Environmental communication - Environmental data resources

Title

Reference

Volume 55, Issue 1, pages 39-57

Author(s)

Marta Ortega, Marc J. Metzger, Robert G.H. Bunce, Thomas Wrbka, Anna Allard, Rob H.G. Jongman & Ramón Elena-Rosselló

Study type

Peer Review Journal    

Abstract

The development of a co-ordinated system for monitoring European biodiversity that can provide policy makers with information to underpin the management of ecological resources requires an appropriate environmental stratification to facilitate sampling and data analysis. This paper quantifies the similarities between the European Environmental Stratification (EnS) and four regional stratifications to test whether the EnS is able to distinguish locally important environmental gradients. The results show that in general the EnS is comparable with regional stratifications, and resolves border effects where divergent environmental conditions are combined into dominant strata. However, some regional gradients are not discerned, illustrating the value of national stratifications to provide local detail within continental monitoring strata.

Policy theme(s)

Environmental information services >> Environmental communication >> Environmental data resources                                        

Keywords

environmental stratification, map comparison, Kappa statistic, monitoring, biodiversity observation network

Entry Source:

Shortlisted for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

View this study at:

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09640568.2011.575698
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Contact the study author at:

ramon.elena.rossello@upm.es

Title

Building a global observing system for biodiversity

Reference

Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability
Volume 4, Issue 1, February 2012, Pages 139–146

Author(s)

Study type

Peer Review Journal    

Abstract

The Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON) has been in formal existence for three years, following several years of design and discussion. It is the realisation of the biodiversity societal benefit area envisaged in the GEO System of Systems (GEOSS). GEO BON links together existing networks, each covering particular aspects of biodiversity or parts of the world, and takes steps to help fill important gaps in the system. GEO BON focuses on coordination and harmonisation of the existing and emerging systems; advocacy and action to sustain the observing systems and to fill the identified gaps; and understanding and servicing user needs for biodiversity observations, particularly in the policy-making domain.

Policy theme(s)

Environmental information services >> Environmental communication >> Environmental data resources                                        

Keywords

Entry Source:

Shortlisted for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

View this study at:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877343511001394
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Contact the study author at:

bscholes@csir.co.za

Title

European Soil Data Centre: Response to European policy support and public data requirements

Reference

Land Use Policy
Volume 29, Issue 2, April 2012, Pages 329-338

Author(s)

Panos Panagos, , Marc Van Liedekerke, Arwyn Jones, Luca Montanarella

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

In the context of the European Union's Soil Thematic Strategy, policy makers require easy access to soil data and information of various types and scales to assess the state of soils at European level. To satisfy this need, the European Commission and the European Environment Agency (EEA) decided to establish the European Soil Data Centre (ESDAC), located at the European Commission's Joint Research Centre.
The ESDAC is one of ten environmental data centres that have been established during the last 4 years in support of policy development, implementation and monitoring by the European Commission's Directorate General for Environment. The ESDAC, located at http://esdac.jrc.ec.europa.eu, has become the focal point for soil data and information at European Union level by hosting a series of soil products and web-based tools that allow access to the data. The ESDAC acts as the primary data contact point for the Commission and EEA to fulfill their information needs. The establishment and the evaluation of harmonised databases should facilitate improved soil protection measures.

Policy theme(s)

Environmental information services >> Environmental communication >> Environmental data resources

Soil >> Soil biodiversity
Soil >> Threats to soil >> Soil contamination
Soil >> Threats to soil >> Soil erosion
Soil >> Threats to soil >> Soil sealing

Keywords

Soil data; Soil policy; Data centre; ESDAC

Entry Source:

Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

Referred to in EC doc:

N/A

View this study at:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264837711000718
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Contact the study author at:

panos.panagos@jrc.eu.europa

Title

General overview: European Integrated project on Aerosol Cloud Climate and Air Quality interactions (EUCAARI) - integrating aerosol research from nano to global scales

Reference

Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., 11, 17941-18160, 2011

Author(s)

M. Kulmala, A. Asmi, H. K. Lappalainen, et al

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

In this paper we describe and summarize the main achievements of the European Aerosol Cloud Climate and Air Quality Interactions project (EUCAARI). EUCAARI started on 1 January 2007 and ended on 31 December 2010 leaving a rich legacy including: (a) a comprehensive database with a year of observations of the physical, chemical and optical properties of aerosol particles over Europe, (b) the first comprehensive aerosol measurements in four developing countries, (c) a database of airborne measurements of aerosols and clouds over Europe during May 2008, (d) comprehensive modeling tools to study aerosol processes from nano to global scale and their effects on climate and air quality. In addition a new Pan-European aerosol emissions inventory was developed and evaluated, a new cluster spectrometer was built and tested in the field and several new aerosol parameterizations and computations modules for chemical transport and global climate models were developed and evaluated. This work enabled EUCAARI to improve our understanding of aerosol radiative forcing and air quality-climate interactions. The EUCAARI results can be utilized in European and global environmental policy to assess the aerosol impacts and the corresponding abatement strategies.

Policy theme(s)

Air pollution >> Managing emissions >> Monitoring
Environmental information services >> Environmental communication >> Environmental data resources

Keywords

N/A

Entry Source:

Shortlisted for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

Referred to in EC doc:

N/A

View this study at:

http://www.atmos-chem-phys.org/9/2825/2009/acp-9-2825-2009.pdf
This study is free to view

Contact the study author at:

markku.kulmala@helsinki.fi