Metadata

Technical information

1. Source: Finnish Institute of Marine Research, contact persons Anniina Kiiltomäki and Tapani Stipa.

2. Description of data:

Reference and target -levels:

Table 1. Reference and acceptable deviation levels for the open Baltic sea are specified by Helcom, 2006 (Baltic Sea Environ. Proc. No. 104).

Figure 21. The HELCOM open water areas listed in Table 1.
 

Observations:

Original unit of measure: nutrients, silicate µmol l -1

Original unit of measure: Chl a mg m-3

Original purpose of the data: Phytoplankton monitoring of FIMR, Alga@line project

BalEco™ model:

Operational ecosystem model running at the Finnish Institute of Marine Research. The analysis is based on the +6 hour forecast time series of the model. FIMR HELCOM COMBINE observations have been assimilated into the model, but the model results are independent of the Alg@line time series.

3. Geographical coverage: Alg@line: Gulf of Finland, the Baltic Proper. BalEco: Bothnian Sea, Baltic Proper

Figure 22. The Alg@line sampling locations on the route of M/S Finnpartner between Travemünde- Helsinki and the BalEco™ model transect in the Bothnian Sea. The Alg@line sampling locations are on following regions of the Baltic Sea: 1-2; Arkona Basin, 3-5 Bornholm Basin, 6-12; Eastern Gotland Basin, 13-18; Northern Gotland Basin and 19-24; Gulf of Finland. The vertical analysis location are BY5 and LL12. The locations of the first sight Alg@line-figures are: 3,4=AB; 5,6=BB; 11,12=GB_E; 14,15=GB_N; 18,19=GoF.

4. Temporal coverage:

Alg@line-reference: 1993-2005, Analysis: 2006

Winter period: January to February

(Winter averages of January-February considered to be enough equal to period December-February that results only from January 2006 could be used.)

Summer period: June to September

5. Methodology and frequency of data collection:

Automated flow-through sampling system on merchant ships, sampling depth ca. 5 m, Weekly biweekly monthly sampling during the period January- December.

6. Methodology of data manipulation: None.

Quality information

7. Strength and weakness (at data level):

Strength: Medium temporal and spatial sampling frequency. Weakness: storage time of samples from hours to a couple of days depending on the sampling site. The Alg@line sampling depth is 5m and presents 0-5m watermass.

8. a) Reliability, accuracy, precision, robustness (at data level) of Alg@line:

Measurement uncertainty: Chl a: 0.5 mg m-3 if the concentration < 5.0 mg m-3, 1.0 mg m-3 if the concentration > 5.0 mg m-3.

Measurement uncertainty: Phosphate 20-30%, Nitrate 14-20% and Nitrite 12-45%, Ammonium 20-60%, Silicate15-50%

8. b) Reliability, accuracy, precision, robustness of BalEco™ model:

The accuracy of the forecast model BalEco™, compared against the Alg@line observations in 2006, is illustrated in Figure 17. The statistical indicators  mean error (ME), mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE)  were calculated for every Alg@line water sample location along the route of the M/S Finnpartner. The time period was same as in Alg@line measurements. The ecosystem model has currently limitations in the description of nutrient field development in the winter and in anoxic conditions on the process level.

Figure 23. The ME MAE, RMSE  of DIP (left up), DIN (right up), SiO4 (left down) and Chla (right down) on each water sample location; 6h forecast. The legend-box shows the values calculated to the entire area. Click images to enlarge!

9. Further work required (for data level and indicator level):
Comments from HELCOM MONAS for further development of the indicator report are welcome.

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