Although many properties

of oil are missing, the method performs fairly well compared to a more complex oil spill model. A number of measures were used to calculate maps of the consequences of tracer releases based on large ensembles. We found that the patterns of the measures could, to a large degree, be understood from the mean currents together with the bathymetry in the direction of the mean currents. Overall, the patterns of the measures are similar. However, there are local differences, which make the choice of the measure important. The percentage-measures indicate how the situation will be after a certain time if no counter measure is considered. The time-measures indicate the relative urgency Selleckchem Screening Library of counter measures. Of course, the design of new measures is possible, e.g., taking into account that counter measures are more effective during

some weather conditions than others. The measures were used to optimize maritime routes. Although the measures were used without any explicit weighting of the shortest path to emphasize differences in the measures, the routes do not differ very much. We cannot FG-4592 mw conclude that this will always be the case because the routes are not located in areas with large differences in the measures. The major difference between our routes and real maritime routes is that our routes are located south of Bornholm. Even selleck chemical with a significant weight for the shortest path, the route still progresses south of Bornholm. We have briefly investigated the impact of the wind-induced seasonality. However, we were not able to demonstrate that the season would have a significant impact on maritime routes. The research presented in this study is part of the project BalticWay (The potential of currents for environmental management of the Baltic Sea maritime industry) and has received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP/2007–2013) under Grant agreement

No. 217246 made with BONUS, the joint Baltic Sea research and development program, and from the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (Formas, Ref. No. 2008–1898). “
“The progressive increase of boat tourism and the consequent development of marina activities gives rise to a series of problems related to safeguarding the natural environment. Therefore, there is a need for appropriate monitoring of port facilities and water quality, as well as the development of new technologies dealing with yachting activities, suitable to minimizing their impact on biological communities. The peculiar ecological characteristics of marinas for their mono-functionality allow the accurate assessment of the different effects of specific contaminants on marine organisms.