CONDITIONS IN THE SLOVENIAN SEA IN 2024

Abstract

Conditions in the Slovenian sea in 2024 deviated from the long-term average in several respects. The mean annual sea level was 10 cm higher than the 1991–2020 average. The number of flooding days was above average, with the highest occurrence recorded in October. A comparison of ten-year moving averages of flooding days shows that since the 1960s the number of flooding days has increased from an average of 8 days per year to 18 days in the last decade. The sea was exceptionally warm in 2024, with the mean annual temperature reaching a record 18.6°C, which is 2.8°C above the long-term average. The lowest and highest temperatures were also among the highest, and all months had above-average. The ten-year moving averages show a trend of sea warming, which is also reflected in the shift in the date when the mean daily sea temperature first drops below 11 °C. Sea wave height and direction in the Gulf of Trieste were fairly typical in 2024, with the highest waves occurring in the autumn and winter months. Continued monitoring of conditions remains essential for understanding long-term changes and for supporting the development of adaptation measures in the coastal area.