Pollen in the Baltic Sea as viewed from space

Multi-sensor satellite images often show recurrent image slicks in the Baltic Sea. Based on historical reports, laboratory experiments, and spectral diagnostics, these image slicks are determined to be caused by pine (Pinus sylvestris) pollen aggregations as opposed to surface scums of cyanobacteria or other floating matters. This attribution is because the reflectance spectral shapes of these image slicks resemble those of pollen grains, which are all different from other floating matters. They all show rapid reflectance increase from ∼400 to ∼500 nm, beyond which the reflectance shape appears to plateau. During the 22-year period of 2000–2021, satellite images indicated large amounts of pollen grains in 14 years, with the earliest day being May 10 (in 2000) and the latest day being June 16 (in 2006). The longest duration in a single year is 22 days, from May 12 to June 2 of 2018. The waters containing pollen grains have expanded significantly in recent years, encompassing nearly the entire Baltic Sea. Because pollen grains contain a significant amount of carbon and have distinctive optical properties from other particles, these findings have significant implications on carbon sequestration, marine ecology, bio-optics, ocean color calibration/validation, and remote sensing of marine debris.