Sea statistics

Finnish Meteorological Institute observes the Baltic Sea especially on the Finnish sea areas. Until 2008 the observations were done by the Finnish Institute of Marine Research that was split to the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the Finnish Environment Institute.

Measuring in a marine environment is challenging because the circumstances are tough to the instruments. The transportation, installation and data transportation often has to be done in the middle of the sea. In addition, ice may cause extra problems. That´s why oceanographic observations are not as widely available as weather observations from the land areas.

Records measured in Finnish sea areas

• Highest sea level: +201 cm referenced to the theoretical mean water in Kemi, 22.9.1982.

• Lowest sea level: -161 cm referenced to the theoretical mean water in Kemi 21.11.2024.

• Highest significant wave height: 8,2 m in the Northern Baltic Sea 22.12.2004.

Thickest level ice measured: 122 cm in Röyttä on 21.4.1985.

Sea is a challenging but also important environment to observe. Photo: Antti Kangas.

The normal period statistics 1991–2020

The latest 30-year climatological period 1991–2020 also include oceanographic statistics, for the very first time. The most important statistics are gathered on these sub-pages, and the whole publication can be found in HELDA.

Climatological and oceanographic statistics os Finland 1991–2020.