The Baltic Sea is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located in northern Europe between Denmark, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Kaliningrad, Russia, Sweden and the North Sea. It connects with the Atlantic Ocean through the Kattegat Strait and connects to the North Sea via the busy Skagerrak Strait.

The Baltic Sea is the largest brackish (not completely salty) sea in the world, with an area of 420,000 square kilometers (161,000 square miles). It has almost 7,700 kilometers (4,800 miles) of coastline. In addition to countries bordering the sea, the region includes several islands, including Gotland Island in Sweden, and Bornholm and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Germany. A number of important and busy ports are located around the Baltic Sea, such as the Port of Kiel, Gdansk, the Port of Stockholm, and the Port of Helsinki.

The Baltic Sea is a semi-enclosed basin where the physical and chemical properties of the water are defined by the influx of rivers from Northern European countries such as Sweden and Poland, as well as other runoff from the adjacent land. The Baltic Sea also receives freshwater from precipitation. Due to its limited surface area, the Baltic Sea has a high input of freshwater relative to the amount of water exchanged with the North Sea. This means that, compared to other seas, the Baltic Sea has a relatively low salt concentration.

Forcings and Processes in the Baltic Sea

The Baltic Sea is shaped like an inverted comma and is divided by a number of bottlenecks. The only water exchange is via freshwater runoff, an inflow of dry deposits and precipitation, and outflow through the Øresund strait. Due to these characteristics, the sea has a large climate system and the sea surface temperature is greatly affected by the surrounding land. In winter, the sea surface temperature is generally colder than other parts of the ocean, and in summer, the sea surface temperatures are usually warmer and more stable.

The surface properties of the Baltic Sea are further affected by water circulation patterns, tides, river inflows, wind-driven currents, and eddies. The circulation of the Baltic Sea is heavily influenced by wind and results in the formation of surface currents, circulation cells and strong-density fronts. These characteristics create a wide variety of habitats in the Baltic Sea, ranging from shallow coastal lagoons to parts of the deep sea far from the land.

Pollution in the Baltic Sea

The Baltic Sea is a vulnerable environment and is particularly prone to pollution because of its semi-enclosed nature. Pollution comes from several sources, including runoff from agricultural, urban and industrial areas, oil spills, shipping, and aquaculture activities. Large quantities of highly toxic chemicals such as phosphorus, nitrogen, and mercury have been deposited in the Baltic Sea, leading to severe eutrophication and degradation of the quality of the water. In addition, overfishing has depleted fish stocks and endangered the fishing industry in the region.

The countries in the Baltic catchment area have taken a number of steps to reduce and control the pollution of the Baltic Sea, including the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) which was established to coordinate the efforts of countries bordering the Baltic Sea. To this end, HELCOM has developed a number of protocols, such as the Baltic Sea Action Plan and the Nitrogen Load Reduction Protocol, to reduce pollution in the region.

Medieval History of the Baltic Sea

The Baltic Sea has a rich and ancient history, as evidenced by archaeological remains and artifacts found in the region. During medieval times, the north of the sea was a center of trade and naval power, as the Vikings and East Slavs used the sea as a trading route. Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, religious wars became commonplace in the region, with Baltic ports becoming a hub of international trade.

During the 19th century, the sea became a major site of economic and maritime expansion by several countries, most notably Russia, Germany and Sweden, which maintained powerful navies in the region. The area was also a part of the European Entente during World War I and became a major scene of naval conflict during World War II.

Conclusion

The Baltic Sea is a unique environment, characterized by its low salinity, high runoff rate and vulnerability to pollution. It has a long history and has played an important role in Europe’s economic, maritime, and political development. A number of initiatives have been taken to reduce the pollution of the Baltic Sea, resulting in a gradual improvement in the quality of its water. Despite its current issues, the Baltic Sea remains an important part of the world’s environment and its rich history makes it an interesting place for tourists, scientists and historians alike.