Bolmen

How is your research connected to Bolmen? 

Over the past two years, I have deployed sediment traps in Lake Bolmen to collect settling material rich in iron and organic carbon. This work is part of an ongoing research project investigating how iron drives particle aggregation and transports organic carbon from the water column to lake sediments.

What is the motivation of your research project? 

The Bolmen Research Station was established in 2017, and since then researchers from several universities have conducted studies at the site. In parallel, the station has welcomed thousands of students through the Tänk H2O! initiative. Until now, research activities have taken place in temporary facilities. However, through an agreement with the local operator Tiraholm Fish, permanent research facilities will now be constructed.

Are you interested in participating in a coordinated mesocosm experiment that investigates effects of terrestrial inputs of mineral particles on carbon and nutrient transformations, food web dynamics and metabolism across lakes?

From November 10–12, the SITES Secretariat, Station Managers, Thematic Program Leads, and representatives from all SITES stations gathered in Umeå for a three-day meeting dedicated to collaboration, knowledge sharing, and strategic planning.

The meeting opened with updates from the nine SITES research stations, highlighting ongoing projects, recent developments, and future plans across the stations.

Recent news has highlighted the impact of strong winds this summer on drinking water in the Stockholm area; SVT Stockholm on 20 Aug: Så har blåsiga sommaren tvingat stockholmare att snåla med vatten (translation: This is how the windy summer has forced Stockholmers to be frugal with water) and 

For three intensive days in May, project partners from six European countries (France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Sweden) came together in Lund for a partner meeting within the Blue Transition project. The event featured a full agenda of activities under the EU-funded Blue Transition initiative, which focuses on developing innovative solutions for future water supply and climate adaptation.

PFAS compounds are synthetic chemicals that are persistent in the environment and have been linked to potential health risks. Their presence in water bodies raises concerns about long-term contamination and ecological effects, making their monitoring crucial for effective control.

From January 28 to 31, a joint data retreat was held at Asa Research Station, bringing together members of the SITES Secretariat and colleagues from Asa and Bolmen. The focus was on publishing new data collected within the SITES Water Program to the SITES Data Portal.

Several key updates are now available:

Are you interested in conducting mesocosm experiments on lakes? SITES AquaNet provides a standardized infrastructure for running mesocosm studies across various lakes. This system features floating platforms with mesocosm enclosures, automatic sensors linked to a data-logging system, and handheld sensors for precise measurements. In this video you can find more information about SITES AquaNet!

How is climate change impacting mosquito species in Sweden? SITES stations are participating in a collaboration with researchers from a laboratory group affiliated with The University of Hong Kong to help answer this question. The project is being led by early career researcher Dr. Alexander Williams and his supervisor Prof. Tommy Lam with support from the International Network for Terrestrial Research and Monitoring in the Arctic (INTERACT).