Search

SMHI's oceanographers use a number of oceanographic models. Some of the operational models are listed here together with the models that are being developed by SMHI’s research department. An operational model is one that is run regularly as part of the daily forecasting routine.

Wave measurements have been made by SMHI since 1978. For many years the instruments used were placed on the sea floor and worked like an upside-down echosounder. Some simple buoys were also used. More recently, advanced buoys have been used that can also measure wave direction.

Higher air pressure gives lower sea levels: an increase in air pressure of 1 hPa lowers the water level by 1 cm.

As well as the motion of the atmosphere and the sea, the earth's crust is also moving. During the most recent ice age the crust was pressed down as much as 300 m and in places is still on its way back up.

Human activity can lead to the over-fertilisation, or eutrophication, of the sea. This can be caused by fertilisers from farming, sewage emissions, or deforestation. The threats to the Baltic, the Skagerrak and the Kattegat do not however only come from Sweden.

The large north-south extent of Swedish waters leads to large temperature differences, and therefore also large differences in ice conditions.

SMHI has a long tradition of operational hydrological modelling including forecasts of water discharge, fire hazard, design of dams and dam regulation routines, flood risk, water quality and substance transport and the effects of climate change on hydrology and water quality.

M.Sc.

Surface water temperatures were normal in the Skagerrak, while it was above normal in the Kattegat and Baltic Proper. Nutrient levels in surface water were normal throughout the investigated area. In the main part of the Baltic Proper oxygen concentrations below 2 ml/l were observed at depths …

Climate effects may, in the long term, lead to a general rise in sea levels. Our assessments of future sea water levels are based on the best assumptions that can be made today, but still contain a measure of uncertainty since we do not know what the green house emissions will be in the future.