Environmental monitoring

The long time series of environmental data from monitoring programs form the scientific basis for understanding large scale changes in the sea. They are also a prerequisite for cost-effective measures for a healthier sea.

These are strong arguments to safeguard existing time series and develop environmental monitoring for future challenges.

Welcome to Askö. Photo: Jerker Lokranz/Azote

We contribute to environmental monitoring

The Baltic Sea Center supports environmental monitoring in several ways; by providing proper infrastructure and field working staff in the northern Baltic Proper and by making the results available to the public via reports and websites. And also by keeping usefull assets and datasets.

Oceanographic multisensor bouy

South of Askö, on the classic measuring station Askö B1 there is a measuring buoy that collects basic oceanographic data in real time. The buoy is only sampling during ice-free conditions. Where? The buoy is located at the classic measuring station Askö B1

Data wiew portal

Here you find measurement data from our field station Askö. From the weather station and also check out the live stream viewing Askö inlet.

Research project SeaLab

The Askö Laboratory is an important part of this project to reveal the ocean's smallest inhabitants and what they really do.

Learn more

New floating laboratory

A unique floating laboratory is giving researchers an unprecedented window into the hidden exchanges between air, sea, and coast and their role in the climate system.

Read our news article about this new asset

About marine monitoring

Marine monitoring are continuous surveys that document the state of the environment. Environmental goals, directives and conventions govern what is to be monitored, and the aim is always to describe and follow trends in the marine environment.

The Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management is responsible for all national environmental monitoring in the aquatic environment, except for the programs concerning environmental pollutants that are run by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. Surveys are conducted in 10 different program areas and there are several different operators and data hosts.

The national environmental monitoring aims to provide a holistic picture of the environmental condition of water bodies in the entire country. The surveys therefore strives to include as pristine areas as possible.

The regional monitoring is handled by the County Administrative Boards and the Coastal Water Management Associations. They carry out various sampling programs. In addition, all environmentally harmful operations are also obliged to carry out various control programs.

Conventions and EU legislation apply to entire sea areas and involve several countries, and some monitoring are therefore joint international programs.

Swedish LTER-initiative

In recent years, most countries in Europe have gathered marine areas where ecosystem research and long-term monitoring has been conducted in a network called LTER-Europe (Long-Term Ecosystem Research). Sweden is a member of LTER-Europe since 2010 and the area Himmerfjärden-Askö-Landsortsdjupet is part of the Swedish LTER network.

LTER Sweden, Information and contact

LTER Europe
LTER Sweden SLU
International LTER

Main contact LTER Sweden:
Ulf Grandin
ulf.grandin@slu.se

Contact at the Baltic Sea Centre:
Tina Elfwing
tina.elfwing@su.se

Book infrastructure for marine monitoring

You are welcome to use our station facilities and vessels to carry out environmental monitoring in the Baltic Proper.

Apply now!

Contact

Eva Lindell
Head of the Askö Laboratory

Last updated: 2025-11-06

Source: Department name