Causes of the bottom hypoxia in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea

The data on the bottom concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland obtained in 1923-1939 and in 1962-1989 were analyzed. No statistically reliable differences were found between the two periods studied. It was found that, during the 20th century, the fluctuations in the oxygen concentration were caused by the interannual variability of the winter severity and water salinity. A strong oxygen deficit in the summer was recorded after cold winters, when early freezing suppressed the vertical mixing, and/or in the years of a significant inflow of salt waters from the Baltic Sea with low oxygen contents. It is likely that the long-term dynamics of the oxygen concentration near the bottom in the open parts of the bay is determined by the large-scale variability of the hydrometeorological parameters.