Observed changes and variability of atmospheric parameters in the Baltic Sea region during the last 200 years

CR Climate Research Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsSpecials CR 61:177-190 (2014) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/cr01244 REVIEW Observed changes and variability of atmospheric parameters in the Baltic Sea region during the last 200 years A. Rutgersson1,*, J. Jaagus2, F. Schenk3,4, M. Stendel5 1Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, 75267 Uppsala, Sweden 2Department of Geography, University of Tartu, 51014 Tartu, Estonia 3Institute for Coastal Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany 4Department of Mechanics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden 5Danish Climate Centre, Danish Meteorological Institute, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark *Corresponding author: anna.rutgersson@met.uu.se ABSTRACT: The Baltic Sea is located in Northern Europe and exhibits significant climate variability, with influence of air masses from arctic to subtropical origin. By updating and discussing results described in the framework of the BACC project (BALTEX Assessment of Climate Change for the Baltic Sea Basin), this study presents observed changes in atmospheric parameters during the last 200 yr. Circulation patterns show large decadal variability with a northward shift of storm tracks and increased cyclonic activity in recent decades with increased persistence of weather types. However, the wind climate shows no robust long-term trends, and is dominated by pronounced (multi-)decadal variability. Near-surface temperatures show continued warming, in particular during spring and winter; this is stronger over northern regions. Up to this point, no long-term trends are detectable for precipitation, although some regional indications exist for an increased length of precipitation periods, and possibly an increased risk of extreme precipitation events. KEY WORDS: Climate change · Climate variability · Baltic Sea region · Observations · Historical climate Full text in pdf format PreviousCite this article as: Rutgersson A, Jaagus J, Schenk F, Stendel M (2014) Observed changes and variability of atmospheric parameters in the Baltic Sea region during the last 200 years. Clim Res 61:177-190. https://doi.org/10.3354/cr01244 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in CR Vol. 61, No. 2. Online publication date: September 23, 2014 Print ISSN: 0936-577X; Online ISSN: 1616-1572 Copyright © 2014 Inter-Research.