Background
Cyanobacterial blooms have become more frequent and prolonged due to eutrophication and climate change, posing potential health risks to humans and animals. The Finnish national cyanobacterial monitoring programme currently relies mainly on visual shoreline observations conducted once a week. Observation sites are relatively few and do not always represent conditions across entire water bodies.
Satellite observations enable spatially extensive and temporally frequent monitoring across whole lakes. New hyperspectral satellite instruments further offer the possibility to refine interpretations and to investigate whether bloom-forming cyanobacterial genera can be identified based on their spectral characteristics.
Objectives
The project aims to integrate satellite observations as a permanent component of the Finnish national cyanobacterial monitoring programme and to develop methods for their routine use.
The project will automate and provide real-time satellite-based cyanobacterial monitoring and expand its coverage to a larger number of lakes. In addition, the goal is to establish a hyperspectral library of cyanobacterial genera typical of Finnish lakes and to assess the extent to which hyperspectral technology can be used to identify bloom-forming genera and evaluate potential toxicity.
The project will also prepare a satellite-based cyanobacterial indicator for lakes and develop a plan for expanding satellite-based monitoring as part of the Finnish national cyanobacterial monitoring programme.
Implementation
The project combines satellite observations, field measurements and laboratory analyses. Data sources include open-access observations from Sentinel and Landsat satellites.
In the laboratory, cyanobacterial strains isolated from Finnish lakes are cultured and their spectral characteristics measured using a hyperspectral camera. These data form a hyperspectral library that is compared with field measurements and satellite observations.
At pilot lakes, simultaneous field measurements are conducted during satellite overpasses, and surface water samples are analysed to determine cyanobacterial community composition and optical properties. Citizen science is also utilised in sampling. Satellite-based interpretations are integrated into Järvi-meriwiki (Lake-Seawiki) and Syke’s Tarkka service.
Impact
The project strengthens the timeliness, spatial coverage and reliability of cyanobacterial monitoring in inland waters. Satellite-based monitoring supports public authority communication and improves citizens’ access to up-to-date information on water conditions.
In the long term, the project lays the foundation for broader satellite-based biomonitoring and promotes the adoption of cost-effective, automated environmental monitoring methods in Finland.