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  3. WFD Cycle 2 TraC macroalgae classification

WFD Cycle 2 TraC macroalgae classification

Summary

This dataset is a subset of “ WFD Classification Status Cycle 2” and contains classification data for the Macroalgae biological element in transitional and coastal water bodies. Macroalgae communities (seaweeds) can be used to indicate the ecological status of an estuary or coastal water body. A number of tools are used to measure metrics of composition and abundance for different types of macroalgae communities. Up to two tools used for assessing transitional water bodies are Opportunistic Macroalgae and Fucoid Extent. Up to two tools used for assessing coastal water bodies include Opportunistic Macroalgae and Rockshore Macroalgae. Each tool compares actual (observed) metric scores against reference conditions (reflecting a water body in pristine condition). The comparison of the observed to expected scores is known as an Ecological Quality Ratio (EQR). The EQRs score from the tool assessments are use to produce the Macroalgae classification (High, Good, Moderate, Poor, Bad) of the water body for Water Framework Directive (WFD) purposes.

Categories

Use limitation statement

There are no public access constraints to this data. Use of this data is subject to the licence identified.

Attribution statement

© Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2016. 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

Geographic extent

  • Latitude from: 49.943 to 55.816
  • Longitude from: -6.236 to 2.072
Metadata information

Language

English

Metadata identifier

3a77b648-cd9f-4291-9a04-93773217afe9


Published by

Environment Agency

Contact publisher

Defra Data Services Forum

Dataset 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 interestLinkAction
Full downloads and supporting documentationFormatAction
WFD_SW_Classification_Status_and_Objectives_Cycle2_v3.xlsxXLSXDownload