Hot weather increases blue-green algae in sea

Hot weather has increased the number of cyanobacterial observations in sea areas while the situation in lakes remains stable, said the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) in a press release on Thursday.

As a result of the hot weather, water bodies have become warmer, which has led to an increase in cyanobacterial observations in sea areas.

Cyanobacterial observations have become more common, especially in the Archipelago Sea and north of Gotland.

Despite the exceptionally warm water in lakes, the cyanobacterial situation in inland waters has remained quite stable.

The national cyanobacterial monitoring is carried out as part of the monitoring of the state of the environment in cooperation with the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centres), municipal environmental and health authorities and the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE). Finnish Rotary Clubs are also actively involved in nationwide cyanobacterial monitoring.

The cyanobacterial monitoring is based on the monitoring of cyanobacterial deposits in surface water, and the intention is to provide an overview of the cyanobacterial situation in different water bodies. The monitoring includes about 400 permanent observation sites across the country on inland and coastal waters and in the archipelago.