Unseasonally high nutrient loads in Finnish rivers
Nutrient levels from Finland’s rivers have increased significantly due to the heavy rains and floods in December. Finland’s Environmental Administration (SYKE) reported last week that loads have especially increased in the province of Uusimaa. It was estimated that the flow of nutrients has even surpassed the regular amounts during spring floods in the Uusimaa area.
Heavy rains have swept all throughout South and South-West Finland. Rivers Aurajoki, Vantaajoki, Porvoojoki and Paimiojoki have been particularly affected. The extra flow of nutrients has worsened the conditions in the already heavily eutrophicated Gulf of Finland and the Archipelago Sea. Vantaajoki River, for instance, transported some 35 tonnes of phosphorus into the sea, a level higher than in the spring time.
Mild winters may just be the norm in the future, a fact which might bode difficulties to water conservation. According to specialists water conservation in agricultural areas may prove particularly challenging. Lack of frost combined with driving rains is particularly efficient in releasing great amounts of nutrients and solids from the fields
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