input value.

Attributes TN status and TP status indicate whether MAI is fulfilled or not which is visualized in a simple traffic light colour scheme. The green colour of a catchment indicates that input plus statistical uncertainty was lower than MAI, red colour - input (without statistical uncertainty) was higher, and yellow indicates that input value was lower than MAI but statistical uncertainty does not allow to determine whether MAI was fulfilled. The assessment is performed in accordance with the HELCOM Guidelines for the annual and periodical compilation and reporting of waterborne pollution inputs to the Baltic Sea (HELCOM PLC-Water Guideline).

Dataset content:

Polygonal feature class contains the following attributes:

Sub-basin code (subb_code): Code of the Baltic Sea sub-basin (used for PLC assessment)

MAI of total nitrogen (MAI_TN): Maximum allowable input of total nitrogen to respective sub-basin (tons/year)

MAI of total phosphorus (MAI_TP): Maximum allowable input of total phosphorus to respective sub-basin (tons/year)

Total nitrogen (TN): assessed input of total nitrogen to respective sub-basin (tonnes/year)

Total phosphorus (TP): assessed input of total phosphorus to respective subbasin (tonnes /year

Total nitrogen uncertainty (TN_uncert): statistical uncertainty of the assessment (tonnes /year)

Total phosphorus uncertainty (TP_uncert): statistical uncertainty of the assessment (tonnes /year)

Total nitrogen status (TN_status): fulfilment of MAI for TN (fulfilled, not fulfilled, undefined).

Total phosphorus status (TP_status): fulfilment of MAI for TP (fulfilled, not fulfilled, undefined).

Catchment area (Area): in square kilometres.

Year (Year).

The following Baltic Sea sub-basin codes are used in the dataset: BAP-BALTIC PROPER; BOB-BOTHNIAN BAY; BOS-BOTHNIAN SEA; GUF-GULF OF FINLAND; GUR-GULF OF RIGA; KAT-KATTEGAT; DS-Danish Straights.

Visualization:

Map of fulfilment of MAI for nitrogen input to the Baltic Sea - visualizes catchment areas of the Baltic Sea sub-basins in relation to fulfilment of maximum allowable inputs of total nitrogen.

Map of fulfilment of MAI for phosphorus input to the Baltic Sea - visualizes catchment areas of the Baltic Sea sub-basins in relation to fulfilment of maximum allowable inputs of total phosphorus.

Data update:

Metadata is updated by HELCOM Secretariat annually after adoption of indicator report.

The dataset is updated by HELCOM Secretariat annually after adoption of indicator report.