Baltic Sea Observatory for coastal ecosystems and climate change

Complementing the existing infrastructure at Askö Laboratory (Stockholm University) with geophysical and atmospheric science equipment necessary to measure the feedbacks between the Baltic sea, coastal ecosystems, and the atmosphere is the key focus of this proposal.

The “Baltic Sea Observatory for Coastal Ecosystems and Climate Change” (CoastClim) brings together cutting-edge expertise in marine ecology, biogeochemistry and atmospheric physics to quantify the full spectrum of habitat-specific GHG fluxes and aerosol production in the Baltic coastal zone.

Our key objective is to quantify the feedbacks between healthy or degraded coastal habitats and their role in the life cycles of GHGs and aerosols.

The climate mitigation potential is assessed through integrative measuring platforms utilizing one of the best-known coastal ecosystems globally.

We intend to build novel research infrastructure making geophysical habitat mapping and atmospheric measurements of GHG and aerosols possible, as the final component for a full-fledged observatory.

We lack detailed information about key habitats especially in shallow areas that are both significant C sinks but also sources of GHG.

We will expand our geophysical seafloor mapping capacities developing a fleet of autonomous surface vehicles to map key Blue C areas.

Air-sea exchange research laboratory facilities will be built at Askö with portable components that can be mounted on R/V Electra, allowing unique observations on the links between marine biogeochemistry and sea spray.

A new mass spectrometer will be operated to characterize the chemical composition of aerosols and their precursors, a Potential Aerosol Mass chamber will be used to investigate the oxidation and aerosol formation potential, and particle counters and spectrometers will be used to quantify aerosol size distributions.

The investment goes beyond the infrastructure to provide the intellectual foundation for the new science we urgently need.