Here, we show results for concentrations of diatoms from the coupled physics/biogeochemical model that is run operationally as a collaboration between the Meteorological Institute and the Institute of Marine Research in Norway. The results that are displayed below is valid for the same date (in April 2005), and values are corresponding nitrogen concentrations, in mg/m³.

Case I: Baltic outflow as a brackish river

First, consider results when fluxes of brackish water from the Baltic are represented by "saline rivers" in the Belts and Öresund, with prescribed salinities and volume fluxes. Maximum concentrations are found in the eastern Skagerrak:

Case II: Nudging of results in the Kattegat

Then, consider results when salinity, temperature and currents in the Kattegat from SMHI's ocean circulation model, which includes the Baltic Sea (SMHI is the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute). Then, the "diatom nitrogen concentration" field for the same time and region as above, is significantly different. Maximum concentrations are now found in the Kattegat and the central Skagerrak: