WFD Cycle 2 transitional phytoplankton classification
Summary
This dataset is a subset of "WFD Classification Status Cycle 2" and contains classification data for phytoplankton in transitional (between freshwater river and salty coastal water) 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 transitional 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 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.
Categories
Keywords
Use limitation statement
There are no public access constraints to this data. Use of this data is subject to the licence identified.
Licence
Open Government LicenceAttribution statement
© Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2015. All rights reserved.
Technical information
Update frequency
annually
Lineage
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.
Spatial information
Coordinate reference system
http://www.opengis.net/def/crs/EPSG/0/27700Geographic extent
- Latitude from: 49.943 to 55.816
- Longitude from: -6.236 to 2.072
Metadata information
Language
English
Metadata identifier
08ba601f-31a6-4b03-9c4b-a03aa3b8319c
Published by
Environment Agency
Contact publisher
Defra Data Services ForumDataset reference dates
Creation date
09 December 2015
Revision date
N/A
Publication date
N/A
Period
- From: 02 December 2015
Search
Data and Supporting Information
Data services and download by area of interest | Link | Action |
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Full downloads and supporting documentation | Format | Action |
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WFD_SW_Classification_Status_and_Objectives_Cycle2_v3.xlsx | XLSX | Download |