Algal bloom monitoring July 30, 2020: Typical amounts of cyanobacteria occurrences have been observed in sea areas, in lakes occurrences have been observed less than average

Raft-forming blue green algae have been observed, e.g., in the northern part of the Sea of Åland. Sentinel-2 observed these fibrous swirls of algae in the municipality of Eckerö on 27 July 2020. Contains modified Copernicus data, SYKE (2020). See more at the TARKKA web map application.

In sea areas cyanobacteria occurrences have increased, which is typical for late July and early August. Windy weather has kept cyanobacteria mixed in the water bodies, therefore extensive surface blooms have not been observed in sea areas. In lakes cyanobacteria occurrences have been observed less than usual in most parts of Finland. Occurences have increased only in the regions of North Karelia and Central Finland, where they are above average. Normally, cyanobacteria blooms as well as other algal blooms occur most abundantly in August.

Read more in Finnish 

Report your algal bloom observations to the Järvi-meriwiki (Lake and sea wiki)

In the Järvi-meriwiki maintained by the Finnish Environment Institute, everyone has the opportunity to establish their own observation site and share algal bloom observations from lakes and coastal areas. Individual observations can also be sent while navigating different water bodies. You can also report observations using the smartphone-friendly Havaintolähetti website. The reported observations are shown on the national algal situation map, and they support the national algal situation assessment. Observations about the absence of cyanobacteria are also important.

Järvi-meriwiki is an online service produced in collaboration with authorities and citizens. The service provides basic information on all lakes larger than one hectare as well as different areas of the Baltic Sea. Users can share, for example, photos and other observations on the service.

Municipalities and cities monitor the cyanobacterial situation on the beaches, so it is advisable to report rich cyanobacterial blooms on beaches to the health authorities of the municipality in question.

Cyanobacteria observations also in the Itämeri.fi service

This summer, a website on algal bloom observations on the Itämeri.fi service is also launched. The cyanobacterial map presented on this algal bloom observations page combines the observations reported to the Järvi-meriwiki and from the beaches of the City of Helsinki as well as the observations based on satellite interpretations of the Finnish Environment Institute during the last three days.

This is how you identify cyanobacteria

A small amount of cyanobacteria in the water appears as green or yellowish particles. Narrow stripes of algae can drift to a beach. In calm weather, a substantial amount of cyanobacteria forms greenish or yellowish algal rafts and piles up in coastal water. Unlike cyanobacteria, pollen is found not only on the surface water but also, for example, on piers or yard furniture.

If the algae dissolve into tiny particles in the water when you touch it with a stick, it may be cyanobacteria. If the algae attache to the stick, it is something other than cyanobacteria. In a glass of water, cyanobacteria rise to the surface as tiny greenish particles within about an hour.

• Blue-green algae in water are a risk for people and animals

Algae bloom risk analysis

The risk of cyanobacterial blooms in the Finnish sea areas is considerable or moderate – the summer weather determines the actual situation (Press release June 4, 2020)

Information about algae situation 

• National algal review (Järvi-meriwiki)
• Itämeri.fi algae observations
• Havaintolähetti (In Finnish)

Satellite images

• Satellite image map service (syke.fi/tarkka)
• Algal rafts, water temperature, ice extent – Finnish Environment Institute is a European forerunner in the use of satellites (Press release July 24, 2020)

More information

(Telephone 1.00 - 3.00 pm)

Lakes

• University Intern Jere Laine, Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, Tel. +358 295 252 205, firstname.lastname@ymparisto.fi (until 31/07)

• Researcher Laura Härkönen, Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, Tel. +358 295 251 009, firstname.lastname@ymparisto.fi (from 03/08)

Sea areas  

Cyanobacterial bloom situation

• Senior Research Scientist Sirpa Lehtinen, Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, Tel. +358 295 251 353, firstname.lastname@ymparisto.fi (until 31/07)

• Senior Research Scientist Sanna Suikkanen, Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, Tel. +358 295 251 660, firstname.lastname@ymparisto.fi (from 03/08)

State of the Baltic Sea

• Senior Researcher Antti Räike, Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, Tel. +358 295 251 586, firstname.lastname@ymparisto.fi (until 31/07)

• Head of Unit Vivi Fleming, Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, puh. +358 295 251 879, firstname.lastname@ymparisto.fi (from 03/08)

Satellite observations 

• Researcher Sakari Väkevä, Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, Tel. +358 29 525 2088, firstname.lastname@ymparisto.fi (until 31/07)

Communications

• Communications Intern Iris Aarola, Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, Tel +358 295 252 189, firstname.lastname@ymparisto.fi