Ebook: Environmental Degradation of the Black Sea: Challenges and Remedies

The Black Sea presently faces severe ecological disequilibrium due primarily to eutrophication and other types of contaminants, from atmospheric, river and landbased sources. Major contaminants include nutrients, pesticides, hydrocarbons and heavy metals. Among the most critical contemporary concerns are eutrophication and associated deterioration of water quality, plankton blooms, hypoxia and anoxia, loss of biodiversity and decline of living resources. A better understanding of conditions leading to eutrophication and of the associated changes during the last four decades, is being carried out at national , regional and international levels. High quality scientific research has been conducted in all Black Sea riparian countries (Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russian Federation, Turkey, Ukraine). In addition, several successful regional research programmes (e.g., CoMSBlack, NATO-TU Black Sea, NATO-TU Waves, EC-EROS 2000 Phase III, IOC­ Black Sea Regional Center with Pilot Projects 112) and one major environmental management program (GEF-BSEP) have been successfully launched. New international efforts like the Black Sea Commission, the Black Sea Program Coordination Unit, the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (all situated in Istanbul), together with the Convention for the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution (Bucharest, 1992) and the Odessa Interministerial Decleration (1993) attest to the economic and political importance of these problems and the attention presently paid to this endangered sea.

---

The Black Sea currently faces severe ecological disequilibrium due primarily to eutrophication and other types of contamination from atmospheric, river and land-based sources. Among the most critical contemporary concerns are eutrophication and associated deterioration of water quality, plankton blooms, hypoxia and anoxia, loss of biodiversity and decline of living resources.
The present volume contains 22 peer-reviewed papers presented at the NATO-ARW on the Environmental Degradation of the Black Sea. Each paper focuses on different aspects of the Black Sea's oceanography. As a whole, the book covers a wide range of topics, from oil spills to geology, from observations of ecological process to modelling. The papers fall into two main groups: scientific papers addressing the environmental degradation of the Black Sea, and reports on the achievements of the existing international programmes. Our current knowledge of the Black Sea's oceanography is reviewed, and areas are identified where further research is needed.

---

The Black Sea currently faces severe ecological disequilibrium due primarily to eutrophication and other types of contamination from atmospheric, river and land-based sources. Among the most critical contemporary concerns are eutrophication and associated deterioration of water quality, plankton blooms, hypoxia and anoxia, loss of biodiversity and decline of living resources.
The present volume contains 22 peer-reviewed papers presented at the NATO-ARW on the Environmental Degradation of the Black Sea. Each paper focuses on different aspects of the Black Sea's oceanography. As a whole, the book covers a wide range of topics, from oil spills to geology, from observations of ecological process to modelling. The papers fall into two main groups: scientific papers addressing the environmental degradation of the Black Sea, and reports on the achievements of the existing international programmes. Our current knowledge of the Black Sea's oceanography is reviewed, and areas are identified where further research is needed.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-vii
Origin of the Black Sea....Pages 1-8
Geochemistry of the Late Pleistocene-Holocene Sediments of the Black Sea: An Overview....Pages 9-22
Importance of Sedimentary Processes in Environmental Changes: Lower River Danube — Danube Delta — Western Black Sea System....Pages 23-41
Characteristic Chemical Features and Biogeochemical Cycles in the Black Sea....Pages 43-59
Eutrophication: A Plausible Cause for Changes in Hydrochemical Structure of the Black Sea Anoxic Layer....Pages 61-74
The Suboxic Zone of the Black Sea....Pages 75-91
An Approach to Modelling Anoxic Conditions in the Black Sea....Pages 93-108
Temporal (Seasonal and Interannual) Changes of Ecosystem of the Open Waters of the Black Sea....Pages 109-129
Distribution of Planktonic Primary Production in the Black Sea....Pages 131-145
Fluctuations of Pelagic Species of the Open Black Sea During 1980–1995 and Possible Teleconnections....Pages 147-173
Status and Evolution of the Romanian Black Sea Coastal Ecosystem....Pages 175-195
Modeling the Black Sea Pelagic Ecosystem and Biogeochemical Structure: A Synthesis of Recent Activities....Pages 197-223
Satellite Altimetry Observations of the Black Sea....Pages 225-244
Hydro-Optical Studies of the Black Sea: History and Status....Pages 245-256
Influence of Anthropogenic Impact on the Physiology of Some Black Sea Fish Species....Pages 257-272
International Mussel Watch (UNESCO/IOC) in the Black Sea: A Pilot Study for Biological Effects and Contaminant Residues....Pages 273-289
Database and Database Management System of the TU-Black Sea Project....Pages 291-301
GIS for Regional Seas Programmes: A Case Study: The Black Sea....Pages 303-316
Towards Development of an Operational Marine Services System in the Black Sea....Pages 317-336
Oil Contingency Plans for Naval Activities....Pages 337-349
The Black Sea Contingency Planning for Marine Oil Spills....Pages 351-365
Romanian Contributions to Ongoing Black Sea Research and Management Programmes....Pages 367-376
Back Matter....Pages 377-393

