Environment

The geological history of the island Hailuoto

The Fennoscandian center of uplift after the ice age is located in Bothnian Sea (Fig.). In Hailuoto the land rises ca. 8 mm annually. The first islands rose from the sea about 2000 years ago. During the 18th century the land areas Luoto, Hanhinen and Santonen were islands separated by the strait Kirkkosalmi (Fig) .

By 1871 Luoto and Hanhinen are joined, but Santonen still remains separate (Fig) .

Connection to the mainland will, however, still require centuries.

Bothnian Bay

Baltic Sea was formed after the latest ice age only some thousands of years ago. Salinity in the Bothnian Bay is low, only 0.1-0.3 % compared to 3-4 % in the oceans. Only a few species have adapted to this brackish water environment, which implies extreme vulnerability to environmental changes.

The Bothnian Bay freezes every winter, but the global warming may affect the length of ice-covered period, the thickness and the movements of the ice. Geophysicists have already over decade studied the formation, structure and movements of ice, and interaction between water, ice and snow. These studies aim at forecasting how the ice-cover will change with the predicted global warming.  Also the biota inside the ice (including algae, bacteria and protozoans) and their contribution in the nutrient cycle has recently been taken under study. 

Mainland

There are many endangered species in the littoral vegetation of Bothnian Bay, as for example Primula nutans, Arctophila fulva and Puccinella phryganoides. Population biology, spreading biology and ecology of these species has been studied intensively.

There is a lot of light in the open shores of Hailuoto. The effects of ultraviolet radiation on the mosses and lichens is studied at the courtyard of the station. Defoliation of pine needles and the accompanying environmental factors is studied in the forests of Hailuoto.

One typical species for the dunes of Hailuoto is the velvet ant (Formica cinerea), which creates large nets of nests. By studying these social insects it is possible to clarify the background of social behavior in a wider sense.

The research station has is a long tradition in bird studies, which include e.g. population ecology of some threatened species and annual line counting. There are many good sites and view towers to follow bird migration in spring and autumn in Hailuoto.

Climate

Average monthly air temperature peaks in July at about 15 – 20 °C (Figure) . Lowest daily records in winter are usually aroud –30 °C. In spring and early summer a cold breeze from the pelagial often makes the weather feel cooler than in the mainland.

Ice covers the sea around Marjaniemi usually from late November to late May. Highest annual surface water temperature is about 20 °C reached usually in late July – early August.

Safety instructions for outdoor work in Bothnian Bay Research Station