Changes in apparent oxygen removal in the Baltic proper deep water

By developing a steady state: diagnostic model for a stratified deep-water mass, one is able to quantify both the mass flows and apparent oxygen remov al in the Baltic proper deep water. The model is based on continuity of the assumed conservative observable volume, salinity and temperature. Second d egree polynomials are fitted to observed vertical profiles of temperature a s well as oxygen concentration to give a functional correspondence with the used spatial variable salinity. These relations are used in the model that calculate the water flows, oxygen flows and oxygen removal during four per iods between 1959 and 1997. The model forms a boundary value problem, which is solved with a finite difference scheme. The model seems to give reasona ble estimates of the flows. The oxygen removal is mainly balanced by inflow of oxygen with incoming water. The oxygen consumption is 4-8 mul O-2 l(-1) day(-1), which corresponds to a degradation of organic matter in the range 30-60 g C m(-2) year(-1). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv ed.