Summary The following 6 categories of annual mean salinity were applied delineating the Kattegat and the Baltic Sea into regions with differences in salinity regime (fig. 15): I. Oligohaline I (< 5psu). II. Oligohaline II (5 - 7.5psu). III. Mesohaline I (7.5 - 11psu). IV. Mesohaline II (11 - 18psu). V. Polyhaline (18 - 30psu). VI. Euhaline (>30psu). Description This dataset was produced by NERI, Denmark, for the BSR INTERREG IIIB project BALANCE. Due to the stratification in the Baltic Sea it was decided to use bottom salinity for the development of the benthic marine landscapes and difference in surface to bottom salinity for the pelagic landscapes. The following 6 categories of annual mean salinity were applied delineating the Kattegat and the Baltic Sea into regions with differences in salinity regime (fig. 15): I. Oligohaline I (< 5psu). II. Oligohaline II (5 - 7.5psu). III. Mesohaline I (7.5 - 11psu). IV. Mesohaline II (11 - 18psu). V. Polyhaline (18 - 30psu). VI. Euhaline (>30psu).

Summary This dataset shows model results for the average bottom temperature in the Baltic region in the plant growth season from April to September. Description This dataset shows model results for the average bottom temperature in the Baltic region in the plant growth season from April to September.

Summary Model results of the annual mean bottom current velocity (m/s). Description This dataset shows model results of the annual mean bottom current velocity (m/s). Data source, NERI/Denmark. Currents in the sea can be generated by many different parameters, among which are: I. Tidal motion II. Wind stress III. Density difference due to differences in salinity or temperature IV. Seismic activity and motion of the earth In near shore regions, the wave-induced along shore currents are the dominating currents, whereas in offshore regions, a combination of tidal and meteorological forces is the dominating current generating parameters. Near the sea bottom the friction of the current flow forms a turbulent layer, termed boundary layer, over the seabed. The thickness of this layer ranges from few meters up to several tens of meters. Within this layer the current speed increases nonlinearly with the height above the seabed, being zero at the seabed and maximum at the top of the layer. The variation of the current speed with height above the seabed is called current velocity profile.

The bathymetric model is created using data from the countries around the baltic sea. Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Estonia have all delivered data for this 500 meter grid model. Notice that this is modeled data, not actual measurements. The purpose of this database is to deliver a homogenous bathymetric model for the complete baltic sea at specfic resolutions. It is also important to notice that this data must not be used for navigation. Read the disclaimer for detailed terms and conditions. The model will be updated when new data is received from the participating countries. For further information about the complete metadata record see the original data provider metadata at: http://www.geodata.se/GeodataExplorer/GetMetaDataURL?url=http://www.geodata.se/geonetwork/srv/en/csw?request=GetRecordById!!!service=CSW!!!version=2.0.2!!!elementSetName=full!!!id=d3d4d136-46ca-4c00-a8e9-33a1d3bfb4d1!!!outputSchema=csw:IsoRecord

The data represents the seabed slope of the Baltic Sea and has been derived from a bathymetry dataset. Both datasets have been produced by the BSR INTERREG IIIB project BALANCE. For more information see also the metadata file on bathymetry.

Raster grid of the Baltic Sea bathymetry computed with ArcGIS Spatial Analyst (KRIGING) from the original Digital Topography of the Baltic Sea (IOWTOPO) database produced by the Baltic Sea Research Institute of Warnemunde. Output resolution of the grid is 250 m, data is projected into ERTS89_LAEA CRS (Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area projection, ETRS89 datum), file format is Erdas Imagine (IMG), data format is continuous, float.

Summary Model results for the distribution of where at least 1% available light touches the seabed (the photic zone) and non-photic zone in the Baltic Sea based on 1% mean annual irradiance Description This dataset shows model results forthe distribution of where at least 1% available light touches the seabed (the photic zone) and non-photic zone in the Baltic Sea based on 1% mean annual irradiance. From an ecological point of view, available light is one of the primary physical parameters influencing and structuring the biological communities in the marine environment, as it is the driving force behind the primary production by providing the energy for the photosynthesis - energy that ultimately is transferred to other organisms not capable of photosynthesis. The depth of the photic zone is traditionally defined, for benthic plants, as the depth where 1% of the surface irradiance (as measured just below the water surface) is available for photosynthesis. Only two intervals based on light regime were used in the dataset, because they reflect the significant ecological difference between the shallow water depth with the presence of submerged aquatic vegetation, and the deeper waters where fauna (and bacteria) dominate diversity of species, abundance, and biomass. The intervals are: I. The photic zone (where at least 1% of the available light touches the seabed). II. The non-photic zone.The measurements of Secchi Depth used for producing this dataset are not evenly distributed and some areas in the Baltic Proper, Gulf of Riga and southern Baltic are not well covered.

