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The relationship between stock and recruitment in fish populations has been a subject of many studies and some controversy, even to the extent that it has been questioned whether the two can be related in any meanignful way. The denial of a meaningful stock-recruitment relationship has profound and disturbing influences on the science of fish population dynamics and would seem to be something of a policy of despair. A more constructive approach is to acknowledge the difficulties in establishing a stock-recruitment relationship from the available information but still to seek the best interpretation of the data for the purposes for which the analysis is intended. Among the models that have been developed to fit stock-recruitment curves to data sets are the well-known Beverton-Holt and Ricker curves, both of which have two parameters. Less commonly used is the two-parameter model of Cushing. These two-parameter models have been generalized to give three-parameter models whose shape can be varied by settings of the parameters so as to model a wide range of observed stock-recruitment curves. In this paper these models and their underlying assumptions are described. Statistical methods of fitting the curves to data are reviewed with emphasis on the appraisal of the fitted curve, concentrating on the use for which the fitted curve is intended. Methods of choosing between different curves are discussed. The review is illustrated with examples of stock-recruitment data derived for various flatfish stocks. Among the questions that are discussed is whether there are any features of stock-recruitment relationships for flatfish that differentiate them from those of other species. Methods for testing the null hypotheses that there is no relationship between stock and recruitment and that recruitment in flatfish is not influenced by environmental or other biological factors are described. Of the 20 flatfish stocks for which suitable stock and recruitment data are available, it is shown that in six cases there is a statistically significant relationship between stock size and recruitment. In one of these cases the relationship is significantly strengthened by the incorporation of an environmental measurement. Of the six significant stock-recruitment relationships one is strongly domed and three are the right-hand arm of a domed curve. In the other two cases average recruitment increases with increasing stock size, but it is not possible to differentiate between a domed and an asymptotic curve. This evidence of density-dependence in the stock-recruitment relationships for flatfish is further strengthened by an examination of those cases in which the model of constant recruitment, independent of stock size, is not rejected. In eight of these stocks it is shown that the model of constant recruitment is favoured in preference to a model in which recruitment is directly proportional to stock size. Although recruitment may vary about a constant average level over a restricted range of stock size, it is not biologically possible for a population to sustain a high level of recruitment at low stock sizes. Thus in these eight cases there is further evidence of an underlying, but as yet unidentified, stock-recruitment relationship.

An enormous amount of information about the state of the environment is being created in many programmes worldwide. Optimum use of this data requires, beside a high degree of quality control, a basis for comparability of single analytical values. This requirement is already fulfilled within the programmes, but more or less neglected between international programmes (Keune et al. [9]). The establishment of a synthetic “reference freshwater” can be a useful tool for the harmonization of environmental measurement. After normalization of the data measured in different inland water samples versus “reference freshwater”, a chemical fingerprinting of aquatic samples is now possible. In this paper, a fingerprint of Lake Baikal will be discussed and its comparability demonstrated.

IMEKO and TC 20 Energy Measurement organised the Symposia Metrological Infrastructure, Environmental and Energy Measurement and Mediterranean Industry of the Sun that was held JUne 15-17, 2011, Cavtat, Croatia. Sixty one participants were from nineteen countries. Regarding the TC 20 Sessions on Energy Measurement the Symposium was the forum for presentation of teh first results of the Energy Call of the EURAMET European Metrology Research Programme. As a result the presentations were at highest scientific level characterising the state of the art in energy measurement.

A global ESB system — especially if coordinated with a global monitoring system — can serve as a safety net to verify earlier forecasts and provide for adjustments and determine the adequacy of actions that can be taken to prevent or remedy serious chemical impacts. But the full potential of ESB can only be fully realised if the samples banks contents are directly comparable, i.e. if they are established and maintained according to well-defined guidelines. In other words not only can ESBs be extremely useful as a practical approach to a number of aspects of harmonization of environmental measurement, they themselves also require harmonization.

Measurements of UVR spectra in the man's environment have become important on account of increasing concerns about the variation of the solar UVR due to depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer. In this sutudy a multi-sensor spectrometer, which has a sensitivity in the wavelength range from 250 nm to 400 nm, has been developed and the possibility of employing it in environmental measurements is discussed for evaluation of unexpected UVR irradiation caused by man's various activities.

A variety of quality control (QC) analyses are performed with regular frequency in environmental chemical measurements. Typically, an acceptable result must be obtained for each QC check before measurement of environmental samples may begin, and each check is periodically repeated to validate the analyses of intervening samples. Corrective actions are performed if the check is failed, and the intervening batch of samples are remeasured. Under such a scheme, excessive costs will occur if the quality control checks are too frequent (i.e., batch size is too small) or infrequent (i.e, batch size is too large). This paper describes an approach for investigating the frequency of QC checks for minimizing the expected cost of measuring a set of samples. Two specific expected cost models are discussed. It is shown that the empirical estimate of measurement drift can be used along with computer simulation to estimate the batch size that will minimize the expected cost of sample analyses. Measurement drift of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for 121 Sb is demonstrated with data from standard reference materials repeatedly analyzed between QC solutions. Examples are presented using computer simulation and empirical esimates of linear drift functions for analytical measurements.

Real-time measurement of environmental airborne particles becomes an important topic in the fields of air pollution and public health. To overcome the disadvantages of the traditional methods, some new methods are introduced in this paper for monitoring environmental airborne particle exposure in real time, including PM10, PM2.5, PM1.0, semi volatile components, particle number or mass concentration, occupational mass fractions (inhalable, thoracic, alveolic according to EN481) as well as particle size distribution over a wide size range from micrometer down to nanometer. Typical environmental measurement results are presented and discussed in detail. These real-time results help identify the particle sources in time, and then some effective measures can be taken to control and minimize the airborne particle exposure so as to reduce the risk to human health.

