Press releases from the Finnish Meteorological Institute

Spring began in April

Eija Vallinheimo — Tue, 14 May 2013 04:34:00 GMT

Spring began in April

14.5.2013 7:34

Thermal spring began throughout the country by mid-April. Precipitation was higher than average in places.

Photo: Tuija Vuorinen

The monthly mean temperature varied between 2°C in southern Finland and -2°C in northern Lapland. Compared to the long term average, temperature anomaly was at its highest in southwestern part of the country where mean temperature was about 1.5°C colder than normal. The highest temperature of 13.8°C was recorded at Helsinki Kumpula on the 25th of April. The lowest temperature of -29.6°C was recorded at Sodankylä Lokka on the 9th of April.
The monthly precipitation was around 30-50 mm in most parts of the country. In parts of western coast and Northern Ostrobothnia the monthly precipitation was around 1.5 times greater than normal. The highest daily precipitation of 25.1 mm was recorded at Merikarvia on the 18th of April.
Thermal spring started throughout country by mid-April. The start of the spring was late in southern part of Finland by 0.5 – 2 weeks but in the north, it started 1 – 2 weeks earlier than average. At the end of the month, snow only covered the majority of Lapland, which is a smaller area than normal.

Additional information:

Weather statistics from the Climate Service, tel. 0600 1 0601 (€ 4.01/min. + local network charge)
Weather forecasts from the meteorologist on duty, 24 hours a day, tel. 0600 1 0600 (€ 4.01/min. + local network charge)

Weather statistics for April (in Finnish): http://ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/huhtikuu

The Finnish Meteorological Institute’s weather application for iPhone and Android phones:
http://en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/smartphones

Estonia's first satellite carries a tether for testing the electric sail

Eija Vallinheimo — Wed, 08 May 2013 04:20:00 GMT

Estonia's first satellite carries a tether for testing the electric sail

8.5.2013 7:20

ESTCube-1, Estonia's first satellite, was successfully launched into orbit. The purpose of the satellite is to measure the electric sail effect. The Finnish Meteorological Institute bears the main responsibility for the payload.

Photo: Alexandre Szames, Antigravité, Paris

Using a Vega rocket, Estonia’s first satellite ESTCube-1 was successfully launched into orbit early Tuesday morning from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. After the launch, everything has proceeded according to plan. ESTCube-1 is orbiting the Earth and a radio link has been established with the satellite.

The main payload of the small satellite, which weighs about one kilogram, consists of a 10-metre electric sail tether and an electron gun used for charging the tether. The principal goal of the mission is to test the opening of the tether and to measure the electric sail effect in space by deploying the 10-metre tether and by charging it to 500 volts. The satellite also carries a camera for monitoring the behaviour of the tether in space and for taking images of the Earth.

If the electric sail principle works as planned, it will enable fast and economical transportation in the solar system without consuming any propellant. It also offers an efficient way to prevent the accumulation of space debris by bringing satellites back into the atmosphere once their service life is over.

The ESTCube-1 satellite was built by space technology students at Tartu University. The Finnish Meteorological Institute has the main responsibility for the electric sail payload. Important components were built at the Electronics Research Laboratory of the University of Helsinki (electric sail tether), the Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyväskylä (electron gun), the University of Eastern Finland (nanographite cathode for the electron gun), and at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) (motorised tether reel).

Additional information:

Research Manager Pekka Janhunen, tel. +358 29 539 4635, pekka.janhunen@fmi.fi

http://www.electric-sailing.fi (electric sail)
http://www.estcube.eu (ESTCube-1 satellite)
http://arianespace.tv/ (video of the launch)

Climate change will raise the sea level in the Gulf of Finland

Eija Vallinheimo — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 07:20:00 GMT

Climate change will raise the sea level in the Gulf of Finland

29.4.2013 10:20

The Finnish Meteorological Institute has updated its estimates concerning the impact of rising sea levels on the Finnish coast.

