A study of episodic events in the Baltic Sea – combined in situ and satellite observations*

A project was developed concerning the operational system of surveillance and the recording of episodic events in the Baltic Sea. In situ information was to be combined with multi-sensory satellite imagery to determine the extent of algal blooms, to track their evolution and that of rapid environmental events like hydrological fronts. The main element of the system was an autonomous Ferry Box module on a ferry operating between Gdynia and Karlskrona, automatically measuring temperature, salinity and chlorophyll a fluorescence. At pre-selected locations, discrete water samples were collected, which were subsequently analysed for their phytoplankton content, and algal hepato- and neurotoxins; they were also used in toxicity tests with Artemia franciscana.