Monitoring hydrography, water quality & contaminants for the Belgian continental shelf area and Western Scheldt [Monitoring hydrografie, waterkwaliteit en contaminanten voor het Belgische continentaal plat en de Westerschelde]
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Description
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. more
Since 1977 the 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 - 3m almost didn't changed.
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.
Used instruments : SCTD probes, Beckman salinometer, Niskin bottles, box corers, grab samplers and beam trawl. Laboratory analytical equipment.