Abstract

In comparison with other areas in Europe the suspended sediment yield of the greater part of the Baltic Sea drainage basin reaches low rates, and only the Carpathian part of the drainage basin can be characterized by medium or even high rates of the sediment yield. In the 1960s and 1970s 34 rivers draining to the Baltic Sea supplied to this sea an average suspended sediment load of more than 20,000 tons per year, and only 10 rivers more than 100,000 tons per year. The total amount of suspended material discharging to the Baltic Sea is 4,575,000 tons per year, 87% of which is discharged by rivers contributing more than 20,000 tons per year. The largest amount of suspended material inflows to the Baltic Proper, which constitutes 38.6% of the total supply to the Baltic Sea. The total suspended sediment supply to the sub-basins of the Baltic Sea shows seasonal fluctuations and reaches maximum values in spring.

Keywords: Baltic Sea, suspended sediment delivery