Ship wake-induced water column mixing and meter-scale seabed erosion in the Baltic Sea

Commercial shipping is a cornerstone of global trade. Its impact on the marine environment, however, remains underexplored. This study combines hydroacoustic data, sediment samples, propeller-induced shear stress calculations and vessel tracking information to assess the effects of shipping in one of the busiest maritime regions in the Baltic Sea, the Bay of Kiel. We unveil substantial seafloor erosion, including up to 1.5 m variation in water depths, over 10 years that clearly relates to vessel traffic. By imaging water column disturbance behind passing ships, we trace wake turbulence to the seafloor and show the breakdown of a strongly stratified water column and a possible excitement of internal waves, likely increasing the mixing of oxygen, nutrients, and greenhouse gases. While the environmental consequences of this anthropogenic stressor are unquantified, our findings leave little doubt that they include modifications to marine ecosystems and element budgets on a Baltic-wide scale.