---

The Black Sea currently faces severe ecological disequilibrium due primarily to eutrophication and other types of contamination from atmospheric, river and land-based sources. Among the most critical contemporary concerns are eutrophication and associated deterioration of water quality, plankton blooms, hypoxia and anoxia, loss of biodiversity and decline of living resources.
The present volume contains 22 peer-reviewed papers presented at the NATO-ARW on the Environmental Degradation of the Black Sea. Each paper focuses on different aspects of the Black Sea's oceanography. As a whole, the book covers a wide range of topics, from oil spills to geology, from observations of ecological process to modelling. The papers fall into two main groups: scientific papers addressing the environmental degradation of the Black Sea, and reports on the achievements of the existing international programmes. Our current knowledge of the Black Sea's oceanography is reviewed, and areas are identified where further research is needed.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-vii
Origin of the Black Sea....Pages 1-8
Geochemistry of the Late Pleistocene-Holocene Sediments of the Black Sea: An Overview....Pages 9-22
Importance of Sedimentary Processes in Environmental Changes: Lower River Danube — Danube Delta — Western Black Sea System....Pages 23-41
Characteristic Chemical Features and Biogeochemical Cycles in the Black Sea....Pages 43-59
Eutrophication: A Plausible Cause for Changes in Hydrochemical Structure of the Black Sea Anoxic Layer....Pages 61-74
The Suboxic Zone of the Black Sea....Pages 75-91
An Approach to Modelling Anoxic Conditions in the Black Sea....Pages 93-108
Temporal (Seasonal and Interannual) Changes of Ecosystem of the Open Waters of the Black Sea....Pages 109-129
Distribution of Planktonic Primary Production in the Black Sea....Pages 131-145
Fluctuations of Pelagic Species of the Open Black Sea During 1980–1995 and Possible Teleconnections....Pages 147-173
Status and Evolution of the Romanian Black Sea Coastal Ecosystem....Pages 175-195
Modeling the Black Sea Pelagic Ecosystem and Biogeochemical Structure: A Synthesis of Recent Activities....Pages 197-223
Satellite Altimetry Observations of the Black Sea....Pages 225-244
Hydro-Optical Studies of the Black Sea: History and Status....Pages 245-256
Influence of Anthropogenic Impact on the Physiology of Some Black Sea Fish Species....Pages 257-272
International Mussel Watch (UNESCO/IOC) in the Black Sea: A Pilot Study for Biological Effects and Contaminant Residues....Pages 273-289
Database and Database Management System of the TU-Black Sea Project....Pages 291-301
GIS for Regional Seas Programmes: A Case Study: The Black Sea....Pages 303-316
Towards Development of an Operational Marine Services System in the Black Sea....Pages 317-336
Oil Contingency Plans for Naval Activities....Pages 337-349
The Black Sea Contingency Planning for Marine Oil Spills....Pages 351-365
Romanian Contributions to Ongoing Black Sea Research and Management Programmes....Pages 367-376
Back Matter....Pages 377-393
....