Photo: Eija Vallinheimo

Post-glacial rebound and changes in the Earth’s gravity field protect the Finnish coast against rising sea levels, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia. In the Gulf of Finland, the sea level is starting to rise.

The rise in ocean levels varies regionally

Global warming raises ocean levels at an accelerating pace, currently on average about three millimetres per year. The reasons for this are the thermal expansion of sea water and the melting of glaciers. It is estimated that by the end of this century, ocean levels will rise at least about 20 centimetres. The highest estimates are nearly two metres.

There is, however, great regional variation in the rise, for reasons such as the uneven warming of seas, changes in the Earth’s gravity field, and changes in the circulation of seas. The Finnish Meteorological Institute has used the latest scientific publications to estimate the impact of these regional factors on the Finnish coast.
As glaciers melt, mass will shift from continents into seas. In consequence, the Earth’s gravity field and the height of the Earth’s crust will be altered. The mass of continental glaciers will no longer attract sea water as strongly as before. In addition, the Earth’s crust will rise under the lighter glacier. For this reason, the rise in the sea level will be minor near the melting glacier, whereas the rise will be felt more acutely further away from the glacier.In consequence, the melting of the continental glacier in Greenland will have a fairly small impact on the Finnish coast. The regional rise in Finland will remain below the global average.

The characteristics of the Baltic Sea affect the Finnish coast

In addition to the regional rise in ocean levels, local events in the Baltic Sea affect the sea level changes on the Finnish coast. In Finland, the uplift of the land after the last glacial period is still 4–10 millimetres per year. Moreover, climate models predict stronger western winds, which will push water into the Baltic Sea through the Danish straits and water will accumulate against the Finnish coast.
So far, post-glacial rebound has offset the rise in sea level in Finland, but the situation is gradually changing on the southern coast. It is estimated that the sea level will start to rise in the Gulf of Finland. In the Gulf of Bothnia, the uplift is still likely to even out the sea level rise in the coming decades.

If the highest projections come to pass, the sea level will rise everywhere on the Finnish coast: by as much as 90 centimetres in the Gulf of Finland by the end of the century, by 65 cm in the Bothnian Sea and by about 30 cm in the Bay of Bothnia.

The current estimate concerns the change in the average sea level in the long term. In addition, the impact of waves and other changes in the short-term variation of the sea level must be taken into account in building and other activities on the coast. In the near future, the Finnish Meteorological Institute will update its estimates of the lowest recommended building heights, where these factors will also be considered.

Additional information:

Research Scientist Hilkka Pellikka, tel. +358 50 380 2649, hilkka.pellikka@fmi.fi
Research Professor Kimmo Kahma, tel. +358 40 721 5955, kimmo.kahma@fmi.fi

COSMO-SkyMed satellites provide data for the whole of the Arctic

Emmi Lehikoinen — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:03:00 GMT

COSMO-SkyMed satellites provide data for the whole of the Arctic

12.3.2013 15:03

The Finnish Meteorological Institute and e-GEOS of Italy cooperate by processing data provided by four COSMO-SkyMed radar satellites. The data sent by the satellites are received at the Finnish Meteorological Institute's Arctic Research Centre located in Sodankylä.

Photo: Jouni Vainio

Besides receiving satellite data, the Institute participates in the analysis of COSMO-SkyMed observation material. This cooperation improves the observation of the state of the environment, its characteristics and changes, especially in the northern and Arctic regions. The data also play a role in the mapping of risks and opportunities pertaining to climate change. For instance, last autumn the satellite images were used for analysing floods in Kauhajoki and the extent of the Talvivaara mining accident. The Finnish Meteorological Institute has the exclusive right to sell and distribute COSMO-SkyMed images in Finland.

The COSMO-SkyMed satellites use radar (SAR) to observe the Earth. The radar is able to conduct first-rate, high-resolution measurements at short notice irrespective of the weather and lighting conditions. The Sodankylä station receives observations from the entire Baltic Sea region and extensively from Arctic areas. In the future, it will be possible to collect observations from locations around the world. The data sets are utilised, for instance, for monitoring the ice situation and changes in the northern polar region. The satellite observations are particularly important for enhancing the safety of winter navigation.

