WFD Cycle 2 coastal phytoplankton classification
This dataset is a subset of "WFD Classification Status Cycle 2" and contains classification data for phytoplankton in coastal water bodies. Phytoplankton are microscopic primary producers and form the basis of the food chain. They utilise sunlight energy and dissolved nutrients converting these into organic materials which are often consumed by higher life forms such as fish. As phytoplankton are short lived and derive their nutrients from the water; they are an ideal indicator of changing nutrient conditions and therefore useful for assessing pollution of coastal waters In natural waters a high number of different species of phytoplankton would be expected with high levels of growth in the spring and autumn (blooms). There would be a natural population decline due to nutrient depletion and grazing pressures in the summer. Phtyoplankton population data, group succession and chlorophyll data are used in combination to produce scores known as Ecological Quality Ratios (EQR). EQRs are used to produce a Phytoplankton classification (High, Good, Moderate, Poor, Bad) of the water body for Water Framework Directive (WFD) purposes. Attribution statement: © Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2015. All rights reserved.
dataset
protocol: http
name: WFD_SW_Classification_Status_and_Objectives_Cycle2_v3.xlsx
description: WFD_SW_Classification_Status_and_Objectives_Cycle2_v3.xlsx download on Defra Data Services Platform
097ec932-1ece-4c1a-8c1d-807e291bdd93
eng
http://www.opengis.net/def/crs/EPSG/0/27700
environment
environment
EC directive
publication
2010-01-13
water quality
publication
2010-01-13
-6.236
2.072
55.816
49.943
2015-12-02
2099-12-31
creation
2015-12-09
annually
The Water Framework Directive classification system is risk based and focuses on where there is likely to be a problem. It uses a principle known as "one out, all out", which means the poorest individual results drive the overall classification for a water body. It reports on over 30 quality elements, grouped into ecological status and chemical status. Ecological status includes physico-chem (e.g. nutrients, pH, dissolved oxygen, ammonia) , biological elements (e.g. phytoplankton, macroalgae, fish, invertebrates) , specific pollutants (e.g. metals and compounds, organic compounds) , hydromorphology (e.g. depth, width, flow, structure). Chemical status is assessed using priority substances, priority hazardous substances and other pollutants that present a significant risk to the water environment.
Proprietary format | MS Excel (XLS)
Unknown
Open Government Licence
There are no public access constraints to this data. Use of this data is subject to the licence identified.
There are no public access constraints to this data. Use of this data is subject to the licence identified.
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2024-01-02