Wave services merge in Finnish Meteorological Institute online services

Previously the web pages have had current information about waves in the Baltic at two different addresses. The Wave height page had compiled observations from wave buoys and a three-day forecast. The Wave forecast page previously had maps with wave forecasts for the entire Baltic Sea and for the Archipelago Sea. Now the contents of both pages can be found at a single address en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/wave-height All the information is also available on the new page. The usage of the map products has been updated but otherwise the changes are modest. The old addresses will automatically take you to the new pages.

How do we measure waves?

Wave buoys are used for measuring wave height. In addition to wave height, the buoys record the direction and period of the waves, as well as the water temperature. The most common features reported from the waves are the significant wave height, which corresponds to the wave height as experienced in practice. The highest waves are nearly twice the size of the significant wave height. Wave measurements are recorded from five wave buoys. In wintertime, the wave buoys are removed from the sea to keep them from getting stuck in the ice. That´s why there are not so many observations during winter.

More information

Anni Jokiniemi Oceanographic Services Tel 029 539 6436 anni.jokiniemi@fmi.fi On the Marine weather map you will still be able to find wave observations and wave forecasts. Observations of wave height are also available at Download observations as well as the open data of the Finnish Meteorological Institute.