18 
BSH kompakt 
MEASURABLE 
Signals of climate change in the North and Baltic Seas 
2007 
The observed temperature increase 
in the North Sea continued in 
2007. Water temperatures in 
the German Bight were nearly 
3 degrees above the long-term 
average; 
The total heat content of the North 
Sea continued to increase slight 
ly in spite of the relatively cold 
summer; 
This winter had the lowest ice for 
mation on record since 1720. It 
was the first time that large areas 
of the Baltic Sea remained ice- 
free; 
Increase in thermophilic species 
in the North and Baltic Seas (32 
new species in the North Sea in 
the past 20 years); 
Water levels in the North Sea and 
Baltic Sea are rising; 
Data from the international ocean 
observing programme ARGO 
showed that temperatures in the 
upper 500 m layer of the North- 
East Atlantic Ocean have risen by 
approx. 0.5 degrees since 1998. 
The BSH contributed 52 ocean 
floats to ARGO; 
Participation in the worldwide oce 
anographic ship of opportunity 
programme(SOOP), which includ 
es mainly commercial vessels on 
trade routes; 
Participation in climate workshops 
and climate conferences, includ 
ing meetings of GOOS (Global 
Ocean Observing System) in 
Paris. 
The oceans are an essential element 
in the global climate system. Here, 
too, the beginnings of climate change 
have been visible for quite some 
time now. Climate researchers are 
warning that certain effects of global 
warming may already be Irreversible, 
and may lead to meteorological, 
oceanographic, and ecological 
changes also in the North and Baltic 
Seas and on their coastlines. This 
has been confirmed by data of the 
BSH, which correspond to worldwide 
observations. 
Although the impacts of climate 
change are as yet largely unknown, 
a reasonable approach Is an early 
debate of the question what the 
consequences of global climate 
change will be, how It may affect 
smaller regions such as Northern 
Europe, and how, e. g., shipping, 
coasts, and harbours can take 
adequate precautions. To be able to 
assess this particular aspect, the BSH 
is participating In research on possible 
scenarios of global climate change. 
Wollhandkrabbe, ursprünglich 
In China beheimatet 
Chinese mitten crab, a non-lndlgenous specles 
WELTWEIT 
Umweltschutz in der Schifffahrt 
Schiffe sind ein vergleichsweise um 
weltfreundliches und effektives Trans 
portmittel. Auf Basis Internationaler 
Umweltbestimmungen geht es aber 
auch bei diesem Verkehrsträger um 
die weitere Reduzierung von Umwelt 
auswirkungen, die durch den Schiffs 
betrieb verursacht werden. So trägt