Eutrophication and acidification

North Sea

Indicators: 

Global mean ocean surface acidity (ESS code: 14_50 )

Close UN indicator: 14.3.1

Marine waters affected by eutrophication: (ESS code: 14_60)

Close UN indicator: 14.1.1

Copernicus components

Eutrophication

Objectives:

To develop robust assessment tools to tackle marine eutrophication and acidification by exploiting the Copernicus multiplatform informational datasets.

Expected results:

Copernicus-based tool, delivering maps of above-mentioned SDG indicators for the North Sea. These indicators support local and European policy-making processes related to the sustainable management of marine resources and ecosystems and enhance knowledge of impacts from climate change and other anthropogenic pressures on vulnerable areas.

SDGs-EYES partners:

CMCC Foundation (Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change)

Stakeholders:

The engaged user community includes national and European research institutions, academic organisations and non profit organisations that support maritime sustainable development towards an ecologically and economically responsible future. 

The North Sea is an epicontinental shallow sea located in northern Europe that extends for about 575 000 km2. Due to the naturally nutrient rich water, the basin supports a productive ecosystem with one of the most varied coastal environments in the world. In recent decades, the traditional maritime activities (e.g. fishing and aquaculture) and the shipping industry have become more intensive and widespread, thus leading to numerous anthropogenic impacts which sum up with the pressures of climatic changes to threaten the rich biodiversity of the area.

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