“The economic, political and scientific importance of the Arctic is increasing rapidly. Covered by ice in winter, the Baltic Sea has gained a more important role as a key transport channel for natural resources and industrial products. Combined with Finnish know-how of ice service and weather safety, the COSMO-SkyMed satellite material offers excellent new opportunities for producing innovative services for the Arctic region and the Baltic Sea,” says Research Professor Jouni Pulliainen of the Finnish Meteorological Institute. Because climate change proceeds more rapidly in the northern regions than elsewhere in the world, climate and marine research benefits greatly from the new satellite data.

Owned jointly by the Italian Space Agency and the Italian company Telespazio, e-GEOS is one of the world’s leading companies providing satellite services. It is involved in several projects, especially in the sector of marine observation. The Sodankylä satellite station also has cooperation with NASA, the European Space Agency ESA and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites EUMETSAT.

Research Professor Jouni Pulliainen of the Finnish Meteorological Institute gave a talk on this topic at the Arctic seminar held in Rovaniemi on 12 March.

Additional information:

Jouni Pulliainen, tel. +358 29 539 4701, jouni.pulliainen@fmi.fi

The Finnish Meteorological Institute measures aerosols and greenhouse gases all year round in Antarctica

Eija Vallinheimo — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 06:45:00 GMT

The Finnish Meteorological Institute measures aerosols and greenhouse gases all year round in Antarctica

11.3.2013 8:45

On 4 February, the Finnish Meteorological Institute started year-round aerosol and greenhouse gas measurements in Antarctica, at the Marambio research station maintained by Argentina. The measurements are used to study the progression of climate change, its causes and consequences.

Photo: Eija Asmi

Measurements of aerosols and greenhouse gases in Antarctica provide a comprehensive and highly interesting addition to research conducted in the cold polar regions. They contribute significantly to the monitoring of the extent and impacts of climate change. No equally comprehensive year-round measurements have been conducted on the Antarctic Peninsula before. Thus, they may also reveal new, unpredictable phenomena and processes.

Many new measuring instruments for Antarctica

At the end of February, three researchers of the Finnish Meteorological Institute returned from Antarctica, where they had spent a month installing new measuring instruments and training the permanent crew to maintain the equipment. During the trip, a brand new measuring container was installed a short distance away from the research station buildings. The container houses instruments that measure the optical properties, numbers and chemical composition of aerosol particles, as well as the concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane. A new weather station and a measurement point for the UV albedo of snow were also set up. “Installation of the equipment succeeded as planned. All instruments work in real time and data are transferred to Finland every week,” says Research Scientist Eija Asmi of the Finnish Meteorological Institute.

The measurements are conducted in cooperation with Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (SMN) of Argentina. SMN scientists and technicians are responsible for the year-round maintenance of the instruments at the Marambio station. From Finland, the University of Helsinki also contributes to the project.

Responsibility for logistics at the station is vested in the Argentinian Air Force, which also helped to transport and install the measuring instruments. The measurements are a substantial addition to the long-standing research collaboration between the institutes, which began with ozone soundings in Marambio as early as 1988.

Additional information:

Research Scientist Eija Asmi, tel. 029 539 5352, eija.asmi@fmi.fi
Research Scientist Edith Rodriguez, tel. 029 539 2167, edith.rodriguez@fmi.fi
Research Scientist Kimmo Neitola, tel. 029 539 2051, kimmo.neitola@fmi.fi
http://en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/GHG-measurement-sites#Marambio

The Marambio research station is located on an island at the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula (64o14.7’ S; 56o37.8’ W).

A winter with few hours of sunshine

Eija Vallinheimo — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 06:36:00 GMT

A winter with few hours of sunshine

11.3.2013 8:36

February was markedly milder than normally. The statistics compiled by the Finnish Meteorological Institute show that the most significant feature for the whole winter was the cloudy weather type. The number of sunshine hours measured was the lowest for the past 50 years.

