As of: 01/17/2023 9:03 p.m
The past summer was the hottest in 25 years for the North Sea, according to the Federal Maritime Agency. In its review of the year, the office also described the number of storm surges as “unusually high”.
Last summer was the warmest in the North Sea since 1997. The surface temperatures were more than one degree above the long-term average, and those in the Baltic Sea were even 1.5 degrees over a large area, as reported by the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) in Hamburg.
Heat waves in the North and Baltic Seas
The North Sea measuring station “Lightship Deutsche Bight” recorded a marine heat wave for eight days in June. According to the BSH, the temperatures at a depth of three meters during this time were up to two degrees above the long-term average.
Two heat waves were also registered in the Baltic Sea in the summer months: in June/July and in August/September. The first lasted ten days, the second 19 days. The temperatures at a depth of 0.5 meters were up to three degrees above the long-term average.
Storm surges have increased
The office also specified the number of storm surges in its year in review as “unusually high”. According to the BSH, six storm surges occurred from January 30 to February 7, 2022, including two severe ones. Shortly thereafter, the longest storm surge chain since 1990 followed due to the storm “Zeynep” with seven storm surges. On February 19, a very severe storm surge occurred in Hamburg with 3.75 meters above the mean high water level.
Drones measure sulfur levels
In order to check compliance with the limit value for sulfur in ship fuels, the BSH started a measurement campaign with drones over the Kadet Channel north-east of the Mecklenburg Bight and the Fehmarnbelt in the western Baltic Sea. During 89 flights, the drone measured 210 exhaust plumes. 0.10 percent sulfur content is allowed, almost 98 percent of the ships checked had complied with the limit values, it said.
In order to further develop and spatially expand the control of ship emissions, the BSH works closely with European countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, France, Sweden and Finland as well as the European Maritime Safety Agency. A similar campaign in the North Sea is planned for 2023.
Effects of “scrubbers” studied
In addition, the BSH examined the effects of exhaust gas washers installed on ships, so-called “scrubbers”, on the marine environment. In these plants, the sulfur compounds are washed out using seawater.
The results of the BSH showed that the analyzed wastewater samples are acidic and contain pollutants such as heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and oil residues. With a view to possible environmental consequences, the office rated the samples as “moderately to very toxic with potentially chronic effects”.