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The demand for information on status and trends of the European environment is continuously increasing. The general public, decision makers and researchers are major interest groups in this context. The purpose of the Environmental Marine Information System (EMIS) web site is to enhance the understanding of particular marine phenomenon by providing information derived from research on various key variables and environmental indices.
Marine eutrophication has been chosen as first example for several reasons: 1) it mirrors the impact from terrestrial anthropogenic activities like agriculture and urban settlement on marine ecosystems in general and on water quality in particular, and 2) eutrophication is addressed in a number of EU policies i.e., Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, Nitrates Directive, Water Framework Directive and the developing Thematic Strategy for the Protection and Conservation of the Marine Environment.
Moreover eutrophication is a key issue in the work performed by the regional marine commissions (Helsinki Commission, Oslo / Paris Commission, Black Sea Commission, Mediterranean Action Plan).
This web site will allow the user to obtain detailed spatial and temporal information for the European regional seas on:
- physical variables (mainly generated by numerical models)
- biological variables (derived from satellite remote sensing)
- indices on eutrophication sensitivity and oxygen depletion risk
Further and complementary information on this subject is provided by the European Environment Agency/EEA, which is regularly publishing reports on thematic areas like water, air, waste, transport and climate change.
The developments of EMIS are linked to the advancements of the Water Information System for Europe (WISE) which does not include, at the moment, marine information.
