Search

Over the recent years, scientific research has shown that various parameters such as water temperature, salinity, river runoff, sea level, etc, have been changing. The main two reasons for the changes are the Baltic Sea natural variability and human impact on climate change which affect the climate of the Baltic Sea; also, this is one of the fundamental subjects of climate change debate. This paper investigates the sea temperature and salinity change in 1960--2009 in the Baltic Proper. For the observation period, an increase in water temperature and a decreasing trend for water salinity were established. A comparison of the surface and bottom water temperature and salinity change cycles has shown that the cycles of temperature and salinity changes are better expressed at the bottom than on the surface and last 12 to 30 years. The cycle of sea bottom salinity change, like on the surface, lasts 40 years or more. The study has revealed weak or very wear links between the traditional seasonal (winter, spring, summer, autumn) and annual NAO, AO indices and the mean annual sea water temperature and salinity data in the Baltic Sea. Moderate negative correlational relationships have been established between the extended winter season (December--March), the NAO, AO indices and the bottom water salinity in the Baltic Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]