https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from Finnish Environment Institute The addition of carbon, which is required as a nutrient by the microorganisms in soil and groundwater, was found to be the most promising remediation method in the remediation of soil and groundwater contaminated with the pesticide atrazine. This conclusion is reached in Aura Nousiainen's doctoral dissertation, which will be presented for public examination at the University of Helsinki on Friday 13 February 2015. There is a demand for the remediation method, as atrazine is the most common pollutant found in groundwater in Finland. https://phys.org/news/2015-02-microbial-contributes-remediation-soil-groundwater.html Environment Wed, 11 Feb 2015 08:20:01 EST news342862064 Adapting to climate change has reached the political agenda in most European countries, according to the most comprehensive analysis of adaptation in Europe published to date. Extreme weather events and EU policies were the most common reasons for beginning to address adaptation. The Finnish Environment Institute took part in preparing the report with the experts from the EEA, the Austrian Environment Agency, Alterra (Netherlands), CMCC (Italy) and UKCIP (UK). https://phys.org/news/2014-10-extreme-weather-events-awareness.html Environment Tue, 14 Oct 2014 08:12:37 EDT news332493146 According to the algae prognosis from the Finnish Environment Institute's Marine Research Centre, the risk of blue-green algal blooms is moderate in the western part of the Gulf of Finland, the Finnish Archipelago Sea, and the southernmost parts of the Bothnian Sea. In the southern parts of the Finnish Archipelago Sea and the northern part of the Baltic Proper, the risk of algal blooms is considerable. The risk of algal blooms is greatest in the western parts of the Baltic Proper. In the Bay of Bothnia, the majority of the Bothnian Sea and the eastern parts of the Gulf of Finland, the risk of algal blooms is low. https://phys.org/news/2014-06-considerable-blue-green-algal-blooms-finland.html Environment Mon, 09 Jun 2014 09:07:09 EDT news321523616 Sixteen municipalities involved in the Towards Carbon-Neutral Municipalities (Canemu, HINKU in Finnish) project reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 19% between 2007 and 2012. The greatest emissions reduction was made by Hanko (-34%) and Ii (-31%), which has invested heavily in emission-free wind power production. Lohja (-28%), Raasepori (-23%) and Padasjoki (-22%) did well too, cutting their emissions by more than 20%. https://phys.org/news/2014-05-emissions-carbon-neutral-municipalities-cent-years.html Environment Wed, 14 May 2014 08:50:47 EDT news319276230 The new marine research station is situated on a convenient location on the outer edges of the archipelago. Photo: Lauri Laakso. The Finnish Meteorological Institute and the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) press release https://phys.org/news/2014-04-marine-station-island-uto.html Earth Sciences Wed, 30 Apr 2014 09:20:02 EDT news318065732 R/V Aranda, the research vessel of Finnish Environmental Institute SYKE has during the winter 2014 monitored the environmental status of the Baltic Sea on an area that is significantly larger compared with previous years, as a result of cooperation with the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute SMHI. The monitoring covered the whole area of the Baltic Sea. https://phys.org/news/2014-03-amount-phosphorus-risen-sea-bothnia.html Environment Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:20:01 EDT news314349674 Species found in nutrient-poor habitats, such as heather, lingonberry, crowberry and lichens in particular are sensitive to nitrogen deposition. Photo Hannu Nousiainen, Metla. https://phys.org/news/2013-12-nitrogen-deposition-poses-threat-diversity.html Environment Mon, 16 Dec 2013 10:10:02 EST news306408652 The first devices for measuring underwater noise have been anchored this week to the bottom of the Baltic Sea on the coast of Finland. The researchers of six countries bordering the Baltic Sea who participate in the BIAS project installed noise-measuring hydrophones on the southern side of the Jussarö lighthouse near Tvärminne and in the Gulf of Finland between Helsinki and Tallinn. https://phys.org/news/2013-10-accuracy-noise-hydrogen-sulphide-baltic.html Environment Mon, 21 Oct 2013 09:29:56 EDT news301566568 The barnacle goose population in Finland increased by eight per cent year-on-year. The highest growth was observed in the eastern Gulf of Finland, whereas population growth seems to have stopped in the Helsinki and Turku regions. In an autumn counting of barnacle geese organised by the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), the University of Helsinki and BirdLife Finland, a total of 21,700 geese were counted. https://phys.org/news/2013-10-barnacle-goose-population-growautumn-tripled.html Ecology Tue, 08 Oct 2013 08:34:19 EDT news300440050 A new assessment of the ecological status of Finland's waters shows that 85% of the surface area of our lakes and 65% of our rivers are in a good or very good state. However, three-quarters of the surface area of our coastal waters are in a worse state. The main problem is eutrophication.The ecological status of large lakes and northern Finnish waters, in particular, is largely good or very good. In contrast, small lakes suffer from eutrophication. https://phys.org/news/2013-10-large-lakes-finland-coastal-quality.html Environment Thu, 03 Oct 2013 07:30:01 EDT news300003490 The oxygen situation on deep-sea floors, in open seas in the Gulf of Finland, has deteriorated compared to last year. Results obtained during an expedition by the research vessel Aranda in early summer shows an increase in salinity stratification in the Gulf of Finland, which has weakened the oxygen situation. At these sites, zoobenthic communities had also declined compared to last year. During the expedition in August, water layers close to the sea floor were found to be anoxic at these same sites. Hydrogen sulphide was found at sites on the Estonian side of the Gulf. https://phys.org/news/2013-09-significant-status-gulf-finland-coastal.html Environment Fri, 20 Sep 2013 08:26:43 EDT news298884389 "You could decrease environmental impact without hindering economic growth. These are two different subsystems", says Tuomas Mattila in his doctoral thesis. Tuomas Mattila works as a researcher at the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE). https://phys.org/news/2013-09-sectors-environment-drivers-economic-growth.html Environment Tue, 17 Sep 2013 07:21:46 EDT news298621286 The Finnish Environment Institute SYKE has participated in the SUBMARINER project, jointly performed by eight countries in order to investigate new ways of utilising the Baltic Sea's resources. Over three years, the project has looked at various ways of utilising macroalgae and microalgae, mussels, common reed and microbes. New fish farming methods and future use of wave energy installations in the Baltic Sea were also examined, along with opportunities for using offshore wind park areas for other economic activities. https://phys.org/news/2013-09-cultivation-algae-mussels-common-reed.html Environment Tue, 03 Sep 2013 08:51:07 EDT news297417055 The nutrition available for fish in the northern Baltic Sea has become lighter during the past 30 years. https://phys.org/news/2013-06-lighter-meals-fish-northern-baltic.html Ecology Thu, 13 Jun 2013 08:10:01 EDT news290329071 A new geographic classification about the distribution of urban and rural areas provides a more accurate picture than previous statistics of, among other things, the distribution of Finland's population in different areas. This unique division – from the European perspective – makes it possible, with the help of statistics based on geographical information, to outline development on an area level that is more accurate than a division based on municipal boundaries. Thus also regional differences are easier to take into account in planning and decision-making. More accurate information makes it possible to examine, in a more diverse manner, interaction between areas and anticipate the developments of different types of areas. https://phys.org/news/2013-06-accurate-urban-rural-areas.html Social Sciences Wed, 12 Jun 2013 08:50:05 EDT news290245779 The underwater conditions of the Bay of Bothnia are unique, and up until now very little has been known about this part of Finnish nature. The inventories of the recently completed FINMARINET project showed that aquatic bryophyte species, water mosses, classified as regionally threatened in the Bay of Bothnia, such as Platyhypnidium riparioides and Fissidens fontanus, in fact form extensive underwater mats, which provide benthic organisms with shelter and food. Previously, very little information has been available on the distribution of water mosses. https://phys.org/news/2013-04-underwater-environment-finnish-coastal-areas.html Ecology Fri, 12 Apr 2013 08:22:45 EDT news284973756 The doctoral dissertation of Milja Vepsäläinen, M.Sc. (microbiology), prepared at the Finnish Environment Institute, involved developing a test pattern designed to measure soil biological diversity. The aim is to measure the activity potential of enzymes produced by soil microbes. Enzymes regulate cycling of elements in soils, and measurement allows assessing the functional diversity of soils. In addition, the results may be used as an ecosystem indicator. Since very little data on the functional diversity of soils is available, there is a clear need for methods that enable the measurement of soil-related variables. The defence will be held on 9 November 2012, at 12 noon at Building of Forest Sciences on the Viikki Campus of the University of Helsinki. https://phys.org/news/2012-11-scientist-method-soil-microbial-diversity.html Environment Fri, 09 Nov 2012 08:09:20 EST news271670907