Environmental changes in the western Black Sea related to anthropogenic and natural conditions

Abstract

Abstract The Black Sea northwestern shelf (NWS) ecosystem has been subjected to the strongest anthropogenic pressure of the entire Black Sea as about 80% of the freshwater runoff is discharged there. This paper presents a review of the global environmental changes related mainly to increased eutrophication in the western Black Sea basin. A case study (CoMSBlack 92a cruise) attempts to highlight the interaction of some natural and anthropogenic factors responsible for specific chemical and biological features in the western Black Sea environment. The significance of processes located near the Danube river mouth, which, due to their relatively small space scale, have not been recognized before, is clarified. Hydrological processess of specific importance to the distribution and transformation of antropogenic inputs are river plume dynamics, coastal upwelling and mixing and downwelling over the shelf break and slope in this part of the basin. A layer of low hydrological variability (“conservative layer”) appears to be a natural feature of the area, hypothesized to precondition specific biological and chemical processes there. The results suggest that the interplay between the Danube anthropogenic nutrient load with the natural hydrological fronts and gradients provides opportunities for enhanced biological activity thus contributing to the global environmental changes in the Black Sea NWS.