sidebar.gif (13878 bytes) topbar_projects.gif (22431 bytes)

Baltic Sea Experiment (BALTEX)

BALTEX is a long-term multi-national project to study coupled hydrological processes between complicated terrain, sea and ice and the atmospheric circulation to determine the energy and water budgets of the Baltic Sea and related river basins. BALTEX includes the entire Baltic Sea water catchment, an area covering about 2 million square kilometers and the Baltic Sea itself.

Phase I of BALTEX (1993 to 2002) has brought major results in both science and infrastructure at the European level. Many BALTEX projects have been conducted -- and several are presently ongoing -- in different countries funded by both national and European sources. Impact studies -- responding to social needs and supporting decision makers in a broader context of Global Change issues related to the Baltic Sea Basin -- are envisaged to accompany the research efforts during BALTEX Phase II (2003-2012). It is important to note that the Objectives of Phase I will continue to be valid for Phase II.

BALTEX Phase I Objectives

  • Determine the various mechanisms determining the space and time variability of energy and water budgets of the BALTEX area and its interactions with surrounding regions, and
  • Relate them to the large-scale circulation systems in the atmosphere and oceans over the globe.
  • Develop transportable methodologies in order to contribute to basic needs of climate-, climate impact-, and environmental- research in other regions of the world.

BALTEX Phase II Objectives

  • Better understanding of the energy and water cycles over the Baltic Sea basin;
  • Analysis of climate variability and change since 1800, and provision of regional climate projections over the Baltic Sea basin for the 21st century;
  • Provision of improved tools for water management, with an emphasis on more accurate forecasts of extreme events and long-term changes;
  • Gradual extension of BALTEX methodologies to air and water quality studies;
  • Strengthened interaction with decision-makers, with emphasis on global change impact assessments;
  • Education and outreach at the international level.

For more information:

BALTEXlogo.jpg (18612 bytes)    Baltex Home Page

BALTEX Points of Contact

Dr. Hans-Jörg Isemer
BALTEX Secretariat
GKSS Forschungszentrum
Institut fuer Atmosphaerenphysik
Max-Planck-Strasse
Geesthacht, Germany
Email: baltex@gkss.de or Hans-Jorg.Isemer@gkss.de

Scientific Steering Group Chair

Dr. Joakim Langner
Research and Development
Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI)
Norrköping, Sweden
E-mail: joakim.langner@smhi.se

Scientific Steering Group Vice-Chairs

Dr. Timo Vihma
Finnish Meterological Institute
Helsinki, Finland
E-mail:  timo.vihma@fmi.fi

Prof. Anders Omstedt
Professor for Oceanography
Göteborg University
Earth Science Centre
Göteborg, Sweden
E-mail:  anders.omstedt@gvc.gu.se