OXYGEN CONDITIONS IMPROVE WHEN THE SALINITY IN THE BALTIC SEA DECREASES

As long as salinity in the Baltic Sea was high (as it was between 1948 and 1982) the depth range between 70 and 100 m suffered frequent anoxia. However, when salinity was low and when the position of the halocline was deep (as it was in the first half of the century) oxygen conditions were good and long-lived macrofauna occurred. Should the present trend to lower salinities continue (building bridges across the Belt Sea and reducing salt water inflow would be helpful) one can foresee a recolonization by macrofauna in the depth range 70-100 m.