Research infrastructures
Producing high-quality environmental research and monitoring data requires diverse and quality-assured research infrastructure. In particular, our extensive experience and expertise in marine and inland water research ensure continuous development.
Quality and laboratory services
Finnish marine research infrastructure - FINMARI
Coordinated by the Finnish Environment Institute, FINMARI is a unique consortium of infrastructure services and partners at the European level. It integrates the key components of the Finnish marine research community and creates a solid knowledge base for the protection of the Baltic Sea.
Marine monitoring stations and field research
Alg@line: Automated FerryBox measurement systems on merchant ships
- Owner: Finnish Environment Institute (Syke)
- Device manager: Jukka Seppälä (Syke), firstname.lastname@syke.fi
- Measured variables: Chl-a, CDOM, water temperature, salinity, turbidity, pH, oxygen concentration
The Alg@line measurement system by Syke monitors the state of the Baltic Sea and detects algal blooms. The devices installed on merchant ships collect several million data points annually from the Baltic Sea.
The FerryBox equipment used by Alg@line is a flow-through system that takes water samples from a depth of 5 meters approximately every 200 meters as the ship travels. The FerryBox includes sensors for measuring water temperature, salinity, phytoplankton and cyanobacteria concentrations, and turbidity.
The FerryBox also includes a refrigerated sampling unit that collects separate water samples for laboratory analyses, such as microscopy, nutrient analyses, and experimental work. Measurement data is digitally recorded with GPS and stored in databases, making it almost real-time accessible.
In 2023 and 2024, continuous phytoplankton imaging devices (Imaging Flow CytoBot and Cytosense) were successfully tested, allowing real-time imaging of the algae species present in the water.
FerryBoxes complement traditional marine monitoring conducted on research vessels. Automated sampling systems on already operating merchant or passenger ships enable extensive and regular data collection, which is crucial for understanding the rapidly changing plankton ecosystem. The measurements are also used to validate satellite observations, develop Baltic Sea models, and provide algae monitoring for the public.
Alg@line measurements have monitored the state of the Baltic Sea for over 30 years on various ships and routes. Currently, the Finnlines’ Finnmaid, operating between Helsinki and Travemünde twice a week, and Tallink Silja’s Silja Serenade, cruising daily on the Helsinki – Mariehamn – Stockholm route, are in use.
Measurements are conducted in collaboration with the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the German Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW). Alg@line is part of the FINMARI research infrastructure, as well as the JERICO coastal observation network and the ICOS atmospheric research network.
Alg@line FerryBox data is available:
Utö atmospheric and marine observation station
- Owner: Finnish Environment Institute (Syke)
- Device manager: Jukka Seppälä (Syke), firstname.lastname@syke.fi
The Finnish Environment Institute measures the chemistry and biology of the sea in Utö using an automated station: nutrients, oxygen, pH, phytoplankton (chl-a) and cyanobacteria (phycocyanin) concentrations, and water turbidity.
Syke also monitors the structure of microbial and phytoplankton communities using autonomous imaging methods, such as the Imaging Flow Cytobot and Cytosense.
The Utö atmospheric and marine research station is located on Utö Island (59º 46’50N, 21º 22’23E) at the outer edge of the Archipelago Sea. The construction of the automated marine station began in 2014, but marine and weather observations have been made in Utö since 1881.
The Finnish Meteorological Institute measures the properties of the atmosphere and the sea, as well as their interactions, in real-time.
Atmospheric Measurements: Meteorology, atmospheric optics, solar radiation, cloud cover, trace gases, aerosol particles and greenhouse gases, boundary layer wind profiles, radioactivity and phosphorus deposition, as well as CO2 and SO2 fluxes in the atmosphere.
Sea Surface and Marine Physics: Waves, currents, underwater visibility, water temperature, salinity, O2, pCO2.
The Utö field station also has a laboratory used for specialized measurements, experimental work, and calibrations.
The Utö atmospheric and marine research station is part of the FINMARI research infrastructure, as well as the JERICO coastal observation network and the ICOS atmospheric research network.
Links:
Field equipment and devices for marine research
Research containers
Movable research containers enable research work on various vessels or in the field. The winch of the sampling container can be used for CTD profiling and taking water and sediment samples as well as net samples. The laboratory container is equipped for basic laboratory operations.
Benthic landers
The interaction between marine sediment and seawater can be studied using a benthic lander. It is an observation station placed on the seabed, with sensors that can measure physical-chemical or biological activity for several weeks or even months. The data from the benthic lander is automatically recorded and transferred via modem.
Sediment traps
Various sediment traps can be used to study the amount of sinking organic or inorganic particles. The trap is anchored at a suitable depth in the sea, where it collects samples for the desired period.
Imaging flowcytobot robot device
The Imaging FlowCytobot (IFCB) is a robotic device that automatically images phytoplankton. It takes water samples from the measurement site several times an hour and produces images of the plankton species contained in the sample. The continuous Imaging FlowCytobot device can be used at both research stations and research vessels. The method produces such a large amount of image data that its analysis is performed using pattern recognition algorithms.
Sensors
Various sensors can be used to collect physical-chemical or biological data from the marine environment. The marine research laboratory has different types of sensors for both field use and laboratory use.
More information: Katri Kuuppo (Syke), firstname.lastname@syke.fi
Research infrastructure for lakes, rivers, and catchment areas
Pitkäkoski monitoring station in River Vantaanjoki
- Owner: Finnish Environment Institute (Syke)
- Device manager: Joonas Kahiluoto (Syke), firstname.lastname@syke.fi
- Measured variables per device:
- EXO: Turbidity, temperature, conductivity, fDOM.
Trios OPUS: NO3-N, SAC254, tryptophan, water level.
S::CAN: Turbidity, NO3-N, DOC, TOC, bottle pressure. - Data download services: Luode Consulting data service.
River Lepsämänjoki monitoring station in River Vantaanjoki sub-basin
- Owner: Finnish Environment Institute (Syke)
- Device manager: Pasi Valkama (Syke), firstname.lastname@syke.fi
- Measured variables per device:
- EXO: Turbidity, oxygen, conductivity.
Trios OPUS: NO3-N, fDOM/TOC, water temperature, water level on scale, surface flow at the station, flow.
Starflow: Flow. - Data download services: Luode Consulting data service.
Water research equipment
The Finnish Environment Institute has access to hundreds of different research devices, such as analyzers, audio equipment, data loggers, cameras, molecular biology devices, samplers, and positioning devices. Some of the equipment is suitable for both saltwater and freshwater research.
For more information about the devices:
Marine research: Anne-Mari Luhtanen, Syke, firstname.lastname@syke.fi
Other equipment: Joonas Kahiluoto, Syke, firstname.lastname@syke.fi
Research vessels Toivo 1 and Tieto 1
Research vessels Toivo 1 and Tieto 1 are catamaran-hulled boats specifically designed for inland water research. Some of the research equipment is permanently installed on the boats, while other equipment can be rented separately.
For more information: mekatroniikka@syke.fi
Field laboratory EnviStation
An independent and fully remote-controlled research platform for continuous measurements as well as for the comparison and validation of various sensors.
More information:
mekatroniikka@syke.fi
Datasets and interfaces
Monitoring and inventories
Finnish infrastructure services
At Syke, we also coordinate national infrastructure services aimed at improving the quality, innovation, competitiveness, and interdisciplinarity of Finnish research, as well as enhancing the attractiveness of Finnish research environments. We collaborate with the Finnish Biodiversity Information Facility, the Freshwater Competence Centre, and Geoportti RI.