Kuva: Eija Vallinheimo

According to the Finnish Meteorological Institute, the mean temperature for February ranged from about -2° C on the west coast to about -10° C in some areas of Northern Lapland. Seen against the long-term average, February was milder than normally in the whole of Finland

The greatest difference, or about five degrees Celsius, was measured in the easternmost areas of Finland, and the smallest difference, 1–2 degrees, in Enontekiö and in the northernmost Lapland. The lowest temperature for the month was -34.0° C, recorded in Kevojärvi, Utsjoki on 7 February. The highest temperature was 8.0° C, measured in Jomala, in the Åland Islands, on 27 February.

Monthly precipitation was the highest in Uusimaa and in some localities of Eastern Finland and Northwest Lapland, where the precipitation reached 30 to 40 millimetres. The least precipitation was recorded in Northern Lapland, where the figure was around 10 mm. Among individual observation stations, the most precipitation was measured in Kumpula, Helsinki, where the monthly figure was 44.8 millimetres. The lowest figure was 5.5 mm, measured in Nellim, Inari. The greatest daily precipitation was 16.9 mm, measured in Urajärvi, Asikkala, on 8 February.

At the end of the month, the thickest snow cover on the ground was 70–90 cm in Western Lapland. In southern and central parts of the country, the snow cover was about half a metre; in the west, however, it was less. When compared against the long-term average at this time of the year, snow thickness was more or less normal in most of Finland.

The least number of sunshine hours for 50 years in some areas

The most significant feature of the weather in winter 2012–2013 was the small number of sunshine hours. There was clearly less sunshine than average throughout the country; in some localities, the figure was the lowest for the past 50 years.

The mean temperature for the winter months, or the period from December to February, ranged from about -3° C in Southwest Finland to nearly -12° C in Northwest Lapland. When compared against the long-term average, the mean temperature was slightly lower than usually in Southern and Western Finland. The coldest mean temperature in relation to the long-term average was measured in Southwest Finland, where it was nearly one degree colder than average. The eastern and northern parts of the country had somewhat milder weather than usually. The greatest difference to average temperatures was recorded in Northern Lapland, where the mean temperatures in many areas were over one degree milder than usually. The lowest temperature, -36.1° C, was measured in Kevojärvi, Utsjoki on 28 January. According to the Finnish Meteorological Institute, this was the first winter since 2007–2008 when the temperature did not fall to -40° C.

Precipitation for the winter months exceeded 120 millimetres in Southern Finland and in some localities in Western Finland, whereas in Northern Lapland precipitation was under 70 millimetres. Precipitation figures were lower than the long-term average in most of Finland. The greatest differences were recorded in Eastern Finland and Northern Lapland, where precipitation in some localities was just over half of the normal figures. Precipitation was above average only on the Åland Islands and in some localities in Uusimaa, in the Suomenselkä region and in Western Lapland. Among individual observation stations, the most precipitation was measured in Kumpula, Helsinki, where the figure was 183 millimetres. The lowest amount, 34 millimetres, was recorded in Näkkälä, Enontekiö. The highest daily precipitation, 30.7 millimetres, was measured in Torppi, Tornio, on 30 January.

Additional information:

Annual statistics: http://ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/vuositilastot

Weather forecasts from the meteorologist on call 24/7, tel. 0600 1 0600 (€4,01/min. + local network charge)
Weather statistics from the Climate Service, tel. 0600 1 0601 (€4,01/min. + local network charge)

February was mild throughout the country

Eija Vallinheimo — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 10:44:00 GMT

February was mild throughout the country

5.3.2013 12:44

February temperatures were above average. The amount of winter sunshine hours was in some locations the lowest in the last 50 years.

Photo: Antonin Halas

The monthly mean temperature varied between -2°C in western coast and -10°C in northern Lapland. Compared to the long term statistics, the temperatures were milder than average throughout the country.

