Algae Filtering Complex

Clean algae from arctic waters

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Tags

  • Finland

Categories

  • Caring for our wildlife

Description

 💎 Idea

Our idea is to limit the uncontrollable bloom of blue-green algae in the Arctic ocean. Every spring the algae, name given to the agglomeration of cyanobacteria that make them look like algae, blooms over vast areas of water - and lately, because of climate change, this natural process intensifies abnormally. The areas are turning into highly toxic environments, causing a variety of negative outcomes for all the marine lifeforms, as well being toxic for life on land, which can cause neurological problems to humans. To mitigate this effect, we suggest to deploy Algae Filtering Complex (AFC) near the most massive algae blooming sites. Our solution will also contribute to the following UN Sustainable Goals: life underwater and climate action. 

Each complex' filter contains a Cycloclasticus bacteria culture which consumes the blooming algae. Apart from that, the AFC is to be equipped with sensors to monitor water quality in real time.


🚀 EU space technologies

We'll use Copernicus data sets (mostly from Sentinel 1, 2 and 3), like "concentration of chlorophyll-a in sea water" for one, to deploy AFC devices more precisely and  to allow more efficient filtering. Several published studies already used similar datasets for identifying algae bloom.

To make sure devices are not lost in the sea, since they need to be collected for redeployment and also for sensor readings extraction, we'll equip them with GNSS trackers.


❄️ Connecting the Arctic

Keeping in mind the destructive impact blue-green algae has on Arctic wildlife, we're clearly addressing the "Caring for our wildlife" challenge. The project is connecting the Arctic by forming a framework of filters, which do both help to hold back the algae and to gather valuable data, improving efficiency of its own and conjugate systems.


Team 

Selene Cannelli: Archaeologists and Microbiologist

Daniel Godes: Business and solutions student in Haaga-Helia

Eloy Prieto Panadero: Physics Student at University of Granada, Spain 

Alexey Copylov: software developer

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