Research examining the state of the Baltic marine environment provides both and up-to-date information on current conditions in the sea, and time series of data illustrating longer-term trends. Observations are compiled for all the waters that make up the Baltic Sea.
Longer time series of observations reveal fluctuations and trends in water temperatures, salinity, oxygen concentrations, nutrient levels, turbidity, concentrations of hazardous substances, and the occurrence of zooplankton and benthic fauna. Detailed monitoring work focuses on the biological, chemical and physical state of the Baltic Sea. A large part of this work has to be carried out to fulfil national legislation and international agreements. International collaboration on marine research is particularly vital.
The Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) studies and monitors the state of the Baltic Sea and water quality using its two marine research vessels (Aranda and Muikku). Additional data is provided by measuring equipment fitted to commercial vessels or located at fixed observation stations, and in the form of remote sensing data beamed down from satellites. The state of the sea is also studied through hydrodynamic and ecosystem modelling.
The research vessel Aranda conducts annual monitoring cruises under the Combine Programme, compiling observations of the occurrence of phytoplankton and nutrients all around the Baltic Sea. Monitoring data is also routinely collected during almost all of Aranda’s other research cruises in the Baltic. Researchers from SYKE and other institutes collect various additional observations during these cruises.
Research conducted on board the vessel Muikku provides detailed information on coastal waters, especially in the Archipelago Sea and the Gulf of Finland.
Data on water flows and water-borne loads is collected by permanent observation stations at river mouths and by the SeaPrism device, located on a navigation beacon off Helsinki. The SeaPrism also measures water colour by observing the wavelengths of radiation reflected from the sea surface. These observations are used to calibrate the atmospheric corrections made to satellite observations, and to develop improved methods for quantifying substances in the water using observations of water colour.
The real time Alg@line algal monitoring project examines the state of the Baltic Sea using equipment fitted to passenger ferries and freighter vessels, including Silja Serenade (Helsinki-Stockholm), Finnmaid (Helsinki-Travemünde), Kristina Brahe (Gulf of Finland and Archipelago Sea), and Transpaper (Kemi-Gothenburg). Water flowing through the equipment is continually assessed for algal pigments, temperature and salinity. Automatically collected water samples are later assessed in a laboratory to measure concentrations of nutrients, a-chlorophyll and phytoplankton species. Marine algae are also monitored through remote sensing. The remote sensing group of SYKE’s geoinformatics unit works with images supplied by the European Space Agency’s Envisat Meris satellite.
Detailed monitoring of the state of the Baltic Sea provides reliable data to facilitate decision-making related to the conservation of the marine environment. The EU’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive and Baltic Sea Region Strategy both stress the need for such monitoring work in working towards their objectives. The directive and the strategy both aim to improve the ecological state of Europe’s seas.
Research institutes:
