Press release 2013-04-22 at 10:00
Six merchant vessels sail the Baltic, producing 50 million real-time surface water observations annually. The automatic sampling system, developed in cooperation by researchers and shipping companies, is called Alg@line, and this year marks its 20th anniversary. The system's results are used by researchers and environmental authorities, for the benefit of all seafarers.
Automatic, real-time observation of surface water conditions began on two vessels, as a joint Finnish-Estonian project. Since then, the measurement routes and measured variables have increased. At present, there are measuring devices on seven vessels, producing information on the state of the Baltic every 20 seconds.
'In 1991, Juha-Markku Leppänen from Finland and Mati Kahru from Estonia installed the first monitoring devices on the passenger liner Georg Ots plying the route between Helsinki and Tallinn, followed in 1993 by the Finnjet sailing between Finland and Germany', states Leading Researcher Seppo Kaitala from the Finnish Environment Institute SYKE.
Today, measuring devices are carried by the Finnmaid liner between Helsinki and Travemünde, the TransPaper plying the route between Kemi and Göteborg, the Silja Serenade sailing between Helsinki and Stockholm, the Baltic coast-hugging Brahe, the Silja Europa connecting Helsinki and Tallinn, and the Victoria sailing between Tallinn and Stockholm.
Automated measurement
'We are able to monitor the temperature, salinity, chlorophyll, phycocyanin, turbidity and dissolved organic carbon. The measurements are taken from water flowing through the measuring devices. The latest variables added to the monitoring list include carbon dioxide and methane levels, as well as acidity, which are all related to monitoring the effects of climate change', Kaitala relates.
The automated measuring devices, whose function is dependent on water flowing through them, are located on the lower decks of the vessels, approximately six metres below the surface. The measurement data is automatically transferred to SYKE's information systems through satellite systems located on deck.
The devices also include automated water collectors, which collect approximately 2,000 bottles of water for closer study at regular intervals each year. In the laboratory, the water samples are analysed for dissolved nutrients, nitrate, phosphate and silicate, and the composition of the phytoplankton contained in the samples is determined.
The Marine Research Centre of SYKE coordinates the automated observation activities of merchant vessels on the Baltic, together with research institutes from Sweden, Estonia and Germany, as well as the Centres for Transport, Economic Development and the Environment of Uusimaa and Kaakkois-Suomi and the City of Helsinki.
Cost-effective observation
'Shipping companies do not charge us for research facility use, freeing us from ongoing expenses in that sector. Other costs, amounting to approximately EUR 50,000 each year, are mostly covered by external projects”, says Kaitala.
'This is an extremely cost-effective method of obtaining what is practically real-time information on the state of the Baltic. Achieving similar results by any other method would be impossible', states Seppo Kaitala, commending the arrangement.
'The year before last, measuring devices were installed on the Finnish Defence Forces' multi-purpose vessel Louhi, and this year, the equipment will be installed on a vessel sailing from St Petersburg to Bilbao, Spain via Helsinki.'
Useful data
According to Seppo Kaitala, real-time data on the Baltic benefits all seafarers in the end.
'The data is delivered directly to researchers and the environmental authorities. For example, temperature data is used to aid the communication of ice conditions and algae observations are used as base data for public notifications on algae conditions.'
'Researchers also make use of the measurements to assist in numerical marine modelling projects and the interpretation of satellite images. The monitoring data is used for real-time tracking of the state of the Baltic and is published through the Baltic Sea Portal in real time.'
'Equivalent automatic measuring devices are also used in other waters. The British use them around the world, the Germans have their own devices and 15 project partners are considering their implementation in the EU's Jerico Project.'
Last week, 75 experts in the field from all over Europe gathered in Helsinki to share experiences and discuss the further development of marine monitoring by merchant vessels.
Algaline results are published on:
Project website:
Additional information
Leading Researcher, Docent Seppo Kaitala
SYKE Marine Research Centre
Tel. +358 50 350 6803
firstname.lastname@ymparisto.fi
Map for use of the press
The routes of the seven vessels equipped with Algaline measuring devices criss-cross the Baltic (jpg)