The lowest temperature of -34.0 °C was recorded at Utsjoki on the 7th of February. The highest temperature of 8.0 °C was recorded at Jomalaby on the 27th of February.

The monthly precipitation was highest in Uusimaa and parts of eastern Finland and northwestern Lapland, where 30-40 mm of precipitation was recorded. This is close to the long term average values. Northern Lapland received the lowest amount of precipitation, only around 10 mm, which was below the average precipitation.

In some parts of the country, the winter months (December, January and February) were the cloudiest in the last 50 years. The winter mean temperature was slightly below the long term average in parts of southern and western Finland, whereas in eastern and northern parts of Finland it was above the long term average. This winter was the first winter since the winter 2007-2008, when the temperature didn't fall below -40°C.

Snow statistics: http://en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/snow-statistics

A milder than average January in the north

Nina Kukkurainen — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 12:41:00 GMT

A milder than average January in the north

1.2.2013 14:41

January was slightly colder than average in South-Finland but milder than average in northern parts of the country.

Photo: Antonin Halas

In eastern and northern Lapland the temperature anomaly was around 3 °C. The monthly mean temperature itself varied between -6 °C on the west coast and -11 °C in West-Lapland.

The lowest temperature of -36.1 °C was recorded at Utsjoki on the 28th of January.

Compared to long term statistics, South and Central-Finland had less than average precipitation whereas most of northern Finland received near average precipitation.

Snow depths at the end of the month were near average with around 80-90 cm in parts of Lapland. Near the west coast of Finland some areas had less than 10 cm of snow.

Snow statistics: http://en.ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/snow-statistics

The first Weather, Climate and Sea Award granted to President Tarja Halonen

Eija Vallinheimo — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 06:30:00 GMT

The first Weather, Climate and Sea Award granted to President Tarja Halonen

17.1.2013 8:30

President Halonen's meritorious contribution was recognised at the 175th anniversary celebration of the Finnish Meteorological Institute.

Photo: Veikko Somerpuro

Climate change and weather-related natural disasters are responsible for increasing economic and human losses the world over. “President Tarja Halonen has actively promoted the themes associated with adaptation to and mitigation of climate change,” said Director General Petteri Taalas at the Finnish Meteorological Institute’s 175th anniversary event, when presenting the award to President Halonen.

The Finnish Meteorological Institute established the award in its anniversary year to underscore the importance of weather impacts, climate change and seas in society and to recognise the work of people who have contributed actively to these themes. In the face of climate change, more frequently occurring extreme weather events, and society’s increasing sensitivity to weather, there is a need for both internationally and nationally active players and cooperation between various sectors.

In August 2010 President Halonen was appointed to lead the UN High-level Panel on Global Sustainability. She co-chaired the panel with Jacob Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa. The panel’s assignment was to investigate sustainable development especially from the perspective of climate change. Among other things, the panel was to explore issues associated with green, low-carbon economy, reduction of poverty and sustainable consumption. The panel was also given the task of studying whether international structures and funding should be revised to promote sustainable growth. The panel continued to work until the end of 2011, when it presented its final report and recommendations to the UN Secretary-General.

As part of its development cooperation efforts, Finland has actively contributed to the development of advance warning systems for extreme weather events and natural disasters in less developed countries. This is also of prime importance in adaptation to climate change. The Finnish Meteorological Institute is among the world’s leading actors in this field.

President Halonen also launched so-called ‘Presidential Forums’ with themes such as climate change, the Arctic region, the Baltic Sea and sustainable development. Moreover, she headed the Finnish delegation to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. For the last few years, President Halonen has acted as the patron of the Sustainable Development Summits held annually in India and has played a pivotal role in the international Koli Forums promoting the management of natural resources in the forest sector.

Henceforth, the Finnish Meteorological Institute will grant the award for work done for weather, climate and seas once a year.

