The IOW operates the observation platform Arkona Buoy for the BSH. Since 2004, the station is located at the position 54°53' N, 13°52' E (north-east of Rügen). Due to the planned further dedication of suitable areas for offshore wind farms in the region of the Arkona Basin of the Western Baltic Sea by the Federal Republik of Germany within EEZ, the Arkona Buoy needs to be relocated.

By means of highly accurate multi-decadal model simulations we will investigate whether a relocation of the station to an alternative measuring location allows for comparable information about temporal occurrence, spatial distribution and inflowing amounts of North Sea water.

The long-term time series that has been obtained by means of the Arkona Buoy for inflow events of salty and oxygenated North Sea water into the Baltic Sea is of great national and international importance. The exact knowledge of these events is essential for the evaluation of the physical, chemical and biological state of the Baltic Sea in the region of the Arkona Sea and the Batlic Sea basins further east. The results serve the international treaty for the protection of the Baltic Sea, HELCOM, as well as the fulfilment of the EU directives WFD and MSFD.