Modelling the contributions to marine acidification from deposited SOx, NOx, and NHx in the Baltic Sea: Past and present situations

The effect of strong atmospheric acids on Baltic Sea water depends on the region and period studied. The largest total alkalinity sink per surface area is in the south-western Baltic Sea where shipping is intense. Considering the entire Baltic Sea over the 2001-2010 period, the pH changes are approximately −3×10−3 to −11×10−3 and −4×10−4 to −16×10−4 pH units attributable to all emissions and ship emissions only, respectively. The corresponding changes in total alkalinity are approximately −10 to −30 µmol kg−1 and −1 to −4 µmol kg−1 attributable to all emissions and ship emissions only, respectively.