Summary
of the latest meeting of
the Eutrophication Forum
The latest meeting took place on Wednesday, 4th March 2009 in
Nobel
House, London.
There were three related presentations.
The first was: -
'The coastal buoy network
in the North of Ireland with emphasis on
semi-impounded waterways' by Dr Adam Mellor, Fisheries and
Aquatic
Ecosystems, AFBI.
This described the network along with the monitored parameters.
Examples of the diagnostic benefits were provided by the Quoile Pondage
which is an impounded "Transitional" water body. The mechanisms for the
observed complete water column hypoxia/anoxia were discussed with those
present.
The second presentation was: -
'Operational monitoring
of eutrophication including the SmartBuoy
network and other autonomous data sources' by Dr David
Mills, CEFAS.
This described the SmartBuoy network and provided results together with
a view on how other autonomous data sources (e.g. satellites and
ferrybox) can be integrated to improve assessments of eutrophication.
The EMECO (European Marine Ecosystem Observatory) was also described.
EMECO is an informal European network for integration of monitoring,
modelling & research. See www.emecogroup.org
The third presentation was: -
'Remote sensing of
cyanobacteria in freshwaters' by Dr Andrew Tyler,
University of Stirling.
The need for remote sensing of cyanobacteria was outlined. In
particular cyanobacteria are a hazardous global phenomenon with risks
arising from both acute exposure and chronic exposure. Blooms are
spatially and temporally dynamic. However current field recognition
employs crude visual assessment, microscope cell counts, diagnostic
pigment analysis and in-situ diagnostic tests for toxins. However these
can underestimate the risks. Studies in the Norfolk Broads, Loch Leven
& Esthwaite Water were used to show how remote sensing can
provide a quantitative proactive monitoring capability.
Date of next meeting
The date of the next meetings has yet to be agreed.
