1. The Baltic Sea Basin: Introduction

The Baltic Sea Basin serves as an example of a region where the use of natural resources and the need of environmental protection require a comprehensive and holistic approach in terms of geosciences, environmental sciences, and socio-economics. In this book, authors from countries around the Baltic Sea and overseas shed light on the Baltic Sea Basin with respect to (1) the formation of the Baltic Basin and its geological resources, (2) the stratigraphic record – mirror of climatic changes during the last glacial cycle, (3) coastal processes and sediment dynamics including aspects of coastal engineering, (4) interaction between socio-economic driving forces and the natural environment since the prehistoric colonization, (5) management of the marine ecosystem, and (6) monitoring strategies, respectively remote sensing. The editors intend not only to provide a record of the current state of the art in the investigation of the Baltic Sea Basin, but also to initiate innovative interdisciplinary and international research activities.