Summary Benthic biotope complexes in the Baltic Sea, based on a combination of geological sediment data (BALANCE) and light availability data (DHI/EuSeaMap). Description The dataset was created to be used in the HELCOM Baltic Sea Impact Index (BSII). It represents benthic biotope complexes in the Baltic Sea, based on a combination of geological sediment data and light availability data. The dataset contains the following six classes: 1 = Photic sand 2 = Non-photic sand 3 = Photic mud and clay 4 = Non-photic mud and clay 5 = Photic hard bottom 6 = Non-photic hard bottom The sediment data used in this dataset has been produced within the EU Interreg IIIB project BALANCE (www.balance-eu.org). The light availability data has been produced withing the EUSeaMap project (unpublished data) and was reported on request to HELCOM Secreteriat by DHI.

Summary Marine seabed sediment split into 5 categories in the Kattegat and Baltic Sea (compiled from sediment information from GEUS, GSF and SGU). Description Marine seabed sediment split into 5 categories in the Kattegat and Baltic Sea (compiled from sediment information from GEUS, GSF and SGU). The sediment composition of the seabed is considered essential in marine landscape production as it is one of the primary parameters influencing the biogeographic distribution of marine benthic species and a primary component in shaping the physical structure and function of marine habitats. The resulting classification scheme consists of five sediment classes, which can be extracted from existing data. The sediment classes applied in the mapping and modelling of the Baltic Sea marine landscapes are: I. Bedrock. II. Hard bottom complex, includes patchy hard surfaces and coarse sand (sometimes also clay) to boulders. III. Sand including fine to coarse sand (with gravel exposures). IV. Hard clay sometimes/often/possibly exposed or covered with a thin layer of sand/gravel. V. Mud including gyttja-clay to gyttja-silt. For more details see: BALANCE Interim Report no. 10 "Towards marine landscapes in the Baltic Sea": http://balance-eu.org/xpdf/balance-interim-report-no-10.pdf