• Education

• Publications

Research

The sea is responding to natural changes in the climate as well as changes caused by man. Anthropogenic influences on the sea’s ecosystems may include different sources to eutrophication, such as sewage water discharge, or leakage of nutrients to the sea associated with the overuse of fertilizers in agriculture. Overfishing, shipping and river regulation may largely influence marine systems as well.

A seemingly heavily eutrophied, as well as intensely studied area is the Baltic Sea. As other semi-enclosed systems, the Baltic Sea is very sensitive to environmental changes because of its restricted exchange of water with the open sea. This in all 370000 km2 large area is connected to the ocean through the in comparison very shallow and narrow straits of Denmark. Inflow of high-saline and oxygen-rich seawater through these straits is a critical factor for the Baltic Sea ecosystems.

Periods with stagnant bottom water is a naturally occurring phenomenon for this area as a result of a strong salinity stratification and the restricted water exchange. However, since more regular measurements of oxygen concentrations began about a hundred years ago, we seem to experience generally larger areas of stagnant bottoms and for extended periods of time. My main scientific task is to determine to what extent the observed changes in the biological productivity and the resulting deepwater oxygen depletion in the Baltic Sea are related to the anthropogenic effects described above, and to what extent the changes can be ascribed to variations in the physical forcing of the system, i.e., changes in the climate.

My research consists of mathematical modelling of coupled physical-chemical-biological marine systems and will include:

• An investigation on the dynamics of seawater inflows and the related oxygenation of the Baltic Sea deepwater. Is there a trend in the physical forcing during the last century?
• Studies on how oxygen concentration controls the regeneration of nutrients in stratified semi-enclosed seas.

Education:

M.Sc in Oceanography, Göteborg University, Sweden, 2005.

Publications:

Papers

• Omstedt, A. , Gustafsson, E. and K., Wesslander, (2009).
  Modelling the uptake and release of carbon dioxide in the Baltic Sea surface water. Continental Shelf Research 29, 870-885. DOI: 10.1016/j.csr.2009.01.006
• Gustafsson, E.O., and A., Omstedt (2009).
  Sensitivity of Baltic Sea deep water salinity and oxygen concentrations to variations in physical forcing. Boreal Environmental Research 14: 18-30. Available online: http://www.borenv.net/

Manuscripts submitted

• Hansson, D., Gustafsson, E., and A., Omstedt. Salinity and oxygen conditions in the Baltic Sea since 1500

Manuscripts in preparation

Reports

• Omstedt, A., Gustafsson E., and K., Wesslander (2009).
  Process-oriented numerical modelling of lakes, coastal seas, and oceans. Part II: Biogeochemical aspects.
  Available from the author or for downloading from the products page.
• Gustafsson, E., 2006: Water exchange and oxygen dynamics in two connected ocean basins. PROBE Case Report.
• Gustafsson, E., 2006: A simple plankton and nutrient model for the Baltic Sea. PROBE Case Report.
• Gustafsson, E., 2005: Tidal response in an open-ended fjord system on the Swedish west coast, M.Sc Thesis, Earth Sciences Centre, Göteborg University B443, Göteborg Sweden.

Abstracts to conferences

• Gustafsson, E. & Omstedt, A.
  Sensitivity of Baltic Sea deep water salinity and oxygen concentration to variations in physical forcing [oral] European Geophysical Union General Assembly, Vienna, Austria, April 13-18, 2008.
• Hansson, D. & Gustafsson, E.
  Stagnation periods in the Baltic Sea since 1500 [poster] European Geophysical Union General Assembly, Vienna, Austria, April 13-18, 2008.

 

::: Top of Page :::

---