What is causing reduced sea level in Puerto Pollensa, Mallorca?

[chrisgil]

I am based in Puerto Pollensa where the sea level dropped dramatically a couple of weeks or so ago and has stayed low, somewhere between 0.5/1m below normal level. This will cause significant rethink on boat access from Marina jetty!
Is this the same across all of the Balearics and Mediterranean?
Any thoughts as to what this is all about?

 

[Bouba]

I am based in Puerto Pollensa where the sea level dropped dramatically a couple of weeks or so ago and has stayed low, somewhere between 0.5/1m below normal level. This will cause significant rethink on boat access from Marina jetty!
Is this the same across all of the Balearics and Mediterranean?
Any thoughts as to what this is all about?

I think last weekend in the South of France it was a bit low...and now it looks normal....anything to do with the earthquakes ?

 

[Martxer]

Maybe earthquake
Sea levels rose in Turkey

 

[ChromeDome]

Hard wind pushing the water away? If so, the level will come back, probably somewhat above normal, then eventually settle.

Our (Baltic) marine is suffering this these days due to the storm "Otto". Normally very little tide but now dropped 1.42m below and came back 0.40m above normal within 24 hrs.

 

[petem]

High pressure, simple as that - I think!

 

[vas]

yep, was low, like v.low yesterday here but that was say 0.5m below normal low...
All that with a typical range of 0.3-0.4m makes it impressive but nothing to worry I would guess.

 

[westernman]

High pressure, wind pushing water away and of course low tide.
And possibly also the effect of the drought in surrounding countries - there is less water entering the Med from rivers.

Yes there are tides in the Med.
Another noticeable effect might be increased currents through the Strait of Gibraltar.

I once had a berth with a fixed height pontoon on the side.
Almost impossible to get the fenders at the right height and find fenders which were long enough.

 

[marcochi76]

See level is very low also in Cote d'Azur

 

[julians]

It'll be back to normal soon, as per everyone above,it's just due to air pressure change.

We've had storm surges where the water level rises above the height of the concrete pantalans in port Adriano,on the other side of the island.

 

[henryf]

The media have been told to keep it quiet but apparently Putin has been withholding water from the Med as punishment for seizing everyone’s yachts.

I know because Gosport borough council were approached to see if they would be prepared to let the Med have some of their Solent water in return for some Mediterranean sunshine. I think a deal is on the cards - the deckchair rental booth in Lee on Solent was seen taking a truck load of umbrellas and some Unicorn pedal boats.

 

[Clancy Moped]

High pressure, your in for quite a cold weekend.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Global warming. The heat is drying us not raising sea level as the experts have been saying all along

 

[petem]

High pressure, your in for quite a cold weekend.

But sunny!

 

[franksingleton]

Strong winds can push water across a bay, lagoon, sea or ocean causing increased or decreased level depending where you are. On the scales of a bay or lagoon, the water tries to restore equilibrium but with an overshooting that repeats, gradually decreasing with periods of hours. The Swedish and Finnish Met services forecast these effects. High pressure over the eastern Baltic, near Leningrad can result in lower levels there and higher near Copenhagen. Again there is usually an oscillation.
Tide tables heights relate to a standard pressure of 1013 hPa. Differences above or below astronomical prediction equate to about one centimetre per one hPa. Uniquely, I believe, UK timetables refer to average pressure at the primary tidal port.
If water levels are remaining above or below normal levels for several days, and not oscillating, then I cannot suggest a reason.

 

[jfm]

Water was very low in Antibes this weekend. About 1m below its high, and 0.5m below its average. Weather calm so no storm surges. High pressure I think, as others have said above.

 

[Clancy Moped]

But sunny!

Bring a umbrella...

 

[Irish Rover]

Maybe earthquake
Sea levels rose in Turkey

Not where I am. Sea level is around 0.5m lower than normal and has been for the last 10 days or so. This happens for a period every year but I can't say it's always at the same time.

 

[Irish Rover]

Venice canals run dry as Italy faces drought alert

 

[franksingleton]

Venice canals run dry as Italy faces drought alert

Be careful, chaps. You might have to migrate to the climate change forum.

 

[DAW]

Water was very low in Antibes this weekend. About 1m below its high, and 0.5m below its average. Weather calm so no storm surges. High pressure I think, as others have said above.

We normally have a minimum depth of about 2.5m at the restaurant quay in the marina in Beaulieu, which for me translates to about 1m beneath the keel. On Saturday, the depth sounder was reading only 0.3m ... much too close for comfort, particularly for some of the larger boats. In over 10 years here, it's the lowest I've ever seen it. Local weather reports have attributed it to a combination of high pressure system, moon phase and seasonal tides ... no mention of earthquake effects.

It's been another very dry winter here and the capitainerie said there are already preliminary discussions taking place between the ports and the authorities about introducing water restrictions again across the south of France from April onwards.