Baltic Sea Water Levels Plummet to Historic Lows
The Baltic Sea is experiencing some of the lowest water levels on record, with measurements revealing a significant drop in recent weeks. The situation is prompting concerns for shipping and, surprisingly, is being viewed as potentially beneficial for the overall health of the sea.
According to the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde, the Swedish Landsort-Norra gauge is showing the lowest values since records began in 1886. The water level there is currently more than 67 centimeters (approximately 26.4 inches) below the average. Researchers estimate that around 275 cubic kilometers of water are currently missing from the Baltic Sea.
The primary driver of this dramatic decrease is a prolonged period of easterly winds. These winds have been pushing large volumes of water through the Danish straits – the narrow passages between Germany, Denmark, and Sweden – and into the North Sea. The effect has been a substantial draining of the Baltic.
However, scientists anticipate a shift in conditions. With a change to westerly winds, a significant influx of saltwater from the North Sea is expected to flow back into the Baltic. This influx is considered potentially positive for the Baltic Sea ecosystem. Researchers believe the incoming saltwater will bring increased oxygen levels and help address persistently elevated deep-water temperatures that have been a concern for roughly two decades.
The Aland Islands have recorded a sea level 72 centimeters below average, establishing a new record since observations began in 1924. Along the Latvian coast, the sea level has dropped to approximately 65 centimeters below zero level in the Latvian height system, according to data from the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre. The levels in Liepaja and Ventspils are approaching record lows, with Liepaja only a few centimeters higher than its 1937 record and Ventspils nearing its 1978 low.
While the current situation is unusual, it’s not unprecedented. Water levels in the Gulf of Riga were 10-20 centimeters lower at the end of January 2010 and 2014, but the lowest recorded level in the Gulf of Riga’s history occurred in 1959.
The low water levels are already causing disruptions. The Estonian Environment Agency has issued a warning about difficult shipping conditions in the Gulf of Riga and between the Estonian islands. A similar warning is in effect along the Finnish coast. The Baltic Sea is also experiencing its largest ice cover since 2018, and further expansion of the ice is anticipated in the coming weeks, potentially reaching levels not seen since 2011.
Looking ahead, researchers suggest that the water level in the Baltic Sea may continue to drop slightly in the coming days as the easterly winds persist. The anticipated shift to westerly winds and the resulting saltwater influx remain a key factor in the future health and stability of the Baltic Sea ecosystem.
