Quantifying the impact of near-surface winds on the occurrence of extreme sea level rises along the Swedish Baltic coastline: A statistical analysis

Sea level rises pose significant risks to densely populated coastal regions, threatening human lives and vital infrastructures. Coastal societies, economies, and properties face acute vulnerability from saltwater intrusion, coastal erosion, and flooding resulting from extreme sea level variations. These occurrences are a confluence of factors, including local sea level rises, tidal changes, storm surges, waves, and shifts in coastal morphology.

In the Baltic Sea basin, where tides and North Atlantic storm surges are mitigated by the Danish Straits due to its semi-enclosed nature, coastal extreme sea levels are primarily driven by storm surges propelled by atmospheric pressure and surface winds from extratropical cyclones. Consequently, the surge in extreme sea levels here is predominantly wind-induced, regulated by meteorological processes.

This research focuses on the meteorological conditions, specifically wind patterns, that contribute to sudden sea level rises along the Swedish Baltic coastline. By integrating observations and model data like the ERA5 reanalysis, the study correlates the rapid increase in relative sea levels across 14 tide-gauge stations with wind and wave data. The aim is to exclusively utilize meteorological information for identifying extreme sea level occurrences, thereby enhancing the prediction of such events through weather forecasting.