Author(s)

M. Hongisto

Abstract

On the significance of the atmospheric deposition to the eutrophication of the Baltic Sea M. Hongisto Finnish Meteorological Institute, Finland Abstract A 3D model based estimate of the atmospheric nutrient load (AL) to the Baltic Sea (BS) is compared to othe, external and internal load sources. The eutrophication state of the Baltic Sea, nutrient deposition and it's importance, factors affecting to the time variability of the load and uncertainties in 3D modelling are discussed. 1 Introduction The Baltic Sea is a young, semi-closed brackish water basin with a relatively small volume (around 22 000 km3) and a long (30-50 years) residence time for its water. It is very shallow, being on average 55 m in depth. The Baltic Sea Basin got its present form after the last Ice Age, when the sea level rose from -120 m of the present level and the Atlantic connection opened around 8500-7000 years ago. By comparison, the average depth of the Mediterranean is over 1.5 km, and it's age is around 5 million

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