The Baltic Sea today

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Abstract
The Baltic Sea receives many different pollutants and the quantities are continually increasing. Special topographical and hydrographical features due to the fiord‐nature of the sea, a marked halocline, especially in the Baltic proper, and temporary thermoclines, restrict the water exchange with the sea outside as well as between the upper and lower water layers. This makes the Baltic very sensitive to pollution and many coastal areas are seriously affected. Toxic substances have been shown to accumulate also in animals from the open sea and the oxygen deficiency conditions which occur in the deeper water layers may partly be due to the discharge of nutrients from land. These nutrients stimulate the productivity of the upper water layers; this is followed by an oxygen uptake from the deeper layers when sinking organic matter undergoes degradation.

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