Summary
In Skagerrak and Kattegat, surface salinity was much lower than usual, which indicate a strong influence of outflowing Baltic water. The mapping of nutrients in the Kattegat showed small variations and overall normal concentrations. In the Baltic Proper the concentrations of phosphate and silicate were elevated in the Western Gotland basin. The oxygen concentrations in the bottom water in Hanö Bight and the Bornholm basin had decreased to acute hypoxia. Oxygen free conditions, anoxia, were found from 90 – 100 meters depth and acute hypoxia from 70 – 90 meters depth in the Western, Northern and Eastern Gotland Basins. The phytoplankton activity was low in the whole investigated area.