Excess nutrient load, eutrophication and associated hypoxia, and global warming are placing increasing pressure on the Baltic Sea ecosystem. To plan efficient management and protective measures, it is necessary to determine the long-term variability and forcing factors of the sea environment. Fermaid project will determine, for the first time, the climatic and anthropogenic forcing of the Baltic Sea ecosystem during the past 7000 years, as recorded in the geochemical composition of ferromanganese concretions. Ferromanganese concretions are discoidal aggregates of iron and manganese oxides that are fairly common in the coastal seafloor. We will produce proxy records at up to 3-20 years resolution by mass-spectrometric microanalysis, supplemented by microbiological studies. We will determine the potential of dissolution of ferromanganese concretions in the predicted warming climate, intensifying eutrophication and hypoxia, and the consequent release of nutrients and metals to the sea.

Increasing the uptake of geothermal resources beyond volcanic and rifting areas offers near-unlimited energy for multiple spheres of our economy and society, including direct heating and electricity generation. However, finding these resources is a global challenge that will require a new understanding of how heat is stored and transferred in lower-temperature settings. Our project identifies the natural processes that create deep crystalline reservoirs in relatively lower-temperature areas, with a particular interest in the EU Nordic region. We will combine geophysical datasets, information from deep boreholes, outcropping rocks, and microscopic observations into a unified model that explains how these rock formations perform as geothermal reservoirs. As a result, we will de-risk deep drilling uncertainties and ensure that large geothermal resources can become economically available globally – key to achieve our energy security while supporting global decarbonisation goals.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic and ubiquitous in the Finnish aquatic environment. To date, little is known about PFAS contamination in groundwater, the main drinking water source in Finland. The novel research and methodological approach of EMERGING-FLOW will provide fundamental new understanding about the mechanisms and rates of PFAS transfer in groundwater and surface water, retention in aquifers and ultimate delivery to the Baltic Sea. The project goals will be achieved through a unique combination of field investigation, groundwater age-dating tracers and numerical modelling. This in-depth PFAS study takes place in the Vantaa River watershed (Southern Finland), where the highest PFAS concentrations in Finland have been observed. EMERGING-FLOW addresses a critical knowledge gap on PFAS transport in the subsurface and project results will guide decision-making regarding mitigation actions and drinking water treatment.

ECO-WADE targets European peatlands, crucial for climate adaptation and mitigation at the intersection of groundwater, surface water, and terrestrial landscapes. Peatlands support EU and national climate policies, with rewetting degraded areas as a key measure. Despite the central role of peatland hydrology, especially groundwater processes, knowledge and detailed mapping across Europe are limited. ECO-WADE addresses these gaps by investigating three ecosystem services: Water Purification, Water Regulation, and Climate Regulation. Case studies in four countries will link hydrology with these services. Using Copernicus Earth data, high-resolution maps of water table depth, drainage, and land use will be produced. The effects of rewetting will be analyzed through fieldwork, modeling, and collaboration with stakeholders to develop an ecosystem assessment tool. Insights will guide future climate adaptation and ecosystem management across Europe.

We study the interactions between groundwater and seawater in coastal groundwater formations to secure the availability of drinking water and the good status of the marine environment. Uncontrolled exploitation of coastal aquifers (pumping) can reduce the flow of groundwater towards the sea, allowing seawater to intrude into the aquifer, reducing its water quality. On the other hand, groundwater discharging directly into the sea (for example, seabed springs) can transport significant amounts of nutrients and dissolved carbon, causing eutrophication and acidification of the coastal sea. We develop advanced modeling methods to understand these processes and to enable the management of coastal groundwater resources and the sustainable use of marine space. In the models, we take into account the effects of sea level rise, increasing drought and intensifying heavy rains due to climate change. Our research area covers the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and the Norwegian Sea.