Baltic Sea winter monitoring cruise: phosphate content reaches record levels
The annual winter monitoring cruise of the marine research vessel Aranda revealed that the oxygen problems of the main basin of the Baltic Sea continue and that phosphate levels in the surface layer have increased. The oxygen situation in the Gulf of Finland was relatively good, but the phosphate level in the surface layer was higher than at any time in the past 30 years. Nutrient levels were also higher than usual in the Archipelago Sea.
Salinity in the surface layer of the Gulf of Finland had risen to record heights and at most measuring points phosphate levels were the highest ever recorded. Record-high phosphate levels were now measured in a significantly wider area than last year. The rising phosphate level is caused by nutrient-rich masses of water flowing into the Gulf of Finland and mixing there. However, the mixing of water layers improves the oxygen situation in deeper water, and low oxygen levels were found only in the western end of the Gulf of Finland.
Levels of dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus measured in parts of the Archipelago Sea set new wintertime records. The likely cause of the exceptionally high concentrations was nutrient-rich water flowing from the Gulf of Finland into the Archipelago Sea.
Oxygen levels in deeper parts of the Bothnian Sea have decreased and nutrient levels of the deep water are high in places. Nutrient levels began to rise at the start of this century and the process continues.
Oxygen and nutrient levels in Kvarken and the Bothnian Bay were at the normal wintertime levels.
The oxygen situation in the main basin of the Baltic Sea remained poor. The northwestern part of the main basin was powerfully stratified and water more than 60 metres beneath the surface was without oxygen. At the northeastern edge of the basin oxygen-free water was found only at depths below 90–95 metres. The phosphate level in the surface layer was higher than usual for wintertime. The likely cause of this was the mixing of masses of water caused by storms.
Effects of December saltwater inflow expected to be mild
An influx of saltwater entered the Baltic Sea through the Straits of Denmark in December 2023, improving the oxygen situation in deep water off the island of Bornholm. The December saltwater inflow was moderate, with a volume of about 80 km3. Its effects were significantly weaker than those of the inflow that occurred in 2014, with a volume of 300 km3. The effects of the saltwater inflow will probably be seen in the northern part of the main basin of the Baltic Sea in the late spring or early summer.
Aranda also monitors noise and harmful substances
Aranda’s winter monitoring cruise extended to the Gulf of Finland, the Archipelago Sea, the northern part of the main basin of the Baltic Sea, the Åland Sea, the Bothnian Sea, Kvarken, and the Bothnian Bay. In addition to levels of nutrients and oxygen, information was collected on matters such as hazardous chemicals and underwater noise.
Noise monitoring showed an increase in low-frequency noise in the Gulf of Finland and in the northern part of the main basin of the Baltic Sea. Low-frequency noise inflicts stress on fish and shellfish, for example, and disturbs organisms that use sound in communication and catching prey.
In monitoring for harmful substances, very little oil was found in surface water. Oil levels have remained below the threshold level of 1 microgramme per litre of water. More fluorine compounds used as coating materials accumulate at the bottom of central parts of the Bothnian Sea than at other observation points in Finnish parts of the Baltic Sea. In the eastern Gulf of Finland more polychlorinated dioxins and furans accumulate at the bottom than in other areas.
Aranda will embark on its next monitoring cruise on April 16. The progress of spring blooms of phytoplankton will be examined during the cruise.
Keywords
Contacts
The state of the Archipelago Sea, Bothnian Bay and main basin of the Baltic Sea:
Senior Researcher, Cruise Leader Pekka Kotilainen, tel. +358 295 251 317, firstname.lastname@syke.fi
The state of the Gulf of Finland, harmful chemicals, underwater noise: Leading Researcher, Cruise Leader Harri Kankaanpää, Finnish Environment Institute, tel. +358 295 251 258, firstname.lastname@syke.fi
Communication specialist Eija Järvinen, Finnish Environment Institute, tel. +358 295 251 242, firstname.lastname@syke.fi
Media service at Finnish Environment Institute
Our Media Service provides information on research, helps journalists find experts for interviews and provides photos for media use.
Our Communication experts will answer your inquiries on weekdays from 9 am to 4 pm.
Images
Finnish Environment Institute - We build hope through research.
Finnish Environment Institute
Latokartanonkaari 11
00790 Helsinki
+358 295 251 000
It is time to move beyond solving environmental problems one by one, to systemic sustainability transformations. The Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) contributes to building a sustainable society through research, information and services. The Finnish Environment Institute is a research institute with 700 experts and researchers located in Helsinki, Oulu, Jyväskylä and Joensuu.
Subscribe to releases from Suomen ympäristökeskus
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Suomen ympäristökeskus by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Suomen ympäristökeskus
Number of moths has remained stable for 30 years, but the species have changed significantly27.6.2024 15:21:49 EEST | Press release
The 30th anniversary report of the national Nocturna moth monitoring, coordinated by the Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) and launched in 1993, presents the history, background and changing species of moths in Finland. Nocturna is one of Finland's longest-running monitorings of species and the third longest-running moth monitoring in Europe. As moths are sensitive to changes in the environment, their monitoring provides valuable information about the effects of global warming, for example.
Antalet nattfjärilar har hållits stabilt i 30 år, men artbeståndet har förändrats avsevärt27.6.2024 15:20:36 EEST | Tiedote
Finlands miljöcentrals 30-årsrapport om den riksomfattande Nocturna-nattfjärilsuppföljningen som inleddes 1993 presenterar nattfjärilsuppföljningens historia, bakgrund och nattfjärilsarter som förändras i vårt land. Nocturna är en av Finlands längsta uppföljningar av organismgrupper och den tredje längsta uppföljningen av nattfjärilar i Europa. Nattfjärilarna uttrycker lätt förändringar i miljön, så uppföljningen av dem ger värdefull information om bland annat effekterna av den globala uppvärmningen.
Det varma vädret ökade antalet observationer av cyanobakterier i insjöarna, vid kusterna och i Finska viken27.6.2024 13:06:21 EEST | Tiedote
Antalet observationer av cyanobakterier har ökat sedan förra veckan. Till följd av det varma vädret förekommer det något mer cyanobakterier i insjöarna än genomsnittet för tidpunkten. Observationerna av cyanobakterier har ökat betydligt i Finska vikens havsområde och i norra delen av Östersjöns huvudbassäng.
Warm weather has increased blue-green algae observations in inland waters, on the coasts and in the Gulf of Finland area27.6.2024 13:04:13 EEST | Press release
The number of blue-green algae observations has increased since last week. As a result of the warmer weather, the occurrences of blue-green algae in inland waters are slightly above average for the time of year. There has been a significant increase in blue-green algae observations in the Gulf of Finland and in the northern part of the Northern Baltic Proper.
Lämmin sää lisäsi sinilevähavaintoja sisävesillä, rannikoilla sekä Suomenlahden alueella27.6.2024 13:00:00 EEST | Tiedote
Sinilevähavaintojen määrä on lisääntynyt viime viikosta. Lämpimien säiden seurauksena sinilevää esiintyy sisävesillä ajankohtaan nähden hieman keskimääräistä enemmän. Sinilevähavainnot ovat lisääntyneet merkittävissä määrin Suomenlahden merialueella ja Itämeren pääaltaan pohjoisosassa.
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom