Sustainable growth can only be achieved if the use of marine areas is planned sensibly, bringing about synergies where different activities benefit each other. This is the key idea behind a new research project to support growth in the maritime sector in and around the Gulf of Bothnia.

Climate change is impacting the marine environment. The future trend may include increasing harmful algal blooms. SMHI, in cooperation with several international institutes, will arrange a conference on harmful algal blooms and climate change in Gothenburg, May 19-22 2015.

SMHI is installing a high frequency coastal radar system at two sites along the coast of Bohus -Måseskär and Väderöarna. The radar system will measure surface currents in the Skagerrak and will also be used to discover or locate vessels.

During the last expedition an unusual temperature stratification was observed in the Skagerrak. Water temperatures of 15-17 degrees were found down to 100 meters depth. Normally these high temperatures are found down to about 40 meters depth.

R/V Aranda monitored the entire Baltic Sea: poor oxygen condition continues, amount of phosphorus risen in the Sea of Bothnia and the Baltic Proper.

The serious oxygen conditions that have affected the Baltic Sea during the 2000s continue. The oxygen survey performed during autumn 2013 show that 15% of the bottom areas are dead due to total absence of oxygen and about 30% suffer from acute oxygen deficiency.

A new international and interdisciplinary research programme, Baltic Earth, is launched. The aim of Baltic Earth is to achieve an improved understanding of the Earth system for the Baltic Sea region, focusing on physical and biogeochemical processes which interact in the atmosphere, in the sea including sea ice, and on land. Human interactions with the environment are recognized as an important part of the regional Earth system.