Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Seasonal fluctuations of the Baltic Sea level

  • Published:
Russian Meteorology and Hydrology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Seasonal annual (Sa) and seasonal semiannual (Ssa) fluctuations are the dominant feature of long-period sea level variability in the Baltic Sea. Long-term series of observations (monthly mean sea level data) from the PSMSL database are used to estimate amplitudes and phases and to reveal spatial and temporal variations. It was found that the variations of seasonal amplitudes were quite significant from year to year and synchronous both within the Baltic Sea and in the Kattegat and Skagerrak straits. Climatologically averaged amplitudes and phases were calculated from 74 tide gauges, and the maps of spatial variability of seasonal constituents are plotted. The annual harmonic of the sea level gradually increases from the entrance (Danish Straits) to the heads of gulfs. The maximum amplitude of 12.7 cm is observed in the heads of the Gulf of Finland and Gulf of Bothnia. It is revealed that seasonal fluctuations in the Baltic Sea are caused by the zonal wind component.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. V. M. Al’tshuler, “Sea Level Fluctuations and the Water Exchange in the Baltic Sea,” in Sea Level Fluctuations. Results of Studies of International Geophysical Projects (Radio i Svyaz’, Moscow, 1982) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  2. V. N. Bokov, Yu. P. Klevantsov, V. A. Rozhkov, et al., “Annual Harmonic of the Baltic Sea Level Fluctuations,” Trudy GOIN, No. 207 (2000) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  3. B. Vishnevski, “Seasonal and Long-term Fluctuations of the Baltic Sea Level,” in Sea Level Fluctuations. Results of Studies of International Geophysical Projects (Radio i Svyaz’, Moscow, 1982) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  4. L. I. Galerkin, V. A. Shagin, and V. N. Nefed’ev, “Seasonal Sea Level Variations in Australian and Asian Seas,” Trudy Instituta Okeanologii, No. 60 (1962) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  5. Hydrometeorology and Hydrochemistry of the USSR Seas, Vol. 3: The Baltic Sea, Issue 1: Hydrometeorological Conditions, Ed. by F. S. Terziev, V. A. Rozhkov, and A. I. Smirnova (Gidrometeoizdat, St. Petersburg, 1992) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  6. E. A. Kulikov and I. P. Medvedev, “Variability of the Baltic Sea Level and Floods in the Gulf of Finland,” Okeanologiya, No. 2, 53 (2013) [Oceanology, No. 2, 53 (2013)].

  7. E. A. Kulikov, I. P. Medvedev, and K. P. Koltermann, “A Role of Barotropic Water Exchange in the Baltic Sea Level Spectrum Formation,” Okeanologiya, No. 1, 55 (2015) [Oceanology, No. 1, 55 (2015)].

  8. I. V. Maksimov, Geophysical Forces and Ocean Water (Gidrometeoizdat, Leningrad, 1970) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  9. I. P. Medvedev, A. B. Rabinovich, and E. A. Kulikov, “Tidal Oscillations in the Baltic Sea,” Okeanologiya, No. 5, 53 (2013) [Oceanology, No. 5, 53 (2013)].

    Google Scholar 

  10. I. P. Medvedev, A. B. Rabinovich, and E. A. Kulikov, “Pole Tide in the Baltic Sea,” Okeanologiya, No. 2, 54 (2014) [Oceanology, No. 2, 54 (2014)].

    Google Scholar 

  11. G. P. Compo, J. S. Whitaker, P. D. Sardeshmukh, et al., “The Twentieth Century Reanalysis Project,” Quart. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 137 (2011).

  12. M. Ekman, “A Common Pattern for International and Periodical Sea Level Variations in the Baltic Sea and Adjacent Waters,” Geophysica, 32 (1996).

  13. W. J. Emery and R. E. Thomson, Data Analysis Methods in Physical Oceanography (Elsevier, New York, 2003).

    Google Scholar 

  14. S. J. Holgate, A. Matthews, P. I. Woodworth, et al., “New Data Systems and Products at the Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level,” J. Coast. Res., No. 3, 29 (2013).

  15. E. Lisitzin, Sea-Level Changes (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1974).

    Google Scholar 

  16. B. B. Parker, Tidal Analysis and Prediction, NOAA Special Publication NOS CO-OPS3 (Silver Spring, Maryland, 2007).

    Google Scholar 

  17. J. Pattullo, W. Munk, R. Revelle, and E. Strong, “The Seasonal Oscillations in Sea Level,” J. Mar. Res., 14 (1955).

  18. D. T. Pugh, Tides, Surges and Mean Sea Level (John Wiley, Chichester, 1987).

    Google Scholar 

  19. M. N. Tsimplis, R. A. Flather, and J. M. Vassie, “The North Sea Pole Tide Described through a Tide-surge Numerical Model,” Geophys. Res. Lett., No. 6, 21 (1994).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nakhimovskii pr. 36, Moscow, 117997, Russia

    I. P. Medvedev

Authors
  1. I. P. Medvedev
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to I. P. Medvedev.

Additional information

Original Russian Text © I.P. Medvedev, 2014, published in Meteorologiya i Gidrologiya, 2014, No. 12, pp. 42–54.

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Medvedev, I.P. Seasonal fluctuations of the Baltic Sea level. Russ. Meteorol. Hydrol. 39, 814–822 (2014). https://doi.org/10.3103/S106837391412005X

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3103/S106837391412005X

Keywords

Search

Navigation