Copernicus för kommunal kust- och havsförvaltning

: Satellitbaserad marin miljöövervakning som möjlighet för svenska kustkommuner

Abstract

This study examines the potential for integrating the EU’s Earth observation program into municipal marine environmental monitoring. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, comprising a survey, document and literature analysis, and a technical evaluation through the practical testing of Copernicus platforms. An initial survey among Swedish coastal municipalities within the KIMO network reveals that Copernicus satellite-based marine services are currently not utilized. Consequently, this study evaluates the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS) and the Copernicus Browser to assess how satellite remote sensing can complement municipal monitoring of various marine parameters. In the first phase, CMEMS environmental analysis products are analyzed via the MyOcean Pro platform, focusing on physical and biogeochemical processes. The second phase utilizes Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3 satellite data via the Copernicus Browser to identify and interpret marine environmental changes, including the distinction between natural and anthropogenic processes, organic versus inorganic turbidity, and the spatial extent of cyanobacterial and algal blooms along the Swedish west and east coasts.The results indicate that Swedish "Case 2 waters" remain optically complex for remote sensing applications, and that the lack of field validation constitutes a significant limitation. Regional calibration is therefore a critical prerequisite for future municipal workflows. Given that the Copernicus program is a cornerstone of the work performed by Swedish national expert agencies, this study underscores the necessity for nationally coordinated guidance and standardized practices to support municipal implementation, in accordance with relevant EU directives.

Date of Award	2026-Jun
Original language	Swedish
Supervisor	Adina Strunk (Supervisor) & Stefan Trobro (Examiner)