The winter stratification phenomenon and its consequences in the Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea
<p>Stratification plays an essential role in the marine ecosystem, with a shallow mixed layer being one of the preconditions for enhanced primary production in the ocean. In the Baltic Sea, the general understanding is that the upper mixed layer (UML) is well below the euphotic zone in winter....
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2020-12-01
|
| Series: | Ocean Science |
| Online Access: | https://os.copernicus.org/articles/16/1475/2020/os-16-1475-2020.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818566118405570560 |
|---|---|
| author | T. Liblik G. Väli I. Lips M.-J. Lilover V. Kikas J. Laanemets |
| author_facet | T. Liblik G. Väli I. Lips M.-J. Lilover V. Kikas J. Laanemets |
| author_sort | T. Liblik |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Stratification plays an essential role in the marine
ecosystem, with a shallow mixed layer being one of the preconditions for
enhanced primary production in the ocean. In the Baltic Sea, the general
understanding is that the upper mixed layer (UML) is well below the euphotic
zone in winter. In this study, we demonstrate that wintertime shallow
stratification is common in the Gulf of Finland and it forms at a depth
comparable to the euphotic zone in January–February. The onset
of restratification is likely associated with the annual cycle of westerly
winds, which ease off in late January–early February. Stratification is
first invoked along the northern coast by the westward advection of riverine
water forced by easterly winds and is expanded to the south when the
prevailing wind direction changes from an easterly to a westerly direction.
Haline stratification emerges approximately 1 month later in the southern
part of the gulf. Winter restratification can occur in the entire gulf and
also in the absence of ice; thus, it is a regular seasonal feature in the
area. Interannual variations in the wintertime UML correspond with
variations in the North Atlantic Oscillation. Chlorophyll <span class="inline-formula"><i>a</i></span> concentrations in
winter can be comparable to mid-summer; the limiting factor for
phytoplankton bloom in winter is likely insufficient solar radiation.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T01:49:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d1eb2f19f1394bc3b94faff6bda3e500 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1812-0784 1812-0792 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T01:49:39Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ocean Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-d1eb2f19f1394bc3b94faff6bda3e5002022-12-21T23:21:25ZengCopernicus PublicationsOcean Science1812-07841812-07922020-12-01161475149010.5194/os-16-1475-2020The winter stratification phenomenon and its consequences in the Gulf of Finland, Baltic SeaT. LiblikG. VäliI. LipsM.-J. LiloverV. KikasJ. Laanemets<p>Stratification plays an essential role in the marine ecosystem, with a shallow mixed layer being one of the preconditions for enhanced primary production in the ocean. In the Baltic Sea, the general understanding is that the upper mixed layer (UML) is well below the euphotic zone in winter. In this study, we demonstrate that wintertime shallow stratification is common in the Gulf of Finland and it forms at a depth comparable to the euphotic zone in January–February. The onset of restratification is likely associated with the annual cycle of westerly winds, which ease off in late January–early February. Stratification is first invoked along the northern coast by the westward advection of riverine water forced by easterly winds and is expanded to the south when the prevailing wind direction changes from an easterly to a westerly direction. Haline stratification emerges approximately 1 month later in the southern part of the gulf. Winter restratification can occur in the entire gulf and also in the absence of ice; thus, it is a regular seasonal feature in the area. Interannual variations in the wintertime UML correspond with variations in the North Atlantic Oscillation. Chlorophyll <span class="inline-formula"><i>a</i></span> concentrations in winter can be comparable to mid-summer; the limiting factor for phytoplankton bloom in winter is likely insufficient solar radiation.</p>https://os.copernicus.org/articles/16/1475/2020/os-16-1475-2020.pdf |
| spellingShingle | T. Liblik G. Väli I. Lips M.-J. Lilover V. Kikas J. Laanemets The winter stratification phenomenon and its consequences in the Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea Ocean Science |
| title | The winter stratification phenomenon and its consequences in the Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea |
| title_full | The winter stratification phenomenon and its consequences in the Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea |
| title_fullStr | The winter stratification phenomenon and its consequences in the Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea |
| title_full_unstemmed | The winter stratification phenomenon and its consequences in the Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea |
| title_short | The winter stratification phenomenon and its consequences in the Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea |
| title_sort | winter stratification phenomenon and its consequences in the gulf of finland baltic sea |
| url | https://os.copernicus.org/articles/16/1475/2020/os-16-1475-2020.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tliblik thewinterstratificationphenomenonanditsconsequencesinthegulfoffinlandbalticsea AT gvali thewinterstratificationphenomenonanditsconsequencesinthegulfoffinlandbalticsea AT ilips thewinterstratificationphenomenonanditsconsequencesinthegulfoffinlandbalticsea AT mjlilover thewinterstratificationphenomenonanditsconsequencesinthegulfoffinlandbalticsea AT vkikas thewinterstratificationphenomenonanditsconsequencesinthegulfoffinlandbalticsea AT jlaanemets thewinterstratificationphenomenonanditsconsequencesinthegulfoffinlandbalticsea AT tliblik winterstratificationphenomenonanditsconsequencesinthegulfoffinlandbalticsea AT gvali winterstratificationphenomenonanditsconsequencesinthegulfoffinlandbalticsea AT ilips winterstratificationphenomenonanditsconsequencesinthegulfoffinlandbalticsea AT mjlilover winterstratificationphenomenonanditsconsequencesinthegulfoffinlandbalticsea AT vkikas winterstratificationphenomenonanditsconsequencesinthegulfoffinlandbalticsea AT jlaanemets winterstratificationphenomenonanditsconsequencesinthegulfoffinlandbalticsea |