Articles | Volume 18, issue 7
https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-5563-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-5563-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Data description article
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29 Jul 2026
Data description article | Highlight paper |
| 29 Jul 2026
| 29 Jul 2026
Munition piles in the German Baltic Sea: inventory and maritime hazard perspectives
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Wischhofstraße 1–3, 24148 Kiel, Germany
Mareike Keller
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Wischhofstraße 1–3, 24148 Kiel, Germany
Jochen Mohrmann
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Wischhofstraße 1–3, 24148 Kiel, Germany
Alexander Pechmann
Global Climate Forum e.V., Neue Promenade 6, 10178 Berlin, Germany
Samar Ensenbach
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Wischhofstraße 1–3, 24148 Kiel, Germany
Jens Greinert
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Wischhofstraße 1–3, 24148 Kiel, Germany
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Editorial statement
This article presents the first comprehensive and standardised inventory of munition piles in the German Baltic Sea. It combines acoustic data (MBES) and expert-annotated photomosaics. The article also proposes an innovative methodology for extrapolating the number of objects and assessing maritime risks.
This article presents the first comprehensive and standardised inventory of munition piles in...
Short summary
Sea-dumped munitions are a threat to economic activities at sea. This study presents the first comprehensive dataset of munition piles in the German Baltic Sea. It was created by mapping, annotating, and analysing three major dump sites. The results show that the piles differ greatly in their size and composition. Many piles lie close to protected areas and a sediment dump site. The dataset can aid discussions on monitoring, risk assessment and prioritisation of piles for clearance.
Sea-dumped munitions are a threat to economic activities at sea. This study presents the first...
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