Interdependence of water levels and waves affect flood risks on Helsinki shores

A recently published study examined the correlation of sea levels and waves off Helsinki. Occasional highest water levels and the highest waves do not usually occur at the same time. The study nevertheless revealed a statistical correlation between high water levels and high waves.

Photo: fintones - stock.adobe.com.

This correlation depends on the direction of the wind. Westerly winds push water from the main basin of the Baltic Sea into the Gulf of Finland, causing more frequent simultaneous occurrence of high waves and high sea levels than if they occurred independently of each other. On the other hand, easterly winds take water out of the Gulf of Finland, and when that happens, high water levels and high waves are less frequent.

Further information:

Milla Johansson, Finnish Meteorological Institute, milla.johansson@fmi.fi

Johansson, M. M., Björkqvist, J.-V., Särkkä, J., Leijala, U., and Kahma, K. K.: Correlation of wind waves and sea level variations on the coast of the seasonally ice-covered Gulf of Finland, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 22, 813–829, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-22-813-2022, 2022.

Scientific article is available on Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences.

Science-newsBaltic SeaSea levelHelsinki