This year, water equivalent to almost two Lake Vänerns has been pushed out of the Baltic Sea. At the same time, the record low water level offers some hope for the oxygen-depleted seabed of the inland sea. ‘But it would be a bit like winning five Triss lottery tickets in a row,’ says Jörgen Öberg, oceanographer at SMHI.
The Baltic Sea is grappling with a severe ecological crisis primarily marked by oxygen depletion, leading to extensive dead zones. Human activities, including industrial processes and nutrient-rich agricultural runoff, have fueled the growth of algae, contributing to oxygen-starved conditions. These anoxic zones threaten marine life, disrupting ecosystems and fisheries.
