Eutrophication Assessment of Coastal and Marine Waters - … · 2020-03-17 · The Comprehensive...
Transcript of Eutrophication Assessment of Coastal and Marine Waters - … · 2020-03-17 · The Comprehensive...
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Uli ClaussenFederal Environment Agency
Section„Protection of the Marine Environment“
Eutrophication Assessment of Coastal and Marine Waters
- European Approaches -
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Dessausince 2005
German Federal Environment
Agency
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What is the problem?
Symptoms and Effects of Eutrophication
Eutrophication is a global problem !!!
Excellerated inputs
Algae blooms: algae overgrow
sea grassDecomposition of
algae: oxygendeficiency
Backstrokeswimmers
Nutrient inputsConversionprocesses
Primary effects
Secondary effects
Consequences
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Where are Eutrophication „Playgrounds“?
• International North Sea ConferencesMinisters decided to reduce nutrient inputs into eutrophied areas by 50 % within 10 years (1985 - 1995)
• OSPAR Convention (NE Atlantic)Strategy to Combat Eutrophication in 1997 (no eutrophication by 2010); Recommendations on 50 % reduction targets)、Common Procedure
• HELCOM Convention (Baltic Sea)BSAP 2007 (no eutrophication by 2021), periodic & thematic assessments, Recommendations on nutrient input reductions
• EU legislation (EU Coastal & Marine waters)Nitrates DirectiveUrban Waste Water Treatment DirectiveWater Framework Directive Marine Strategy Framework Directive
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Still Eutrophication „Playgrounds“
• BARCELONA Convention (Mediterranean Sea)Aim to reduce eutrophication within Med Action Plan Eutrophication assessment tool TRIX
• ISTANBUL Convention (Black Sea)Cooperation with HELCOM, UNEP & EU on eutrophicationassessment since 2004
• NEEA approach of NOAA (US Waters & POR)NOAA developed an eutrophication assessment tool especially aiming at US estuarine waters
• North West Pacific Action PlanNOWPAP is currently developing and testing an eutrophicationassessment tool (Toyama Bay case study)
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What did International North SeaConferences against eutrophication?
The International Conferences on theProtection of the North Sea in 1987 and 1990 agreed on a 50 % reduction of N and P inputs:• Aim to achieve a substantial reduction (of the
order of 50 %) in inputs of P & N into areas where they are likely, directly or indirectly to cause pollution between 1985 and 1995, or earlier if possible
• Take effective national steps to reduce nutrient inputs into areas
What about reductions in nutrient emissions into German Waters?
Nitrogen emissions in t/a
0
200.000
400.000
600.000
800.000
1.000.000
1.200.000
1983-1987 1993-1997 1998-2002 2002-2005
t N /
a
Phosphorus emissions in t/a
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
1983-1987 1993-1997 1998-2002 2002-2005
MWWTPMWWTP
IndustryIndustry
AtmosphericAtmosphericdepositiondeposition
PavedPaved urban urban areasareas
ErosionErosion
SurfaceSurfacerunoffrunoff
DrainageDrainage
GroundwaterGroundwater
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What is the EC Water Framework Directive?
New European Water Protection ApproachComplementary use of physico-chemical, hydro-morphological and biological quality elements for:
Prevention of further deterioration, protection and improvement of the status of aquatic ecosystems;reduction of certain hazardous substances and cessation or phasing-out of specific very hazardous substances;achieving and maintaining a good ecological status.
Draft map of RBDs
River Basin Districtsin Europe
• 96 in 23 memberstates
27 international69 national
• 14 in Norway
• 9 in new EC memberstates
River BasinManagement
in Europe
River Basin Districtsin Germany
• 6 international• 4 national
Water Bodies
• Groundwater - 980• Rivers – 8.850• Lakes – 780• Coast - 70
River BasinManagementfor Germany
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What are the Biological Quality Elements?
Biological Quality Parameters Elements
Aquatic flora* Composition & abundance
Phytoplankton Composition, abundance & blooms
Benthic invertebrates Composition, abundance, sensitive taxa & diversity
Fish Composition, abundance, sensitive taxa & age structure
* Macrophytes & Phytobenthos
EQR = 1
Poor status
Bad status
High status or reference conditions (RC)
No or very minor deviation from undisturbed conditions
Good statusSlight deviationfrom RC
Moderate status
Moderate deviationfrom RC
EQR = 0
EQR =Observed value
Reference value
How to classify Ecological Status?
EQR = Ecological Quality Ratio
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The Comprehensive ProcedureEutrophicationProcess
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How we defined Eutrophication
Eutrophication means the anthropogenicenrichment of water bodies by nutrientscausing an accelerated growth of algaeand higher forms of plant life to produce an undesirable disturbance to the balance of organisms present in the water and to thequality of the water concerned.
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Eutrophication Status of the North Sea(1985-1990)
Source: Nutrient inputs in Convention Area(OSPAR 1992)
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How we came to the Assessment Procedure
• First OSPAR eutrophication assessmentprocedure is not comparable between CPs
• Ministers for the Environment agreed on thetask to develop a common harmonisedassessment procedure for eutrophicationassessment in 1993
• Development of the Common Procedurefinalised in 1997
• First application completed in June 2003• Second application completed in June 2008
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What are the components of the OSPAR Common Procedure?
