Vision of the Rudjer Boskovic Institute regarding the contribution to MERAN
343
international effort that considers the Adriatic system as a whole and regards it as
an itegral part of the Mediterranean basin.
Achieving these goals also requires an integrated system of sustained
environmental observations that provides the data and information to broad range
of user groups, including government authorities, responsible for environmental
protection, management of natural resources, public health and safety, industry, the
scientific community, the news media and the public at large.
3 General Problems of the Mediterranean Area in the
Adriatic Domain
There are two phenomena, which are of key importance when assessing the effects
of global change in the Mediteranean Sea, that should be looked at in the Adriatic
basin: circulation patterns, which are important for water and energy balance
considerations, and eutrophication-related phenomena, which have a strong impact
on carbon balance.
Since the Adriatic Sea is well-known to be the major source ofthe deep waters
of the Mediterranean Sea, the processes of dense water formation in the Adriatic
influence profoundly the overall circulation patterns and trigger a chain ofbiological
responses. In turn, the intrusions of Levantine intermediate waters into the Adriatic
represent an important component of the hydrodynamics of the basin with strong
effect on the Adriatic ecosystem as a whole. Obviously, determining the variability
in the exchange of waters between te Adriatic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea and
resulting changes in circulation are mandatory when addressing the issue of global
change. Given the importance of circulation, waves and turbulent mixing in
structuring marine ecosystems, monitoring physical processes and forecasting
changes in the physical environment is of a fundamental importance.
The Adriatic Sea, notably the northern Adriatic, is the area exposed to the
highest eutrophication pressure in the Mediterranean Sea. The Adriatic Sea, which
represents only 1% of the total volume of the Mediterranean Sea, receives up to 25
% of the total freshwater inputs. Therefore, eutrophication represents one of the
most obvious signs of the deteriorating quality of the Adriatic ecosystem.
Major indicators of change in the Adriatic Sea are related to eutrophication:
- oxygen depletion of bottom waters
- harmful algal blooms (HABs)
- mucilage events and
- sustain ability of fisheries
Although there are still many uncertainties, it seems that the scientific evidence
from the Adriatic Sea and elsewhere supports the hypothesis that all these indicators
can be related to each other and to increases in nutrient loading from human sources
(i.e. man-induced eutrophication).
In addition:
343
international effort that considers the Adriatic system as a whole and regards it as
an itegral part of the Mediterranean basin.
Achieving these goals also requires an integrated system of sustained
environmental observations that provides the data and information to broad range
of user groups, including government authorities, responsible for environmental
protection, management of natural resources, public health and safety, industry, the
scientific community, the news media and the public at large.
3 General Problems of the Mediterranean Area in the
Adriatic Domain
There are two phenomena, which are of key importance when assessing the effects
of global change in the Mediteranean Sea, that should be looked at in the Adriatic
basin: circulation patterns, which are important for water and energy balance
considerations, and eutrophication-related phenomena, which have a strong impact
on carbon balance.
Since the Adriatic Sea is well-known to be the major source ofthe deep waters
of the Mediterranean Sea, the processes of dense water formation in the Adriatic
influence profoundly the overall circulation patterns and trigger a chain ofbiological
responses. In turn, the intrusions of Levantine intermediate waters into the Adriatic
represent an important component of the hydrodynamics of the basin with strong
effect on the Adriatic ecosystem as a whole. Obviously, determining the variability
in the exchange of waters between te Adriatic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea and
resulting changes in circulation are mandatory when addressing the issue of global
change. Given the importance of circulation, waves and turbulent mixing in
structuring marine ecosystems, monitoring physical processes and forecasting
changes in the physical environment is of a fundamental importance.
The Adriatic Sea, notably the northern Adriatic, is the area exposed to the
highest eutrophication pressure in the Mediterranean Sea. The Adriatic Sea, which
represents only 1% of the total volume of the Mediterranean Sea, receives up to 25
% of the total freshwater inputs. Therefore, eutrophication represents one of the
most obvious signs of the deteriorating quality of the Adriatic ecosystem.
Major indicators of change in the Adriatic Sea are related to eutrophication:
- oxygen depletion of bottom waters
- harmful algal blooms (HABs)
- mucilage events and
- sustain ability of fisheries
Although there are still many uncertainties, it seems that the scientific evidence
from the Adriatic Sea and elsewhere supports the hypothesis that all these indicators
can be related to each other and to increases in nutrient loading from human sources
(i.e. man-induced eutrophication).
In addition: