Baltic Sea: rest. Water temperature in the Baltic Sea. Coast of the Baltic Sea. What is the water temperature in the Baltic Sea? When is the Baltic Sea warmest?
The Baltic Sea washes nine countries: Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Russia, Poland, Germany, Finland, Sweden and Denmark.
The coastline of the sea is 8.000 km. , and the area of the sea is 415.000 sq. km.
It is believed that the sea was formed 14,000 years ago, but in the modern outline of the boundaries there are 4,000 years.
The sea has four bays, the largest Bothnian(washes Sweden and Finland), Finnish(washes Finland, Russia and Estonia), Riga(washes Estonia and Latvia) and freshwater Curonian(washes Russia and Lithuania).
On the sea there are large islands of Gotland, Öland, Bornholm, Wolin, Rügen, Aland and Saaremaa. The largest island Gotland belongs to Sweden, its area is 2.994 sq. km. and with a population of 56,700 people.
Such large rivers as the Neva, Narva, Neman, Pregolya, Vistula, Oder, Venta and Daugava flow into the sea.
The Baltic Sea belongs to the shallow seas and its average depth is 51 meters. Most deep place 470 meters.
The bottom of the southern part of the sea is flat, in the North it is rocky. The coastal part of the sea, these are sands, but most of bottom, this is a deposit of green, black or Brown color. The most transparent water in the central part of the sea and in the Gulf of Bothnia.
There is a very large excess of fresh water in the sea, which is why the sea is slightly salty. Fresh water enters the sea due to frequent precipitation, numerous large rivers. The most salty water off the coast of Denmark, as there the Baltic Sea joins the saltier North Sea.
The Baltic Sea is among the calm. It is believed that in the depths of the sea the waves do not reach more than 4 meters. However, off the coast they can reach 11 meters in height.
In October-November, ice may already appear in the bays. The coast of the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland can be covered with ice up to 65 cm thick. The central and southern parts of the sea are not covered with ice. The ice melts in April, although drifting ice can be found in the north of the Gulf of Bothnia in June.
The water temperature in the summer in the sea is 14-17 degrees, the warmest Gulf of Finland is 15-17 degrees. and the coldest Bothnian
bay 9-13 gr.
Due to shallow depths in the Gulf of Finland and the Archipelago Sea, many vessels are inaccessible with a significant draft. Nevertheless, all major cruise ships pass through the Danish Strait into the Atlantic Ocean.
The main limiting factor of the Baltic Sea is bridges. So the Great Belt Bridge connects the islands of Denmark. This suspension bridge was built in 1998, its length is 6790 km. and about 27,600 cars pass over the bridge every day. Although there are bridges that are longer, for example, the Erssun Bridge is 16 km long, and the largest Femersky Bridge is 19 km long and connects Denmark with Germany through the sea.
Salmon is found in the Baltic Sea, some individuals were caught in 35 kg. Cod, flounder, eelpout, eel, lamprey, anchovy, mullet, mackerel are also found in the sea, roach, ide, bream, crucian carp, asp, chub, zander, perch, pike, catfish, burbot, etc.
Whales have also been sighted in Estonian waters.
Not so long ago, seals could be found in the Baltic, but now they are practically gone due to the fact that the sea has become more freshwater.
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The largest ports of the Baltic Sea: Baltiysk, Ventspils, Vyborg, Gdansk, Kaliningrad, Kiel, Klaipeda, Copenhagen, Liepaja, Luebeck, Riga, Rostock, St. Petersburg, Stockholm, Tallinn, Szczecin.
Resorts of the Baltic Sea.
: Russia: Sestroretsk, Zelenogorsk, Svetlogorsk, Pionersky, Zelenogradsk, Lithuania: Palanga, Neringa, Poland: Sopot, Hel, Koszalin, Germany: Ahlbeck, Binz, Heiligendamm, Timmfendorf, Estonia: Pärnu, Narva-Jõesuu, Latvia: Saulkrasti and Jurmala .
The Latvian ports of Liepaja and Ventspils are located in the sea, while Riga and the resorts of Saulkrasti and Jurmala are located in the Gulf of Riga.
Gulf of Riga
, it is the third of the four bays of the Baltic Sea and it washes two countries, Latvia and Estonia. The area of the bay is only 18.100 km2, it is 1\23rd part of the Baltic.The deepest part of the bay is 54 meters. The bay cuts into land from the open sea for 174 km. The width of the bay is 137 km.
The most important cities on the coast of the Gulf of Riga are Riga (Latvia) and Pärnu (Estonia). The main resort city of the bay is Jurmala. In the bay, the largest island of Saaremaa belongs to Estonia with the city of Kuressaare.
The western shore of the bay is called Livsky and is a protected cultural area.
The coast is mostly low-lying and sandy.
The water temperature in summer can rise to +18, and in winter it drops to 0 degrees. The surface of the bay is covered with ice from December to April.
Heavily cut into the mainland. Its not as severe as the climate of the Arctic seas, although the Baltic Sea is located in the northwestern part of Russia. This sea is almost completely limited by land. Only from the southwest is this sea connected to the waters by various straits. The Baltic Sea belongs to the type of inland seas.
The shores that this sea washes have different origin. Quite complicated and. The Baltic Sea has a rather small depth, due to the fact that it is located within the boundaries of the continental shelf.
The greatest depth of the Baltic Sea was recorded in the Landsort Basin. The Danish Straits are characterized by shallow depths. The depth of the Great Belt is 10 - 25 m, the Small Belt - 10 - 35 m. The waters of the Sound have a depth of 7 to 15 m. The shallow depths of the straits interfere with the unhindered exchange of water between the Baltic Sea and. The Baltic Sea covers an area equal to 419 thousand km2. The volume of water is 321.5 km3. The average water depth is about 51 m. Max Depth sea - 470 m.
The climate of the Baltic Sea is influenced by its location in the zone of temperate latitudes, the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean and the location of a large part of the sea inside the mainland. All these factors contribute to the fact that the climate of the Baltic Sea is in many respects close to the maritime climate of temperate latitudes, and there are also some features continental climate. Due to the relatively large extent of the sea, there are some distinctive features climate in various parts seas.
In the Baltic, it is largely due to the influence of the Icelandic low, the Siberian and. Depending on whose influence is dominant, seasonal features differ. In autumn and winter, the Baltic Sea is influenced by the Icelandic Low and the Siberian High. As a result of this, the sea is in power, which spread in autumn from west to east, and in winter to the northeast. This period is characterized overcast weather with strong southwestern and western winds.
In January and February, when the lowest temperature is observed, the average monthly temperature in the central part of the sea is -3°C, and in the north and east - 5-8°C. With the strengthening of the Polar High, cold ones enter the Baltic Sea. As a result, it drops to – 30 – 35°C. But such cold snaps are quite rare and, as a rule, they are short-lived.
In the spring-summer period, the Siberian High loses its strength, and the Azores and, to a lesser extent, the Polar High have a dominant effect on the Baltic Sea. At this time, the sea is observed. Cyclones coming to the Baltic from the Atlantic Ocean are not as significant as in winter. All this causes the unstable direction of the winds, which have low speeds. In the spring season, northerly winds have a great influence on the weather, they bring cold air.
In summer, winds from the western and northwestern directions prevail. These winds are predominantly weak or. Due to their influence, cool and humid weather is observed in summer. The average July temperature reaches + 14 - 15°С in the Gulf of Bothnia and +16 - 18°С in other areas of the sea. Very rarely, warm air masses enter the Baltic, which cause hot weather.
The temperature of the waters of the Baltic Sea depends on the specific location. In winter, the water temperature near the coast is lower than in the open sea. In the western part, the sea is warmer than in the eastern part, which is associated with the cooling effect of the land. In summer, the coldest waters are near the western coasts in the central and southern zone seas. Such a distribution of temperatures is due to the fact that the western ones move the heated upper waters from the western shores. Their place is taken by cold deep waters.
Coast of the Baltic Sea
Approximately 250 large and small rivers carry their waters into the Baltic Sea. During the year they give the sea about 433 km 3, which is 2.1% of the total volume of the sea. The most full-flowing are: the Neva, which pours 83.5 km 3 per year, the Vistula (30.4 km 3 per year), the Neman (20.8 km 3 per year) and the Daugava (19.7 km 3 per year). In different areas of the Baltic Sea, the proportion is not the same. For example, in the Gulf of Bothnia, rivers give 188 km 3 per year, the volume of continental waters is 109.8 km 3 / year. The Gulf of Riga receives 36.7 km 3 /year and in the central part of the Baltic is 111.6 km 3 /year. Thus, the eastern regions of the sea receive more than half of all continental waters.
During the year, rivers bring an unequal amount of water to the sea. If the full flow of rivers is regulated by a lake, as, for example, near the Neva River, then a greater flow occurs in the spring-summer period. If the full flow of rivers is not regulated by lakes, as, for example, near the Daugava River, then the maximum flow is observed in spring and small increase autumn.
are practically not observed. The current affecting surface waters arises under the influence of winds and river runoff. In winter, the waters of the Baltic Sea are covered with ice. But during one and the same winter, the ice can melt several times and again bind the waters. This sea is never completely covered with ice.
Fishing is widely developed in the Baltic Sea. Baltic herring, sprat, cod, whitefish, lamprey, salmon and other types of fish are caught here. Also mined in these waters a large number of algae. There are many marine farms on the Baltic Sea where the most sought-after fish species are grown. There are a large number of placers on the coast of the Baltic Sea. Amber mining works are carried out in the region. There is oil in the bowels of the Baltic Sea.
Navigation is widely developed in the waters of the Baltic Sea. Sea transportation of various goods is constantly carried out here. Thanks to the Baltic Sea, it maintains close economic and trade relations with Western European countries. There are a large number of ports on the coast of the Baltic Sea.
Deeply cut into the land, the Baltic Sea has a very complex outline of the coast and forms large bays: Bothnian, Finnish and Riga. This sea has land borders almost everywhere, and only from the Danish Straits (Great and Small Belt, Sound, Farman Belt) is it separated by conditional lines passing between certain points on their coasts. Due to the peculiar regime, the Danish Straits do not belong to the Baltic Sea. They link it to the North Sea and through it to the Atlantic Ocean. The depths above the rapids separating the Baltic Sea from the straits are small: above the Darser threshold - 18 m, above the Drogden threshold - 7 m. The cross-sectional area in these places is 0.225 and 0.08 km 2, respectively. The Baltic Sea is weakly connected with the North Sea and has limited water exchange with it, and even more so with the Atlantic Ocean.
It belongs to the type of inland seas. Its area is 419 thousand km 2, volume - 21.5 thousand km 3, average depth - 51 m, maximum depth - 470 m.
Bottom relief
The bottom relief of the Baltic Sea is uneven. The sea lies entirely within the shelf. The bottom of its basin is indented by underwater depressions, separated by hills and socles of islands. In the western part of the sea there are shallow Arkon (53 m) and Bornholm (105 m) depressions, separated by about. Bornholm. In the central regions of the sea, rather vast areas are occupied by the Gotland (up to 250 m) and Gdansk (up to 116 m) basins. North of about. Gotland lies the Landsort Depression, where the greatest depth of the Baltic Sea is recorded. This depression forms a narrow trench with depths of more than 400 m, which stretches from the northeast to the southwest, and then to the south. Between this trough and the Norrköping depression located to the south, an underwater hill stretches with depths of about 112 m. Further south, the depths again increase slightly. On the border of the central regions with the Gulf of Finland, the depth is about 100 m, with the Bothnian - about 50 m, and with the Riga - 25-30 m. The bottom relief of these bays is very complex.
Bottom relief and currents of the Baltic Sea
Climate
The climate of the Baltic Sea is of maritime temperate latitudes with features of continentality. The peculiar configuration of the sea and a significant extent from north to south and from west to east create differences climatic conditions in different parts of the sea.
The Icelandic low, as well as the Siberian and Azores anticyclones, most significantly affect the weather. The nature of their interaction determines the seasonal features of the weather. In autumn and especially in winter, the Icelandic Low and the Siberian High interact intensively, which intensifies cyclonic activity over the sea. In this regard, in autumn and winter, deep cyclones often pass, which bring with them cloudy weather with strong southwestern and western winds.
In the coldest months - January and February - the average air temperature in the central part of the sea is -3° in the north and -5-8° in the east. With rare and short-term intrusions of cold Arctic air associated with the strengthening of the Polar High, the air temperature over the sea drops to -30° and even to -35°.
In spring- summer season The Siberian High collapses, and the Baltic Sea is affected by the Icelandic Low, the Azores and, to some extent, the Polar High. The sea itself is in the strip reduced pressure, along which cyclones from the Atlantic Ocean are less deep than in winter. In this regard, in spring the winds are very unstable in direction and low in speed. Northerly winds are responsible for the usually cold spring in the Baltic Sea.
In summer, predominantly western, northwestern and southwestern weak to moderate winds blow. They are associated with the cool and humid summer weather characteristic of the sea. The average monthly temperature of the warmest month - July - is 14-15° in the Gulf of Bothnia and 16-18° in other areas of the sea. Hot weather is rare. It is caused by short-term inflows of warm Mediterranean air.
Hydrology
About 250 rivers flow into the Baltic Sea. The largest amount of water is brought per year by the Neva - an average of 83.5 km 3, the Vistula - 30 km 3, the Neman - 21 km 3, the Daugava - about 20 km 3. The runoff is unevenly distributed across the regions. So, in the Gulf of Bothnia it is 181 km 3 /year, in Finland - 110, in Riga - 37, in the central part of the Baltic - 112 km 3 /year.
Geographical position, shallow water, complex bottom topography, limited water exchange with the North Sea, significant river runoff, and climate features have a decisive influence on hydrological conditions.
The Baltic Sea is characterized by some features of the eastern subtype of the subarctic structure. However, in the shallow Baltic Sea, it is represented mainly by surface and partially intermediate waters, significantly transformed under the influence of local conditions(limited water exchange, river flow, etc.). The water masses that make up the structure of the waters of the Baltic Sea are not identical in their characteristics in different areas and change with the seasons. This is one of the distinguishing features of the Baltic Sea.
Water temperature and salinity
In most areas of the Baltic Sea, surface and deep water masses are distinguished, between which lies a transitional layer.
Surface water (0-20 m, in some places 0-90 m) with a temperature of 0 to 20°C, a salinity of approximately 7-8‰ is formed in the sea itself as a result of its interaction with the atmosphere (precipitation, evaporation) and with the waters of the continental runoff. This water has winter and summer modifications. IN warm time During the first half of the year, a cold intermediate layer is developed in it, the formation of which is associated with a significant summer heating of the sea surface.
The temperature of deep water (50-60 m - bottom, 100 m - bottom) - from 1 to 15 °, salinity - 10-18.5‰. Its formation is associated with the entry of deep waters into the sea through the Danish straits and with mixing processes.
The transitional layer (20-60 m, 90-100 m) has a temperature of 2-6°C, salinity of 8-10‰, and is formed mainly by mixing surface and deep waters.
In some areas of the sea, the structure of the waters has its own characteristics. For example, in the Arkon region, there is no cold intermediate layer in summer, which is explained by the relatively shallow depth of this part of the sea and the influence of horizontal advection. The Bornholm region is characterized by a warm layer (7-11°) observed in winter and summer. It is formed by warm waters coming here from the slightly warmer Arkona basin.
In winter, the water temperature is somewhat lower near the coast than in the open parts of the sea, while it is slightly higher near the western coast than near the eastern one. Thus, the average monthly water temperature in February near Ventspils is 0.7°, at the same latitude in the open sea - about 2°, and near the western coast - 1°.
Water temperature and salinity at the surface of the Baltic Sea in summer
Summer temperature surface water is not the same in different areas of the sea.
The decrease in temperature near the western coasts, in the central and southern regions is explained by the predominance of westerly winds, driving the surface layers of water from the western shores. Colder underlying waters rise to the surface. In addition, a cold current from the Gulf of Bothnia passes along the Swedish coast to the south.
Clearly pronounced seasonal changes in water temperature cover only the upper 50-60 m; deeper, the temperature changes very little. In the cold season, it remains approximately the same from the surface to the horizons of 50-60 m, and deeper it drops somewhat to the bottom.
Water temperature (°C) on a longitudinal section in the Baltic Sea
In the warm season, the increase in water temperature as a result of mixing extends to horizons of 20–30 m. From there, it abruptly decreases to horizons of 50–60 m and then again rises somewhat towards the bottom. The cold intermediate layer persists in summer, when the surface layer warms up and the thermocline is more pronounced than in spring.
Limited water exchange with the North Sea and significant river runoff result in low salinity. On the sea surface, it decreases from west to east, which is associated with the predominant flow of river waters into the eastern part of the Baltic. In the northern and central regions of the basin, salinity somewhat decreases from east to west, since in cyclonic circulation, saline waters are transported from south to northeast along the eastern coast of the sea further than along the western one. A decrease in surface salinity can also be traced from south to north, as well as in bays.
In the autumn-winter season, the salinity of the upper layers slightly increases due to a decrease in river runoff and salinization during ice formation. In spring and summer, salinity on the surface decreases by 0.2-0.5‰ compared to the cold half-year. This is explained by the desalination effect of continental runoff and the spring melting of ice. Almost throughout the sea, a significant increase in salinity from the surface to the bottom is noticeable.
For example, in the Bornholm Basin, salinity at the surface is 7‰ and about 20‰ at the bottom. The change in salinity with depth is basically the same throughout the sea, with the exception of the Gulf of Bothnia. In the southwestern and partly central regions of the sea, it gradually and slightly increases from the surface to horizons of 30-50 m, below, between 60-80 m, there is a sharp layer of a jump (halocline), deeper than which the salinity again slightly increases towards the bottom. In the central and northeastern parts, salinity increases very slowly from the surface to 70–80 m horizons; deeper, at 80–100 m horizons, there is a halo wedge, and then salinity slightly increases to the bottom. In the Gulf of Bothnia, salinity increases from the surface to the bottom by only 1-2‰.
In autumn-winter time, the flow of North Sea waters into the Baltic Sea increases, and in summer-autumn it somewhat decreases, which leads to an increase or decrease in the salinity of deep waters, respectively.
In addition to seasonal fluctuations in salinity, the Baltic Sea, unlike many seas of the World Ocean, is characterized by its significant interannual changes.
Observations of salinity in the Baltic Sea from the beginning of this century until recent years show that it tends to increase, against which short-term fluctuations appear. Changes in salinity in the basins of the sea are determined by the inflow of water through the Danish Straits, which in turn depends on hydrometeorological processes. These include, in particular, the variability of large-scale atmospheric circulation. The long-term weakening of cyclonic activity and the long-term development of anticyclonic conditions over Europe lead to a decrease in precipitation and, as a consequence, to a decrease in river runoff. Changes in salinity in the Baltic Sea are also associated with fluctuations in the values of continental runoff. With a large river flow, the level of the Baltic Sea slightly rises and the sewage flow from it intensifies, which in the shallow zone of the Danish Straits (the smallest depth here is 18 m) limits the access of salt water from the Kattegat to the Baltic. With a decrease in river flow, saline waters more freely penetrate into the sea. In this regard, fluctuations in the inflow of saline waters into the Baltic are in good agreement with changes in the water content of the rivers of the Baltic basin. IN last years an increase in salinity is noted not only in the bottom layers of the basins, but also in the upper horizons. At present, the salinity of the upper layer (20-40 m) has increased by 0.5‰ compared to the average long-term value.
Salinity (‰) on a longitudinal section in the Baltic Sea
Salinity variability in the Baltic Sea is one of the most important factors regulating many physical, chemical and biological processes. Due to the low salinity of the surface waters of the sea, their density is also low and decreases from south to north, varying slightly from season to season. Density increases with depth. In the areas of distribution of saline Kattegat waters, especially in basins at the horizons of 50-70 m, a constant layer of a density jump (pycnocline) is created. Above it, in the surface horizons (20-30 m), a seasonal layer of large vertical density gradients is formed, due to a sharp change in water temperature at these horizons.
Water circulation and currents
In the Gulf of Bothnia and in the shallow water area adjacent to it, a density jump is observed only in the upper (20-30 m) layer, where it is formed in spring due to freshening by river runoff, and in summer due to heating of the surface layer of the sea. A permanent lower layer of the density jump is not formed in these parts of the sea, since deep saline waters do not penetrate here and year-round stratification of waters does not exist here.
Water circulation in the Baltic Sea
The vertical distribution of oceanological characteristics in the Baltic Sea shows that in the southern and central regions the sea is divided by a density jump layer into upper (0-70 m) and lower (from 70 m to the bottom) layers. In late summer - early autumn, when weak winds prevail over the sea, wind mixing extends to horizons of 10-15 m in the northern part of the sea and to horizons of 5-10 m in the central and southern parts and serves as the main factor in the formation of the upper homogeneous layer. During autumn and winter, with an increase in wind speeds over the sea, mixing penetrates to horizons of 20–30 m in the central and southern regions, and up to 10–15 m in the east, since relatively weak winds blow here. As autumn cooling intensifies (October - November), the intensity of convective mixing increases. During these months, in the central and southern regions of the sea, in the Arkon, Gotland and Bornholm depressions, it covers a layer from the surface up to about 50-60 m. ) and is limited by the density jump layer. In the northern part of the sea, in the Gulf of Bothnia and in the west of the Gulf of Finland, where autumn cooling is more significant than in other areas, convection penetrates to horizons of 60-70 m.
The renewal of deep waters, the sea occurs mainly due to the inflow of the Kattegat waters. With their active inflow, the deep and bottom layers of the Baltic Sea are well ventilated, and with small amounts of salt water flowing into the sea at great depths, stagnation occurs in the depressions up to the formation of hydrogen sulfide.
The strongest wind waves are observed in autumn and winter in open, deep areas of the sea during prolonged and strong southwest winds. Storm 7-8-point winds develop waves up to 5-6 m high and 50-70 m long. In the Gulf of Finland, strong winds of these directions form waves 3-4 m high. In the Gulf of Bothnia, storm waves reach a height of 4-5 m. big waves come in November. In winter, with stronger winds, the formation of high and long waves is prevented by ice.
As in other seas of the northern hemisphere, the surface circulation of the Baltic Sea has a general cyclonic character. surface currents are formed in the northern part of the sea as a result of the confluence of waters leaving the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland. The general flow is directed along the Scandinavian coast to the southwest. Going around on both sides about. Bornholm, he is heading through the Danish Straits to the North Sea. At south coast the current is directed to the east. Near the Gulf of Gdansk, it turns north and moves along the eastern coast to about. Khnum. Here it branches into three streams. One of them goes through the Irben Strait to the Gulf of Riga, where, together with the waters of the Daugava, it creates a circular current directed counterclockwise. Another stream enters the Gulf of Finland and along its southern coast extends almost to the mouth of the Neva, then turns to the north-west and, moving along the northern coast, leaves the bay together with river waters. The third flow goes to the north and through the straits of the Aland skerries penetrates into the Gulf of Bothnia. Here, along the Finnish coast, the current rises to the north, goes around the northern coast of the bay and descends to the south along the coast of Sweden. In the central part of the bay, there is a closed circular counterclockwise current.
The speed of the permanent currents of the Baltic Sea is very low and is approximately 3-4 cm/s. Sometimes it increases to 10-15 cm/s. The current pattern is very unstable and is often disturbed by the wind.
The prevailing wind currents in the sea are especially intense in autumn and winter, and during strong storms their speed can reach 100-150 cm/s.
Deep circulation in the Baltic Sea is determined by the flow of water through the Danish straits. The inlet current in them usually passes to horizons of 10-15 m. Then this water, being denser, descends into the underlying layers and is slowly transported by the deep current, first to the east and then to the north. With strong westerly winds, water from the Kattegat flows into the Baltic Sea almost along the entire cross section of the straits. Eastern winds, on the contrary, intensify the outlet current, which extends to the horizons of 20 m, and the inlet current remains only near the bottom.
Due to the high degree of isolation from the World Ocean, the tides in the Baltic Sea are almost invisible. Fluctuations in the level of the tidal character in individual points do not exceed 10-20 cm. The average sea level experiences secular, long-term, inter-annual and intra-annual fluctuations. They can be associated with a change in the volume of water in the sea as a whole and then have the same value for any point in the sea. The secular level fluctuations (except for changes in the volume of water in the sea) reflect the vertical movements of the shores. These movements are most noticeable in the north of the Gulf of Bothnia, where the rate of land rise reaches 0.90-0.95 cm/year, while in the south the rise is replaced by the sinking of the coast at a rate of 0.05-0.15 cm/year.
In the seasonal course of the Baltic Sea level, two minima and two maxima are clearly expressed. lowest level observed in spring. With the arrival of spring flood waters, it gradually rises, reaching a maximum in August or September. After that, the level goes down. The secondary autumn low is coming. With the development of intense cyclonic activity, westerly winds drive water through the straits into the sea, the level rises again and reaches a secondary, but less pronounced maximum in winter. The height difference between the summer maximum and the spring minimum is 22-28 cm. It is greater in the bays and less in the open sea.
Surge fluctuations in the level occur quite quickly and reach significant values. In open areas of the sea, they are approximately 0.5 m, and at the tops of bays and bays they are 1-1.5 and even 2 m. -26 h. Level changes associated with seiches do not exceed 20-30 cm in the open part of the sea and reach 1.5 m in the Neva Bay. Complex seiche level fluctuations are one of the characteristic features regime of the Baltic Sea.
The catastrophic St. Petersburg floods are connected with sea level fluctuations. They occur when the level rise is due to the simultaneous action of several factors. Cyclones that cross the Baltic Sea from the southwest to the northeast cause winds that drive water from the western regions of the sea and overtake it into the northeastern part of the Gulf of Finland, where the sea level rises. Passing cyclones also cause seiche fluctuations in the level, at which the level rises in the Aland region. From here, a free seiche wave, driven by western winds, enters the Gulf of Finland and, together with the surge of water, causes a significant increase (up to 1-2 m and even 3-4 m) in the level at its top. This prevents the flow of the Neva water into the Gulf of Finland. The water level in the Neva is rapidly rising, which leads to floods, including catastrophic ones.
ice coverage
The Baltic Sea is covered with ice in some areas. The earliest (around the beginning of November) ice forms in the northeastern part of the Gulf of Bothnia, in small bays and off the coast. Then the shallow areas of the Gulf of Finland begin to freeze. The maximum development of the ice cover reaches in early March. By this time, motionless ice occupies the northern part of the Gulf of Bothnia, the region of the Aland skerries and the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland. Floating ice occurs in the open areas of the northeastern part of the sea.
The spread of motionless and floating ice in the Baltic Sea depends on the severity of the winter. Moreover, in mild winters, ice, having appeared, may completely disappear, and then appear again. IN harsh winters thickness still ice reaches 1 m, and floating ice - 40-60 cm.
Melting begins in late March - early April. Liberation of the sea ice is coming from southwest to northeast.
Only in severe winters in the north of the Gulf of Bothnia, ice can be found in June. However, the sea is cleared of ice every year.
Economic importance
In the significantly freshened waters of the bays of the Baltic Sea live freshwater species fish: crucian carp, bream, chub, pike, etc. There are also fish that spend only part of their lives in fresh waters, the rest of the time they live in the salty waters of the sea. These are now rare Baltic whitefish, typical inhabitants of the cold and clean lakes of Karelia and Siberia.
A particularly valuable fish is the Baltic salmon (salmon), which forms an isolated herd here. The main habitats of salmon are the rivers of the Gulf of Bothnia, the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Riga. She spends the first two or three years of her life mainly in the southern part of the Baltic Sea, and then goes to spawn in the rivers.
Purely marine fish species are common in the central regions of the Baltic, where salinity is relatively high, although some of them also enter fairly fresh bays. For example, herring lives in the Gulf of Finland and Riga. More saltwater fish - Baltic cod - do not enter the fresh and warm bays. Eel is a unique species.
In fishing, the main place is occupied by herring, sprat, cod, river flounder, smelt, perch and different kinds freshwater fish.
The Baltic Sea is truly an amazing place. Perhaps everyone who has already been lucky enough to visit its shores will agree with this statement. There is everything that a modern person needs. Romantics will discover amazing sunsets and sunrises, businessmen understand how profitable its ports can be in terms of cargo transportation, and travelers tired of the eternal bustle will surely be surprised by the spaciousness and special peace.
Among other things, the bays of the Baltic Sea have become a habitat for a huge number of marine animals and birds, and this automatically means that its role in the planet's ecosystem is generally difficult to overestimate.
This article will tell in more detail about all the nuances of this part of the oceans. The reader will receive valuable information not only about where the Baltic Sea is located, but also about its characteristic features. It will also indicate valid reasons why you should choose this direction as your holiday destination next year.
general information
The Baltic Sea has a very peculiar shape and is located in the very north of Europe. This inland marginal surface of the World Ocean is surrounded on almost all sides by land and protrudes quite far into the northwestern part of Eurasia.
Only in the southwestern part through the Danish straits (Eressun (Sund), Great Belt and Small Belt) does it have access to the North Sea through the Kattegat and Skagerrak straits.
The lines of maritime boundaries with the Sound Strait pass through the Stevne lighthouse and Cape Falstersbuudde, with the Great Belt Strait - Cape Gulyetav, Klint and Kappel (Lolland Island), and with the Small Belt Strait - Cape Falschert, Cape Weisnes and Nakke (about . Eryo).
The Baltic Sea, the rest on which is considered one of the most pleasant in the Russian Federation, belongs to the Atlantic Ocean basin.
Not everyone knows that in terms of salt content it is the most freshwater of all. This is due, first of all, to the fact that forty rivers with fresh water flow into it. The coast of the Baltic Sea differs in shape and structure. - It has a shallow depth, and its bottom is quite uneven.
All this indicates that this part of the world ocean is located within the boundaries of the continental shelf.
Geographic features
In Ancient Russia, the sea was called Varangian (from the Varangians) or Svebskoe (Sveiskoe) - this is how the Swedes were called during the Middle Ages. In chronicle sources Ancient Greece and Rome, the Baltic island is found, and in Western European writings of the 11th century. the Baltic Sea is mentioned. But the basis of this name can be both Lithuanian baltas and Latvian balts, meaning the white color of the sandy shores.
In the XVIII century. the sea was already nicknamed the Baltic, but now it is commonly known as the Baltic Sea. However, the semantic meaning of this name has not yet been determined.
The water area occupies almost 420.0 thousand square meters. km, which almost corresponds to the size of the Black Sea (422.0 thousand sq. km). The volume of water in the sea is about 22.0 thousand cubic km.
The total length of the coast is 7 thousand km. The shores of the Baltic Sea are available in such states as Sweden, Finland, Russia, Poland, Germany and Denmark. The Russian Federation owns almost 500 km of the coastline located in the northwestern part of Europe.
The list of large islands includes: Gotland, Bornholm, Rügen, Oland, Wolin, Saaremaa and Alandia. Main river systems flowing into the water area are the Neva, Neman, Narva, Pregolya, Vistula and Oder.
The Baltic Sea, a photo of which can be found in almost every publication dedicated to the water surface of our planet, is known for its features.
Its ecosystem is considered very vulnerable, due to some natural factors.
This is a shallow inland sea, separated from the Atlantic by the Scandinavian Peninsula and connected to the ocean by narrow and shallow straits that prevent free water exchange between the two basins. It takes about 20-40 years for the complete renewal of water.
The coastline is heavily indented and forms many bays. The largest bays of the Baltic are Riga, Botanichesky, Finnish and Curonian. The latter is a freshwater bay-lagoon separated from the sea by the Curonian Spit.
The eastern part of the Gulf of Finland was named the Neva Bay. By the way, in the north-east of the bay, on the Russian-Finnish border, there is a similar Vyborgsky. The Saimaa Canal opens here, which is the most important transport route. The north coast is protected by high rocky shores and narrow winding bays. The central transit ports of the Baltic are Hamburg (Germany) and St. Petersburg (Russia), which have access to the sea and serve as the sea gates of Europe and Russia.
Bottom relief
Not everyone knows that the Baltic Sea, where rest has already become quite familiar for many, has a very complex and uneven bottom topography. In the southern part it is flat, in the north it is uneven and rocky.
The coast of the Baltic Sea is covered with bottom sediments, among which sand prevails. But most of the bottom consists of bottom sediments of green, black and brown clayey silt of glacial origin.
The sea goes deep into the land and is located within the continental shelf. The average depth of the pool is about 51 meters. Near the islands and on the shallows, there is a zone of shallow water up to 12 meters deep. At the bottom there are several basins with a depth of up to 200 meters. The largest is the Landsort Depression (470 m.)
Climatic conditions of the Baltic
Due to geographical features, the climate of the Baltic is not severe and is close to the conditions of temperate latitudes. Many complain that, they say, the Baltic Sea is cold, however, this is nothing more than a delusion.
In general, there is also some similarity with the climate of the continental type. The Siberian and Azov anticyclones and the Icelandic low have a great influence on local weather conditions. The seasonal features of the climate of the Baltic Sea depend on this.
Windy and cloudy weather is typical for autumn and winter. The coldest months are January and February. In the central part of the Baltic, it drops to an average of 3°C below zero, in the north and east - to 8°C below zero. The temperature in the Baltic Sea at this time of the year approaches -3-5 C. Occasionally, under the influence of the Arctic masses, the air can cool down to 35 degrees below zero.
In the spring and summer, the winds weaken. Spring is cool. Northerly winds, which bring colder air, have a great influence on the climate. With the onset of heat, moderate western and northwestern winds predominantly blow. Therefore, summer is mostly cool and humid. The average temperature in July in the Botanical Bay rises to 14-15°C, in other areas of the sea - 16-18°C. Hot weather is rare and only during the period of incoming Mediterranean air masses.
The water in the Baltic Sea (temperature and salinity) depends on the part. In winter, it is warmer in the open sea than off the coast. During the summer the most low temperature- near the western shores in the central and southern strip of the sea. Such fluctuations west coast are associated with the movement of warm upper layers of water by western winds and their replacement by colder deep waters.
local flora
It should be noted that the Baltic and North Sea in general, they can boast of a variety of flora.
The main part of the underwater flora consists of representatives of the Atlantic species, which live mainly in the southern and southwestern parts of the Baltic Sea.
The flora includes various types of algae, among which are peridine, cyanide, planktonic diatoms, benthic brown algae (kelp, fucus, ectocarpus and pilayella), red algae (rhodomela, polysiphonia and phyllophora), as well as blue-green algae.
Fauna of the Baltic Sea
It's no secret that both winter and summer water temperatures in the Baltic Sea hardly contribute to the appearance of a huge number of marine life.
The local fauna is represented by three groups of animals and fish, different in their origin.
The first includes representatives of the brackish-water arctic species, which belonged to the descendants of the ancient Arctic Ocean. One of the inhabitants of this group is the Baltic seal.
The second consists of commercial fish (herring, cod, sprat and flounder). They also include valuable species such as salmon and eel.
The third group includes freshwater species, distributed mainly in the desalinated waters of the Botanical and Finnish Gulfs, but also found in salt water bodies (freshwater rotifers).
Fisheries freshwater fish are zander, pike, bream, roach and perch. It should be noted that the water temperature in the Baltic Sea allows fishing almost throughout the entire calendar year. This has a beneficial effect on the budget of countries and regions located on its territory.
Baltic Sea. Economic importance
Due to the natural conditions, the waters of the Baltic have an important economic importance. Their biological resources are of great value and are widely used by man.
The sea is home to many species of flora and fauna that serve for fishing activities. For example, the temperature of the water in the Baltic Sea favors the active reproduction of Baltic herring, which occupies a special place in the fishery.
Also here is the catch of sprat, salmon, smelt, lamprey, cod and eel. The bays of the Baltic Sea are famous for the extraction of various algae.
To date, a new direction has appeared for the development of mariculture, which is a promising industry for fish production. Marine farms are being created for the artificial breeding of various commercial species fish, etc. Fortunately, the temperature of the Baltic Sea in Kaliningrad and other coastal cities, as mentioned above, allows sailors to go to sea at almost any time of the year.
Local shores are rich in coastal-marine placers of minerals. IN Kaliningrad region For example, developments are currently underway for underwater mining of amber contained in alluvial deposits. The Baltic Sea (Russia) is also being studied for development oil fields found in the thickness seabed. Iron-manganese formations were also found.
The Baltic Sea, whose temperature even in summer rarely rises above +17 C, plays an important role in the transport and economic relations between the countries of Europe, carrying out shipping.
Thanks to the developed sea and river communications, large cargo and passenger transportations are actively taking place.
The water temperature of the Baltic Sea and the main recreational resources of the region
The favorable conditions of this area have long been used by man for recreational purposes.
The mild climate, sandy beaches and pine forests attract a large number of tourists. Cruise routes operate on the sea all year round, and in the warm season people come for rest and treatment.
During the Soviet period, the USSR owned about 25% of the coast of the Baltic Sea. As a result of its collapse, the length of the coast has decreased to 7%, and now only 500 km belong to Russia. After such a sharp reduction in territories, the role of recreational resources has increased significantly. Every year, a huge number of vacationers go to the Baltic Sea. - Kaliningrad, St. Petersburg, Nida, Svetlogorsk and other cities of the Russian Federation never lack tourists.
In the western part of Sosnovy Bor there is an almost untouched coastal strip of sandy beaches. Sea water here is much cleaner than in the resorts of Jurmala. In the future, these places can be used as resorts and sanatoriums, which will become no less popular than, for example, Ust-Narva.
Unfortunately, rest on the Baltic Sea is fraught with some difficulties. The thing is that the possibilities of sea beach pastime are significantly influenced by various environmental problems characteristic of coastal zones.
For this reason, many beaches in the summer season become unsuitable for swimming and close. Although for a huge number of vacationers, a vacation on the Baltic Sea is not only a chance to swim or sunbathe. Many go here for the purest air and breathtaking scenery.
Svetlovodsk and Zelenogradsk - the best Russian resorts
The main resort towns on this coast of Russia are Svetlogorsk and Zelenogradsk.
Despite the fact that the Baltic Sea, the photo of which can be found in almost all prospectuses dedicated to recreational resources our country is northern and the water does not get very warm, many people prefer to spend time on the beach.
The weather in summer is sunny and the water can reach temperatures up to 20 degrees Celsius, which is quite favorable for taking such invigorating and relaxing sunbathing. If passive pastime is the purpose of your vacation, you should not choose for these purposes big cities For example, Kaliningrad. The Baltic Sea, whose water temperature ranges from +17 to +18 C in summer, is unlikely to please you. Experienced travelers are advised to give preference to more modest settlements
Some of them are worth discussing in more detail.
Svetlogorsk is the most famous resort. Beach with fine sand, clean and well maintained. For the convenience of vacationers, the necessary beach equipment is provided - umbrellas and sunbeds. There are many cafes and souvenir shops on the city promenade. The only drawback is a large number of people, both on the main street and on the beach. Important role when choosing a place to stay, the level of prices for hotel and excursion services, transport services, cafes, etc. plays a role.
The cost of a taxi in the city is about 100 rubles, delivery to or from the airport - up to 850 rubles, a trip to Kaliningrad - within 600 rubles. Most a budget option- buses and trains. Directions to public transport to Zelenogradsk will cost 50.00-100.00 rubles. The average cost of apartments in hotels in Svetlogorsk is about 2000.00-2500.00 rubles per day. Rates for accommodation in rooms range from 1500.00-5000.00 rubles per day. There are many cafes in the resort where you can have a cheap meal (400.00-800.00 rubles for two).
Prices on excursion trips depend on the route and program (500.00-1500.00 rubles per person). Small souvenirs for relatives and friends will cost between 100.00-150.00 rubles, and branded amber products can cost more than 1000.00 rubles.
Another equally popular resort is Zelenogradsk, the advantage of which is more calm atmosphere, the absence of a large tourist flow and a convenient location from the regional center. There are good transport links. The city attracts visitors with its architecture and winding streets. Along the coast there is a new spacious promenade where you can walk and spend time with family or friends.
