Baltic Earth Working Group on Philosophical aspects related to Baltic Sea Earth system research

• Why should the BALTEX/Baltic Earth programme be considered of importance?
• How should complex environmental problems be approached and addressed?
• What core message should be communicated to society?

The Baltic Earth Working Group on Philosophical Views of the Baltic Earth and Science was established as a forum for reflecting on the conceptual, methodological, and societal dimensions of Baltic Sea Earth system research. Over three decades, the BALTEX and Baltic Earth programmes have significantly advanced scientific understanding of climate and environmental processes in the Baltic Sea basin and have made substantial efforts to communicate this knowledge across disciplines and to the public. Building on this experience, RT9 aims to explore the deeper philosophical questions that accompany the continuation and future development of the
programme.

Central themes include the methodological foundations of Earth system science, such as the philosophical basis for caring about the ocean and its marginal seas, the limitations of dichotomous thinking, and the need for integrative perspectives. The RT9 considers the tension between traditional reductionist and mechanistic scientific approaches and more holistic or interaction-based frameworks, and reflects on the balance between general claims and context-specific insights in complex systems with multiple drivers. Questions about models, methodologies, metrics, and statistics are examined alongside the broader issue of how social dynamics and societal values influence scientific modelling. A second thematic focus concerns the philosophical interpretation of the BALTEX/Baltic Earth programme itself: its aims, unique characteristics, scientific challenges, and public relevance. Particular attention is given to how the programme's impact can be understood and assessed within the landscape of international Earth system research initiatives, and to the messages it conveys to society about environmental change and responsibility. A third area addresses the nature of good science and its role in society. This includes reflections on how scientific knowledge contributes to human well-being, the basis for public trust in science, the nature of the knowledge landscape in the Baltic Sea region, and the boundaries between scientific inquiry and activism. Together, these discussions aim to deepen understanding of how scientific evidence, societal needs, and philosophical perspectives intersect and shape the future of Earth system research.

Planned activities include regular meetings and discussions within the working group, the preparation of scientific publications, and the BALTEX/Baltic Earth book about basic ideas behind Baltic Sea Earth system research aimed at making the programme’s research accessible to the next generation of students and scientists. Through these activities, RT9 seeks to foster an open dialogue on the philosophical foundations of Baltic Earth research and to strengthen its societal relevance and long-term orientation.

• Elken J and Omstedt A (2025) Water exchange in the Baltic Sea: a historical view of research approaches from basin scales to submesoscale. Front. Earth Sci. 13:1598983. doi: 10.3389/feart.2025.1598983
• Omstedt, A., and Winther, RG (2025). Marginal Seas, Analogies, and Philosophy. In manuscript.
• Omstedt, A, Dailidiene, I., von Storch, H, and Winther, RG (2024). Philosophical views on Baltic Basin climate and environmental sciences. Oceanologia, 66 (4)/2024, 66407, https://doi.org/10.5697/YXZP7286
• Omstedt, A. and von Storch, H. (2024). The BALTEX/Baltic Earth programs: Excursions and returns. Oceanologia, vol 66, issue 1, pp. 1- 8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceano.2023.06.001
• Omstedt, A. (2023). How to develop an understanding of the marginal sea system by connecting natural and human sciences. Earth System Change: Changes in Marginal Seas/Oceanologia. Volume 65, Issue 1, January–March 2023, Pages 20-29.
• Omstedt, A., and Gustavsson, B. (2022a). The Ocean: Excursion and return. Filosofia,anno LXVII, 2022, pp. 25-40. Mimesis Edizioni, Milano-Udline, Italy. ISSN (online): 2704-8195. https://doi.org/10.13135/2704-8195/7241.
• Omstedt, A. and Gustavsson, B. (2022b). The complex interactions between humans and the marine environment require new efforts to build beauty and harmony. Front. Mar. Sci. 9:913276. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2022.913276
• Reckermann, M., Omstedt, A., Soomere, T., Aigars, J., Akhtar, N., Bełdowska, M., Bełdowski, J., Cronin, T., Czub, M., Eero, M., Hyytiäinen, K. P., Jalkanen, J.-P., Kiessling, A., Kjellström, E., Kuliński, K., Larsén, X. G., McCrackin, M., Meier, H. E. M., Oberbeckmann, S., Parnell, K., Pons-Seres de Brauwer, C., Poska, A., Saarinen, J., Szymczycha, B., Undeman, E., Wörman, A., and Zorita, E.(2022): Human impacts and their interactions in the Baltic Sea region. Earth Syst. Dynam., 13, 1–80, 2022 https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-13-1-2022
• Book: Omstedt, A. (2024). A Philosophic View of the Ocean and Humanity. Second Edition. Springer Nature, https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-64326-2
• Book: Coleman, E. 2025. Coleman, E. 2025. Review of A Philosophical View of the Ocean and Humanity, Second Edition, by A. Omstedt. Oceanography 38(2):86–87, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2025.312.