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

Summary This marine benthic landscape map of the Baltic Sea includes 60 broad scale habitat types which are defined according to different combinations of bottom substrate, photic zone and salinty level. Description This dataset was produced by the EU funded Balance project and maps the ecologically relevant benthic landscapes (broad-scale benthic habitats) of the Baltic Sea, identified on salinity, sediments and photic depth (as light touching the seabed). This marine benthic landscape map of the Baltic Sea includes 60 broad scale habitat types which are defined according to different combinations of bottom substrate, photic zone and salinty level. Each habitat is described with a three digit grid code, where the first digit refers to bottom substrate, the second digit refers to photic zone and the third refers to salinity. Description of grid code digits: Bottom substrate: 1= bedrock, 2 = hard bottom, 3 = sand, 4 = hard clay, 5 = mud Photic zone: 1 = photic, 2 = aphotic Salinity: 1 = 0-5 psu, 2 = 5 - 7.5 psu, 3 = 7.5 -11 psu, 4 = 11 - 18 psu, 5 = 18-30 psu, 6 = <30 psu The approach to marine landscape mapping within the Baltic Sea is based on the use of available physical, chemical and hydrographic data to prepare ecologically meaningful maps for areas with little or no biological information. It is basically a broad-scale map-ping/modelling approach based on presenting geophysical and hydrographical data in thematic GIS layers from which “marine landscapes” can be derived. In order to limit the number of possible landscapes the thematic layers are typically presented in a lim-ited number of categories reflecting shifts in major ecological entities (e.g. distinguish between habitats assumed to be within or below the photic zone). The approach aims to recognise the ecological linkage between major assemblages of species and the physical environment in which they reside. It can be applied to charac-terising broad-scale benthic complexity using parameters such as surface sediment, temperature, water motion, photic depth and slope and for semi-enclosed areas, like the Baltic Sea, salinity and oxygen content.Due to the limited resolution of the dataset, it should be only used for broadscale purposes. The dataset also requires verifications. (The quality of data collated differs from high to low-resolution data. Some of the modelled datasets has 7km resolution while others have ~600m resolution. All datasets were re-gridded to a 200 × 200m grid. This process ensures data continuity but it does not increase the out-put map resolution.)

Dataset description: The dataset contains annually reported data on water flow, input of nutrients and selected hazardous substances to the Baltic Sea from monitored rivers and unmonitored areas within its catchment area. The data, obtained through national monitoring programmes, is reported by all Contracting Parties to the Helsinki Convention to the HELCOM Pollution Load Compilation (PLC-water) database. The data includes transboundary inputs from territories of countries located within the Baltic Sea catchment but not being Contracting parties to the Helsinki Convention, as measured on the borders of downstream countries. The data is quality assured and approved by Contracting Parties to HELCOM 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: The dataset contains he following information: : 1. Source name. Name of river catchment or an unmonitored area. 2. Source code. Pollution Load Compilation (PLC) code of monitored river or an unmonitored area. 3. Country code. Code of country in the Baltic Sea drainage area. The following country codes are possible: DK; EE; FI; DE; LV; LT; PL; RU; SE; BY; UA; CZ; SL. 4. Sub-basin code. Code of the Baltic Sea sub-basin used in HELCOM assessment of inputs of nutrients and hazardous substances. The following sub-basin codes are possible: ARC; BAP; BOB; BOS; GUF; GUR; KAT; SOU; WEB. 5. Parameter. Parameters reported by the contracting parties to the Helsinki Convention to assess riverine inputs of nutrients and selected hazardous substances. : AOX; BOD5; BOD7; Cd; COD-Cr; COD-Mn; Cr; Cu; FLOW; Hg; Ni; NNH4; NNO2; NNO23; NNO3; NTOT; Oil; Pb; PPO4; PTOT; SPM; TOC; Zn. (tonnes/year or flow in m3/s). 6. Year of observation. Country codes used in the dataset correspond to: BY - BELARUS, CZ - CZECH REPUBLIC, DK - DENMARK; EE - ESTONIA; FI - FINLAND; DE - GERMANY; LV - LATVIA; LT - LITHUANIA; PL - POLAND; RU - RUSSIA; SK - SLOVAKIA; SE - SWEDEN; UA - UKRAINE. The Baltic Sea sub-basin codes used in the dataset are: ARC - ARCHIPELAGO SEA; BAP - BALTIC PROPER; BOB - BOTHNIAN BAY; BOS - BOTHNIAN SEA; GUF - GULF OF FINLAND; GUR - GULF OF RIGA; KAT - KATTEGAT; SOU - SOUND; WEB - WESTERN BALTIC. Visualization: The dataset can be retrieved from the HELCOM PLC-Water database and visualized utilizing an online user interface. The following filters are available to generate the dataset: 1. Source of input: monitored river, unmonitored area. Multiple selection possible 2. Country: BELARUS, CZECH REPUBLIC, DENMARK; ESTONIA; FINLAND; GERMANY; LATVIA; LITHUANIA; POLAND; RUSSIA; SLOVAKIA; SWEDEN; UKRAINE. Multiple selection possible. 3. Baltic Sea sub-basin: ARCHIPELAGO SEA; BALTIC PROPER; BOTHNIAN BAY; BOTHNIAN SEA; GULF OF FINLAND; GULF OF RIGA; KATTEGAT; SOUND; WESTERN BALTIC. Multiple selection possible. 4. Year (the first and the last years of the time series): 1995-20… 5. Parameter: AOX; BOD5; BOD7; Cd; COD-Cr; COD-Mn; Cr; Cu; FLOW; Hg; Ni; NNH4; NNO2; NNO23; NNO3; NTOT; Oil; Pb; PPO4; PTOT; SPM; TOC; Zn [tonnes/y, flow in m3/s]. Only one parameter can be selected.