Unlike Svetlogorsk, prices in hotels and hotels are quite reasonable, while the service is at a high level. You can find housing in the private sector near the sea. In many hotels, when ordering rooms, an advance payment of up to 25% of the accommodation cost is provided, which must be transferred by bank transfer. On the promenade next to the sea, there are many cafes and restaurants where you can have a tasty and inexpensive meal. The beach in the city is sandy, long and well-groomed.
The seashore is comfortable, with a gentle entrance and shallow depth.
Five reasons to go to the Baltic Sea
With the advent of summer, many tend to spend their holidays in the south or in exotic countries where there is a lot of sun, warm sea and hot sand. But there are those who prefer the beauty of northern nature and the amber shores of the Baltic, pine forests and sand dunes. Of course, the Baltic coast cannot be compared with the popular resorts of Turkey and Spain, but even here rest has its advantages.
1.Convenient location
The proximity of the Baltic Sea resorts will allow you to avoid long flights and high vacation costs. Especially if you are traveling with small children. For example, a plane flight in the direction of Moscow-Riga takes only about two hours, and the ticket price will be from 9700.00 rubles. From Riga by car in 30-40 minutes you can easily reach Jurmala. It is worth noting that it is not necessary to choose the Baltic resorts located outside of Russia and go to Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia or Germany, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. You can have a great rest in the Kaliningrad region of Russia at the resorts of Svetlogorsk or Zelenogradsk. For such a trip, visa documents are not required, which is an additional plus.
2. Affordable vacation prices
Unlike the southern resorts, spending time on the Baltic Sea involves housing at very affordable prices.
For example, apartments in hotels in Palanga (Lithuania) cost from 1200.00 rubles per day. For this cost, a comfortable room with all amenities and close to the sea will be provided.
Accommodation in hotels in Jurmala (Latvia) will cost from about 1800.00 rubles per night. At the Estonian resort in Pärnu - from 1450.00 rubles per night.
And in the Latvian capital Riga, you can find hotels from 220.00 rubles per day.
3. Lack of acclimatization
It is usually hot in popular resorts in the summer season, and the air warms up above 35 degrees Celsius. Just for lovers of comfort and coolness, the Baltic Sea is suitable. Kaliningrad, where the air temperature stays at +22+24 for almost the entire summer, is always glad to see guests.
As you know, exhausting heat exhausts a person and in most cases it takes time to acclimatize. The Baltic climate is warm and temperate. These places are great for relaxing family vacation with small children.
4. Favorable conditions for recovery
The waters of the Baltic are known for their beneficial properties and are saturated with mineral salts, while the shores are rich in mineral springs and deposits of peat mud, which are used to improve the body. And also unique natural conditions: clean air with the aroma of pines, freshness sea breeze and gentle sand at the seaside. You can relax and improve your health in sanatoriums, mud baths and mineral springs. Especially popular are the sanatorium complexes of Kołobrzeg in Poland.
5. Natural beauty Baltic coast
Resorts southern countries are notable for their tropical splendor, fun and incendiary discos and parties. But the northern nature of the amber region also has its own unique charm.
Everything is different here: a pleasant climate, picturesque landscapes, coniferous forests and sand dunes. And walking along the coast after a storm, you can find sunny pieces of amber - an unusual and mysterious stone.
The cities of the Baltic coast have preserved the atmosphere of antiquity and cozy quiet streets. There are many natural and historical attractions.
The Baltic Sea is one of those that washes the borders of our homeland. It has long been associated with the North, inflexibility and inflexibility. No wonder in the old days it was called Varangian. It occupies an area of 386 thousand square kilometers, deeply digging into the land and connecting with the Atlantic Ocean through the North Sea only through narrow straits - Øresund, Greater and Lesser Belts, Kattegat.
But despite all the seeming severity, the Baltic Sea remains favorite place recreation for many Russians, residents of the Baltic countries, Finland, Sweden. The main secret is simple - you just need to know what water temperature prevails in one or another time of the year.
The main resorts of this coast are Narva, Jurmala, Sestroretsk, Zelenogradsk, Sopot. Many tourists come here every year to improve their health and relax on the sea coast. The water temperature in the Baltic Sea, of course, is not as high as in the Black, Mediterranean or, even more so, in the Red Sea. However, even here there is the concept of a resort bathing season. It doesn't last long. Usually falls on summer months when the water temperature of the Baltic Sea can reach a record 24 degrees Celsius. Then it's the bathers' turn. Usually this is the period from June to the end of July. At all resorts, this time varies slightly, moreover, in some of them, the swimming period in the sea is no more than 4-5 days a year. The fact is that the Baltic Sea is shallow near the coast, and therefore cools quickly. But tourists can always enjoy the cool fresh air, sandy beaches and forests that surround the coast.
Among other things, the Baltic Sea is famous for its thalassotherapy, that is, the use of algae, water and sea mud for cosmetic and health purposes. This resort area is especially developed, since it is here that the temperature of the water in the Baltic Sea reaches its highest point - this place warms up well. The second such resort, as if intended for tourists, is a closed bay of the same name.
But in general, if you are going to visit the Baltic Sea, the water temperature in summer is from 10 to 17 degrees. So keep this in mind if you are planning your spa holiday program. But besides swimming, there is always something to do there. Excursions to the Curonian Spit, Jurmala, mud treatment in Pärnu are especially good in this regard. It is also worth noting that, due to the peculiarities of the climate in the Baltic Sea, there is such a natural phenomenon as the meeting of fresh and salt water. In the vicinity of the town of Skagen, in Denmark, the North and Baltic Seas join, forming a stunningly beautiful phenomenon of displacement of fresh and salt water by each other. The water temperature in the Baltic Sea in summer at this point does not exceed 9, but even the most sophisticated tourists should look at the struggle of the elements from the outside. Therefore, do not be afraid of the severity of the Baltic Sea, sometimes it is gentle and warm.