As of this year, it is the state that finances the pollen monitoring throughout the country, and it is the Environmental Archaeological Laboratory at Umeå University that has taken over responsibility for the execution in Umeå.
The starting plan was to start with the pollen measurements in February, but the start of the project is delayed.
- We have encountered unpredictable technical and administrative thresholds, but I hope that we can get started with the measurements very soon, says Johan Linderholm, who is an associate professor of environmental archeology and senior lecturer at the Department of Idea and Social Studies at Umeå University.
The process of collecting pollen will be done with the same type of pollen trap as before, but in parallel a simpler image system will also be introduced.
Still looking for the right place for the measurements
However, the pollen trap that previously stood on the roof of the regional hospital must be moved to a location closer to the laboratory on the university campus.
And the exact location is still not nailed.
- It has not been entirely easy.
The pollen trap should stand 15-20 meters up in the air in a safe place that is easy to get to.
But now it feels good to say that we are very close to a solution, says Johan Linderholm.
In addition to collecting pollen data for the daily pollen reports, the Environmental Archaeological Laboratory in Umeå will also use the data for research.