Adoption of the two steps of the Common Procedure for the Identification of theEutrophication Status in 1997:First step: Screening Procedure („broad brush“)
to identify obvious non-problem areasSecond step: Comprehensive Procedure providing
the division into three classes:Problem areaPotential problem areaNon-problem area
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How is assessment done?
EutroQO = RefCon ± AcDev, i.e.:EutroQO = Eutrophication Quality Objective
(target value)RefCon = Reference conditions (reference
value)AcDev = Acceptable deviation
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What is assessed?
The different assessment parameters aredivided into the following categories:• Degree of nutrient enrichment
(inputs and concentrations)• Direct effects (algae blooms, growth of
macrophytes)• Indirect/other possible effects (oxygen deficiency,
kills of benthos & fish)
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Which are the OSPAR EutrophicationAssessment Criteria?
Integrated set of obligatory criteria for theassessment of nutrient enrichment and eutrophication effects:• Winter concentrations DIN and DIP• Phytoplankton chlorophyll-a• Phytoplankton indicator species (abundance,
bloom occurence & duration)• Oxygen deficiency and possible consequences
(kills of benthos & fish)
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What are the assessed areas?
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How does OSPAR classify Eutrophication?
(+) = Increased trends, elevated levels, shifts or changes in the respective assessment parameters in Table 1 (-) = Neither increased trends nor elevated levels nor shifts nor changes in the respective assessment parameters in Table 1 Note: Categories I, II and/or III/IV are scored ‘+’ in cases where one or more of its respective assessment parameters is showing an increased trend, elevated level, shift or change.
Category I Degree of Nutrient
Enrichment
Category II Direct Effects
Category III and IV Indirect Effects/
Other Possible Effects
Classification
+ + and/or + Problem Area - + and/or + Problem Area + - - Potential Problem
Area - - - Non-Problem
Area
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Eutrophication Status of the North Sea(1985-1990)
Source: Nutrient inputs in Convention Area(OSPAR 1992)
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What is the Eutrophication Status of theNorth Sea in 2007?
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How is the Eutrophication Status of theGerman Bight?
3°E 4°E 5°E 6°E 7°E 8°E 9°E53.0°N
53.5°N
54.0°N
54.5°N
55.0°N
55.5°N
56.0°N
PA
PPA
3°E 4°E 5°E 6°E 7°E 8°E 9°E53.0°N
53.5°N
54.0°N
54.5°N
55.0°N
55.5°N
56.0°N
NPA
PA
34.5 summer34.5 winter
>34.5
< 34.5coastal water
EmsWeser
Elbe
Wadden SeaPPA
2003 2008
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HELCOM Eutrophication Assessment
• HEAT = HELCOM EutrophicationAssessment Tool
• Based on RefCon and definition of acceptable deviation (AcDev) according to WFD
• Split into 5 classes (high, good, moderate, poor and bad) as WFD
• The “One out, all out” principle is used according to WFD
• Different AcDEv’s can be used, e.g. 15% to 53% deviation from RefCon
• Weighting of parameters possible
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Integrated Assessment of theEutrophication Status of the Baltic Sea
Overall objective• Assess the eutrophication status for
the whole Baltic Sea on the basis of a harmonised approach
Additional objectives• Visualise and conceptualise effects &
extent of eutrophication in the Baltic Sea• Describe causes of eutrophication &
quantify nutrient inputs to the Baltic Sea• Assess the effectiveness of already
taken measures in order to indicate:i) to what extent the goals are fulfilled or not, andii) to what extent supplementary measures are required
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Overall Conclusions
• In Europe, we try to further harmonise eutrophicationassessment on a regional & pan-European scale;
• Developments are taking place in OSPAR, HELCOM, BARCELONA & ISTANBUL Conventions supervisedby the EU Commission;
• One important aim is compliance with the EC Water Framework Directive;
• NOAA has developed a similiar tool for eutrophicationassessment of estuaries (NEEA; ASSETS);
• HEAT & ASSETS are available on internet for test purposes.
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My Recommendations to NOWPAP are
• Consider to prepare a holistic checklist foreutrophication assessment parameters to guideusers in their selection of most indicative ones;
• Aim at a regional approach but achieve a far goingharmonisation to allow for comparable results & reduction efforts;
• Agree what reference conditions should reflect (e.g. undisturbed waters);
• Agree on a procedure to define boundary betweengood and bad (i.e. threshold for action);
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My Recommendations to NOWPAP are
• Consider inclusion of additional biological parameterssuch as phytoplankton indicator species (nuisanceand/or toxic), frequency & duration of blooms, massoccurence of macroalgae, depth distribution of eel-grass or kelp);
• Consider whether weighting could be a tool to differentiate between importance of parameters and data quality;
• Consider how to address quality assurance formeasurements including sampling (QA guidelines, GLP etc.).
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Thank you for your attention!
„Look – who cares what the nitrate level is?“
Thanks for contributions to:
• J. Andersen, DHI (DK)• V. Mohaupt , K. Blondzik, UBA (D)• U. Brockmann, Uni HH (D)