In situ Measurements

The water quality of coastal waters depends on transport from rivers, on mixing processes and on chemical-biological processes. For example, the knowledge about the distribution of nutrients and their role on the formation of algae blooms is far from complete.
Therefore, we specialised in the development and qualification of new (automated) measuring systems and sensors for buoys, piles and "Ships of Opportunity".
One successful application has been within the EU Project "FerryBox" that has been coordinated by Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht. In this project ships on different European ferry routes have been fitted with automated sensors which recorded the water quality automatically during the trip. The developed sensor system measure parameters such as temperature, salinity, turbidity, oxygen, nutrients and algae. Such systems are already used for operational observations of water quality in different regions of the world. They deliver continuously data in a very cost-effective way.
The systems are an intagral part of the new observation system "ICON".
Another focus is the appliactiosn of the recorded data for mathematical descriptions of processes, such as the estimation of seasonal algae dynamics or the assessment of trends. In addition to in situ measurments satellite data are used. By these methods it is possible to observe and assess the distribution of nutrients and algal blooms.