Over 30 sampling stations on the Belgian Continental Shelf area and Western Scheldt estuary + a few MMP/NSTF stations outside these limits

Ammonium and ammonia concentration parameters in water bodies; Air temperature; Atmospheric humidity; Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in sediment; Chlorophyll pigment concentrations in water bodies; Other physical and chemical properties of suspended particulate material; Wind strength and direction; Dissolved metal concentrations in the water column; Nitrate concentration parameters in the water column; Phosphate concentration parameters in the water column; Phaeopigment concentrations in sediment; Concentration of polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) in the water column; Salinity of the water column; Concentration of other organic contaminants in sediment samples; Secchi disk depth; Silicate concentration parameters in the water column; Temperature of the water column; Phaeopigment concentrations in the water column; Nitrite concentration parameters in the water column; Concentration of polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) in sediment samples; Metal concentrations in biota; Concentration of other organic contaminants in biota; Wave height estimates; Concentration of other organic contaminants in the water column; Dissolved trace metalloid and inorganic selenium concentrations in water bodies; Inorganic chemical composition of sediment or rocks

The monitoring of the North Sea environment, especially in the area of the Belgian continental shelf and in the estuary of the Scheldt river (Western Scheldt) was initiated at MUMM in 1977, with an almost unchanged pattern of about 25 sampling stations at sea and 7 in the estuary, each one being visited with a frequency of 6 to 10 times a year, and water being taken from a standard depth of 3 metres. Several laboratories from Belgian universities and State research institutes are currently participating in that monitoring effort. The monitoring results for contaminants in biota and sediment are mainly received from the Fisheries Department. A first quality control has been performed in order to mark or eliminate spurious data. Currently the database is being converted in a new integrated system with query facilities and an inventory on the web.

Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Operational Directorate Natural Environment, Belgian Marine Data Centre
Vautierstraat 29
Brussels

1000
Belgium