A place of recreation

Many people spend their holidays at sea. The marine climate and the view of the blue ocean allow them to relax. But rising temperatures and carbon dioxide concentrations, lack of oxygen and excess in nutrients benefit the development of harmful algae.

Dolce vita at the Baltic coast?

Warmer water and air temperatures, drier summers, an early spring and a late autumn. On the surface, the effects of climate change might seem to benefit tourism in the Baltic Sea region.

Will the North German coast lend itself to pleasant seaside holidays almost all year long, while temperatures could climb to 40 degrees Celsius in currently popular seaside resorts around the Mediterranean?

It’s not that simple. Our seas and beaches will not remain the same in the near future. At high temperatures, the water loses oxygen. In addition, the sea takes up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere – an additional nutrient for photosynthesising algae and sea grass. The rising sea level, combined with storms, storm tides and heavy rainfalls might ruin coastlines if they are not protected properly.