Towards Operational Monitoring of the Baltic Sea by Remote Sensing

Satellite remote sensing technology allows the assessment of various physical, biological and ecological parameters of water bodies on global and regional scales. Significant research effort was spent during the last years to develop and validate algorithms and processing schemes for operational monitoring applications. The paper reviews available sensors and technologies as well as results for different applications in the Baltic Sea, such as mapping of Phytoplankton and suspended matter, algal blooms by ocean colour or dynamic features using sea surface temperature. In this context it is evident, that automation and standardization of value added product derivation is an important basis to support near real-time request from the users side. A special focus will be put on coastal waters observations. The BMBF funded MERIS Application and Regional Products Project (MAPP) and the Satellitengestütztes Interpretations- und Bewertungsinstrument für das Küstenmonitoring des Landes Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (SIBIK) will be discussed as key research activities to develop and promote operational use of satellite data for monitoring and understanding processes in the Baltic Sea. Based on these results planned future activities and perspectives for contributions to operational monitoring systems will be presented