Abstract
Circulation plays an essential role in the creation of physical and biogeochemical fluxes in the Baltic Sea. The main aim of the work was to study the quasi-steady circulation patterns under prevailing forcing conditions. Six months of continuous vertical profiling and fixed-point measurements of currents, two monthly underwater glider surveys, and numerical modelling were applied in the central Baltic Sea. The vertical structure of currents was strongly linked to the location of the two pycnoclines: the seasonal thermocline and the halocline. The vertical movements of pycnoclines and velocity shear maxima were synchronous. The quasi-steady circulation patterns were in geostrophic balance and high-persistent. The persistent patterns included circulation features such as upwelling, downwelling, boundary current, and sub-halocline gravity current. The patterns had a prevailing zonal scale of 5–60 km and considerably higher magnitude and different direction than the long-term mean circulation pattern. Northward (southward) geostrophic boundary current in the upper layer was observed along the eastern coast of the central Baltic in the case of southwesterly (northerly) wind. The geostrophic current at the boundary was often a consequence of wind-driven, across-shore advection. The sub-halocline quasi-permanent gravity current with a width of 10–30 km from the Gotland Deep to the north over the narrow sill separating the Farö Deep and Northern Deep was detected in the simulation, and it was confirmed by an Argo float trajectory. According to the simulation, a strong flow, mostly to the north, with a zonal scale of 5 km occurred at the sill. This current is an important deeper limb of the overturning circulation of the Baltic Sea. The current is stronger with northerly winds and restricted by the southwesterly winds. The circulation regime has an annual cycle due to seasonality in the forcing. Boundary currents are stronger and more frequently northward during the winter period. The sub-halocline current towards the north is strongest in March–May and weakest in November–December.
Highlights
Current structure is an important player in the physical and biogeochemical fluxes in ocean
We demonstrated the importance of wind forcing and stratification for the currents
Boundary current was observed in the upper layer along the eastern coast of the Baltic
Summary
Current structure is an important player in the physical and biogeochemical fluxes in ocean. The semienclosed, shallow, brackish Baltic Sea has a strong but variable vertical stratification characterized by two pycnoclines: the permanent halocline and the seasonal thermocline (Leppäranta & Myrberg, 2009). Three-layer structure occurs in summer and consists of warm and fresh upper mixed layer, cold and saltier intermediate layer, and warmer and saltiest deep layer. Water column is mixed up to the permanent halocline at 60–80 m depth and cold intermediate water forms during winters. Stratification through the two pycnoclines impedes vertical mixing, and transport of substances between the layers is limited. The role of tides is marginal in the Baltic Sea. Lateral flows play an important role in distributing the water properties
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