Markus Meier, SMHI and Department of Meteorology, Stockholm University  (now Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, Rostock, Germany)
Markus Meier, SMHI and Department of Meteorology, Stockholm University (now Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, Rostock, Germany)

How would you describe the project in a few sentences?

An international advanced PhD course on the “Impact of climate change on the marine environment with special focus on the role of changing extremes” was held 24 – 30 August 2015 on Askö. The 20 students learned from 16 teachers how changing future climate like warming, ice cover reduction, acidification, deoxygenation and perhaps freshening may impact the marine ecosystem. The course focused not only on the changes in mean conditions but also on changes in extremes because the latter may be even more important for the ecosystem. However it was noted that our knowledge on the impact of extreme events on the marine ecosystem is rather limited.

What are your most important results, and for whom are they particularly useful?

The course contributed to the interdisciplinary education of a new generation of experts with wide knowledge on Baltic Sea region system science. The course introduced students to problem-solving within individual disciplines via lectures, hands-on exercises and tutorials. In addition, within groups the students developed proposals for research projects which (1) enhance our understanding of how changing climate may influence biogeochemical and carbonate cycles as well as upper levels of the food web (basic research) or (2) help to improve the environmental status of the Baltic Sea, specifically possible measures to counteract eutrophication and to achieve good environmental status (Baltic Sea Action Plan, geoengineering measures, societal aspects) (applied research). The course was organized in collaboration with the international Baltic Earth program.

How can it assist an ecosystem-based management of the marine environment?

The course helped to enable the students’ participation in discussions on how to manage the Baltic Sea and to accommodate various stakeholder perspectives. Examples of society relevant information, that have been discussed during the course, were (1) possible measures to counteract eutrophication and to achieve good environmental status (Baltic Sea Action Plan, geoengineering measures), (2) strategies how to establish marine protected areas as efficient as possible and (3) strategies how to implement the Ecosystem Approach to Management in the Baltic Sea and other regional seas.