Additional information:

Communications Manager Nina Kukkurainen, puh. 050 598 8242
nina.kukkurainen@fmi.fi

At 175 years, the Finnish Meteorological Institute is among the world's most advanced service-providers in its sector

Eija Vallinheimo — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 06:28:00 GMT

At 175 years, the Finnish Meteorological Institute is among the world's most advanced service-providers in its sector

17.1.2013 8:28

The Finnish Meteorological Institute has provided weather services important to the safety and functioning of society for 175 years.

IL Archives

Finland’s climate is exceptionally challenging for the various functions of society, especially transport. The demand for new and increasingly sophisticated weather services keeps rising as society becomes more sensitive to the impacts of weather. “The Institute’s activities are centred on our customers’ needs,” said Director General Petteri Taalas. “We are an international forerunner in our sector. We are well prepared for this, thanks to our solid expertise, our highly advanced 24/7 production system, and the first-rate atmospheric and marine research conducted at the Institute.”

Merja Kyllönen, Minister of Transport and Communications, emphasised the Finnish Meteorological Institute’s role as a safety authority. “High trust is placed in the Institute and society uses the Institute’s services widely in planning daily activities, in providing for emergencies and in preparing for global climate change,” Minister Kyllönen pointed out.

David Grimes, President of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) remarked that the research carried out by the Finnish Meteorological Institute has led to a much greater understanding of the complexities of the Earth system and its interactions with weather and climate. “The Finnish Meteorological Institute has proved itself to be a valued partner with WMO and a generous contributor to the global community,” Grimes commended. “The Institute is certainly one of the most advanced meteorological services in the world.”

Throughout the years, the research conducted at the Institute has met society’s new challenges. “At present, we are seeking answers to questions such as how climate change affects the various sectors of society, what kinds of threats and opportunities the changes will create; and what types of needs society will face,” Petteri Taalas explained. “The Arctic region and the changes occurring there are one of the priorities of our research and service development. The impacts of climate change here in the north are mostly positive, but when climate change is examined on a global scale, the negative effects are reflected in the northern regions as well.”

The impacts of climate change are also analysed in the book “The New North – the World in 2050”, by Laurence C. Smith, Professor of Earth & Space Sciences at University of California, Los Angeles. In his work, Smith presents a projection of what the world might look like within a few decades, should current global trends in population demographics, resource demand, economic globalisation, and climate change continue their current trajectories. Smith predicts that the “Northern Rim countries”, comprising Canada, the northern United States, Greenland/Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia, will experience profound transformation because of the above four trends. It will be a region of increasing global strategic value. “The world that we leave to our children and grandchildren will be wholly different from the world we know today,” Smith summarised his message.

The Finnish Meteorological Institute works actively with several international organisations, such as research institutions, national meteorological services, and cooperation organisations. John Hirst, Chief Executive of the Met Office in the UK, leads one of Europe’s foremost meteorological services. Hirst also considers it vital to society that decision-makers receive increasingly accurate and longer-term information about weather and climate conditions.“For instance, it must be possible to forecast dangerous weather events earlier than before,” Hirst said. “In addition, as climate change is progressing, reliable forecasts extending over longer periods are needed.”

Director General Petteri Taalas of the Finnish Meteorological Institute, WMO President David Grimes, Minister of Transport and Communications Merja Kyllönen, Professor Laurence C. Smith and Chief Executive John Hirst of the UK Met Office spoke at the 175th anniversary celebration of the Finnish Meteorological Institute. This year marks the 175th anniversary of the launch of the Finnish Meteorological Institute’s operations. The Institute’s earliest predecessor, the Magneto-Meteorological Observatory of the University of Helsinki, was established by a decision signed by Tsar Nicholas I on 28 March 1838. Even then, the Institute’s scientific pursuits were ambitious and its observations and services met the highest standards of the time. From this beginning, the Finnish Meteorological Institute has continued these traditions ever since.

Additional information:

Eija Vallinheimo, Information Officer, Finnish Meteorological Institute, tel. 029 539 2231