MARINE POLLUTION LABORATORY

'Wetlands, Algae and Biogas - A Southern Baltic Sea Eutrophication Counteract Project', 01.02.2010-31.12.2012 - Project part-financed by the South Baltic Cross-border Cooperation Programme, 2007-2013.

Background

WAB project ( http://www.wabproject.pl/index.php?ver=en )is made up of 11 cooperating partners in Sweden and Poland. The core areas for implementation and testing are Trelleborg in Sweden and Sopot in Poland. In the framework of WAB project coastal macroalgae, that are produced as a result of nutrient leakage, as well as vegetation from constructed wetlands will be collected, and used both as additional biomass for biogas production, in Trelleborg. By doing this the WAB project will indicate possibility to remove nutrients from the Baltic Sea in an economically efficient and holistic process, that could result in a required reversal of nutrient flows. The system for monitoring of extent and trends of eutrophication. The nutrient content in collected macroalgae will be estimated, in Sopot. The project presents innovative, holistic approach to solving Baltic eutrophication problem, one of the main problems of this sea. The project can deliver economically as well as environmentally useful solutions. Once implemented the principles of WAB can be transferred to other locations around the Baltic Sea that are experiencing similar issues with excess algae growth, eutrophication and in result deterioration of the environment and lost of usable, tourist and recreation revenue.

IO PAN activities in WAB project

• Mounting and maintenance of eutrophication control station
  • Elaboration of monitoring system
  • Elaboration of data transmission, collecting and processing
• Monitoring of seawater and analysis of results
• Estimation of nitrogen, phosphorous and carbon in macroalgae and seagrass biomass
• Design and hold on the webpage of the project
• Preparation of brochures on eutrophication and air pollution
• Promotion of activities and results of the project

2014 - IO PAN

• K. Bucholc, M. Szymczak-Żyła, L. Lubecki, A. Zamojska, P. Hapter, E. Tjernström, G. Kowalewska, 2014. Nutrient content in macrophyta collected from southern Baltic Sea beaches in relation to eutrophication and biogas production, Science of the Total Environment, 473–474, 298–307.

2012 - IO PAN

Public information

• Brochure "Air & biogas"

2011 - IO PAN

Algae

• MONITORING STATION HAS BEEN INSTALLED
  
  

  One of the main tasks of Institute of Oceanology PAN in framework WAB project was installation of an eutrophication in-situ monitoring station in Sopot. In July 2011 on the Sopot pier measuring equipment was installed. It consists of: multiparameter sonde and meteorological station. Sonde measures seawater parameters: salinity, temperature, pH, ORP, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll and phycocyanin, and the meteorological station - air temperature, pressure, relative humidity, precipitation, insolation (solar radiation), wind speed and direction. Both parameters of seawater and air are measured at a frequency of every 3 seconds. All data are registered in real-time by computer, transmitted from Sopot pier to Institute where are collected and processed.
  Correlation of data obtained from measurements of in-situ monitoring station and the daily observation of seawater and the beach in Sopot, will provide more reliable information about factors that contribute to the occurrence of blue-green algae blooms and excessive amounts of macroalgae. Selected measurements of the averaged values of air and seawater parameters from the last 72 hours are available at http://www.iopan.gda.pl/MarPoLab/index-en.html --> WAB-monitoring.

Public information

• 12.05.2011 - Meeting with students of the Third Age University.
  
  Meeting was held as a part of promotion action of the WAB project and cooperation of the Institute of Oceanology PAN with the Association "Sopot dla [rodowiska" . Prof. Kowalewska presented a lecture about eutrophication of the Baltic Sea for 23 students of the Third Age University (UG).

• 28.04.2011 - Meeting with schools.
  
  As a promotion the WAB project and cooperation of the Institute of Oceanology PAN with the Association "Sopot dla [rodowiska", prof. Grazyna Kowalewska presented a lecture about eutrophication of the Baltic Sea. The meeting took place in the seminar room of the Institute of Oceanology PAN in Sopot, attended by about 75 young people from Sopot schools with teachers.

• 31.03.2011 - WAB conference in in Pomeranian Agricultural Education Center
  
  The conference had an informative character, was directed mainly to Pomeranian farmers. One of presentations was a lecture about eutrophication of the Baltic Sea and influence of rural areas on state of the sea, presented by prof. Grazyna Kowalewska. Detailed information about the conference on www.wabproject.pl.

• Brochure 'Eutrophication of the Baltic Sea'

Archive

Part-financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund). South Baltic Cross-Border CO-Operation Programme 2007 - 2013 (3rd Call).