Figure Index 
63 
Figure Index 
Fig. 1.3. a The geography of the western and southern regions of the Baltic Sea is 
shaped like a bay whose width changes from 25 nm at Wismar through 45 nm 
at Warnemünde, 60 nm at Sassnitz, and 90 nm at Swinoujscie to 120 nm at 
Kotobrzeg. 9 
Fig. 1.3. b Variation of sea level at the southern coasts of the Baltic Sea on 3 and 
4 December 1999 10 
Fig. 1.3. c Slope of water surface along the coast between Wismar and Hel, 06 UTC on 
4 December 1999 (distances between particular water gauges are not pres 
ented proportionally) 10 
Fig. 2.1. Difference between hourly data and resampled 4-hourly data at Warnemünde 12 
Fig. 3.1. a Minimum sea level, annual mean and median sea level; values below which 
sea levels fell for 24, 72 and 240 consecutive hours at the Wismar, Warne 
münde, Sassnitz, Swinoujsie and Kotobrzeg gauges. 17 
Fig. 3.1. b Annual minimum sea levels at the Wismar, Warnemünde, Sassnitz, 
Swinoujscie and Kotobrzeg gauge stations 18 
Fig. 3.1. c Long term variation of low sea level events <440 cm at the Wismar, 
Warnemünde, Sassnitz, Swinoujscie and Kotobrzeg gauge stations 19 
Fig. 3.2. a Monthly distribution of sea levels at the Warnemünde gauge station 20 
Fig. 3.2. b Mean sea level distribution at all stations for the month of June. The Y-axis 
has a logarithmic scale to better depict the tail of the distribution, horizontal 
lines are drawn in 5% steps. 20 
Fig. 3.2. c as in 3.2. b, just for the month of January. 21 
Fig. 3.2. d Seasonal distribution of sea levels <440 cm at the Wismar, Warnemünde, 
Sassnitz, Swinoujscie and Kotobrzeg gauge stations 21 
Fig. 3.3. a Gumbel distributions 22 
Fig. 3.3. b Low sea level in m as a function of statistical recurrence 23 
Fig. 3.3. c Percentile distribution of monthly lowest sea levels at the 5 gauge stations 24 
Fig. 3.3. d Minimum values of annual negative surges between 1910 and 2005 24 
Fig. 4.1. Frequency distribution of wind directions at sea levels <440 cm, 1955-2005 25 
Fig. 4.3. Variation of sea levels in Kotobrzeg and Warnemünde during a long high- 
pressure spell in February 1954 27 
Fig. 4.4. a Co-occurrence frequency of particular atmospheric situations and negative 
surge events <440 cm at the southern Baltic Sea coast, 1955-2005 (in the 
inner frame: symbols and specification of atmospheric situations over Europe, 
according to G. Hess and H. Brezowski) 28 
Fig. 4.4. b Atmospheric situation Wz (West Cyclonic), which causes most of the negative 
surges on the southern Baltic Sea coast (average surface level pressure 
anomaly chart, after G. Cawley) 28 
Fig. 4.4. c Atmospheric situation SEa (South-East Anticyclonic) from the group of 
meridional situations. Weather situations like this have caused long-lasting 
negative surges <440 cm on the southern Baltic Sea coasts (average surface 
level pressure anomaly chart, after G. Cawley) 29 
Fig. 5.1. a Pressure pattern and wind field over the Baltic Sea on 25 November 1956 at 
12 UTC 30 
Fig. 5.1. b Variations of sea level decrease during the storm of 25-26 November 1956 31 
Fig. 5.2. a Pressure pattern and wind field over the Baltic Sea on 19 January 1960 at 
00 UTC 
32