The Seili-index provides a visualization of the current chlorophyll-α concentration (chl-a; µg/l) in surface seawater, along with predictions for the next 10 days. These index values are derived from data collected at a fixed monitoring station near Seili Island and offer insights into the overall eutrophication level of the sea. This work plays a crucial role in understanding and monitoring the health of our marine ecosystems, providing valuable insights into the impacts of environmental changes and aiding in the sustainable management of our coastal waters.
In the visualization, larger and greener spheres indicate a higher level of eutrophication and turbidity in the seawater, while smaller and bluer spheres represent cleaner seawater. Changes in index values can signify events such as the onset of phytoplankton blooms and shifts in seawater quality.
These predictions are generated using Generalized Additive Mixed Models (GAMM), which establish relationships between chlorophyll-α content and surface water/surface air temperatures. The chlorophyll data is sourced from the Seili automatic profiling monitoring buoy, and temperature data is obtained from a 10-day long-term forecast by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute. The GAMM model for the index was developed by PhD Joni Virta from the University of Turku/Aalto University, with visualization by Tommy Löwendahl and the IT team at the University of Turku.
Please note that the sea buoy is currently undergoing renewal, and as a result, the data has not been updated. Water quality monitoring and Seili-index predictions will resume in spring 2024
Open data license: The data on the https://saaristomeri.utu.fi website are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (CC BY 4.0). To cite this data, please use the following format: ‘Seili Environmental Monitoring Programme, Seili-Index Portal. YEAR. Turku University/ Turku University of Applied Sciences, Turku. https://saaristomeri.utu.fi/seili-index/‘.”