The Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) is a research and service agency under the Ministry of Transport and Communications. FMI produces reliable information on the state of the atmosphere and the sea as well as their characteristics and phenomena, in order to promote safety and serve various needs of the public, industry and commerce while contributing to scientific ends. FMI employs more than 650 people, about 300 of which are involved in research activities.
Marine research at the FMI aims to monitor and examine ocean and sea-ice processes in the polar oceans, and to understand how they interact with the climate. This research creates a foundation that is necessary for developing and improving forecasts and operative models and services, leading to safer sea transports and helping to prevent damage to the environment. Marine research interests at the FMI include the development of marine observational systems, understanding variability and changes of the physical environment in the polar oceans, development of ice-ocean numerical models, development of operational oceanography modelling systems, and remote sensing methods.
Recent Arctic Ocean activities of the FMI include MOSAiC sea ice and atmospheric research, developing SAR and radar altimeter-based methods for sea ice remote sensing, utilizing NEMO/SI3 model in operational production and climate research as well as providing ice drifters and Argo-floats for Arctic Ocean monitoring.
