Press release 2020-07-09 at 12:54
© Ilkka Lastumäki
The cyanobacteria situation has stayed moderate both in Finnish lakes and sea areas. Windy and cloudy weather have carried on to restrain the occurrences. The likelihood for increase in cyanobacteria blooms continues to stay small with no change in weather conditions. For the time of summer, there has been observations of less cyanobacteria than normally in lakes. The observations in sea areas are mostly either no cyanobacteria or some cyanobacteria. There has been of plenty cyanobacteria only in the Turku archipelago and in the shores of Uusikaupunki.
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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.
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
Satellite images
Give your opinion on improving the status of waterways
More information
(Telephone 1.00-3.00 pm)
Lakes
- University Intern Jere Laine, Suomen ympäristökeskus SYKE, Tel. +358 295 252 205, firstname.lastname@ymparisto.fi
Sea areas
Cyanobacterial bloom situation
- Researcher Kaisa Kraft, Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, Tel. +358 295 251 970, firstname.lastname@ymparisto.fi (until 10/07)
- Senior Research Scientist Sirpa Lehtinen, Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, Tel. +358 295 251 353, firstname.lastname@ymparisto.fi (from 13/07)
State of the Baltic Sea
- Senior Research Scientist Mika Raateoja, Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, Tel. +358 295 251 536, firtsname.lastname@ymparisto.fi (until 10/07)
- Senior Research Scientist Seppo Knuuttila, Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, Tel. +358 295 251 286, firstname.lastname@ymparisto.fi (from 13/07)
Communications
- Communications Intern Sini Harvo, Finnish Environment Institute SYKE, Tel +358 295 252 184, firstname.lastname@ymparisto.fi