The world-wide environmental exchange of information is hampered by difficulties bridging terminologies and languages so that trans-cultural, cross-sectoral, and multi-dimensional information can be made available in a usable form at low cost.

Companies undertaking TQEM programs must decide how to measure continuous improvement in the environmental field at the outset of their implementation activities. In the past three years, the leading TQEM companies have made these tough choices and have begun to share their findings with the larger professional community. The author proposes a model for classifying environmental measurement data and presents examples of approaches adopted by TQEM companies.

In recognizing the need for measuring and documenting the quality of environmental measurements obtained in its monitoring projects and for setting achievable data quality goals for such projects, the Environmental Protection Agency issues a number of guidance and informational documents addressed to those needs. This paper reviews one of those documents, a comprehensive compilation of the quality of measurements actually obtained with various environmental measurement methods in all environmental media. Included are a brief discussion of the rationale and purpose of the document, limited reviews of the four designated measures of data quality (precision, accuracy, completeness, and method detection limit), and explanations of the format used to list the data quality information. Examples of actual data listing from the document are also included. 5 references, 4 figures.

This paper elaborates the electromagnetic environmental measurement systempsilas principle of design, analyzes the software frame and the hardware design characteristics of electromagnetic environmental measurement system based on the GIS (geographic information system) and the GPS localization module, designs the mobile electromagnetic environmental measurement system in the virtual instrumentpsilas foundation. In addition, it proposes a new electromagnetic environmental measurement stationing method.

Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is presently the most sensitive technique for the environmental measurement of radionuclides with half-lives greater than about 5000 years. Traditionally, it has been used principally for light elements, of which the most familiar example is 14 C. With some modifications, however, it may also be applied to elements as heavy as the actinides, and in particular to 239,240,244 Pu and 236 U. Here, the principles and methodology of heavy-element AMS are described, and the ways in which these have been implemented in various laboratories around the world are detailed. Although the emphasis is on plutonium and uranium, other isotopes such as 237 Np and 226,228 Ra are also considered. For completeness, the measurement of the long-lived fission products 99 Tc and 129 I by AMS is also discussed briefly. Actual or potential applications of the method in the areas of environmental science, biomedicine, and nuclear safeguards are reviewed.

A nondestructive method for the assessment of decay in trees is an important and challenging research topic to monitor the risk they pose to people, cars, buildings, etc. Many reported approaches seem to be either too expensive, too bulky to be of any use in practice or rather semi-invasive. In this paper we propose an objective version of the standard primary method based on striking the tree and listening for the way the tree sounds.

There are many factors which affect coal production processes and the safety of colliers in coalmines. Among them, there are especially three key factors, the temperature T, the atmospheric pressure P and the gas concentration C that need synthetically to be considered. However, the conventional strategies of environmental measurement only considered the effect of T, P, or C without any systematic, therefore there have been difficulties to make a comprehensive evaluation. Accordingly, the authors present a new method based on a secondary data merging mathematical model which synthetically considers the influences of T, P, and C with an adaptive-weighted data fusion method based on the Dempster-Shafer evidence theory, leading to an optimization of the environmental measurement parameters. This method not only ensures the completeness of the data source but also improves the accuracy of the detection systems for a coal mine. It especially enables a new exploration and research about environment detection processes.

Methods for the measurement of ultraviolet and visible radiation in National Trust houses are described. Problems have been encountered with quality control of ultraviolet-absorbing filters and the recording of transmission spectrophotometric curves is recommended prior to application. Visible light levels are lowered and sunlight eliminated using sun blinds and sun curtains. Spot readings of temperature and relative humidity are being supplemented with data from solid state memory recorders, now installed in several of the houses. Reliable measurements are enabling relative humidity to be controlled through heating, or, in well-sealed areas, with the use of dehumidifiers.

To support quantifiable quality improvement, various parallel and followup activities to the main quality assurance (QA) activities are needed, including: 1) Monitoring the specific QA activities and the overall software development or maintenance activities, and extracting relevant measurement data. 2) Analyzing the data collected above for quality quantification and identification of quality improvement opportunities. 3) Providing feedback to the QA and development/maintenance activities and carrying out followup actions based on the analysis results above. These activities also close the quality engineering feedback loop. All the important issues related to these activities are discussed in this chapter.

Background Research of the effects of the built environment on physical activity often excludes certain segments of the population. The senior population, one segment perhaps most influenced by the physical features of an environment, has been understudied. Developing reliable measures of the environment is important to increase our understanding of the environmental effects on physical activity among seniors. Methods A review of urban planning and health literature helped identify important concepts and theories that were used to inform the development of the Senior Walking Environmental Assessment Tool (SWEAT). Urban planning and health research professionals were consulted and provided feedback on the tool. A total of 355 neighborhood segments were assessed using SWEAT. Thirty-six neighborhood segments were assessed for inter-rater reliability. Results Overall, raters exhibited good-to-excellent agreement on most items included in SWEAT. Items assessing buildings and destinations were less reliable than other categories. Conclusions The development of a reliable senior-specific environmental measurement of detailed street level environmental features that may influence walking among seniors is important to advance this research and engage communities to consider simple environmental changes that encourage walking among seniors.

Quality assurance (QA) processes are necessary to ensure that the environment of controlled environment facilities is known, is accurately measured, and the resulting data is valid. These QA procedures for plant growth facilities are based on the published ASAE Engineering Practice ANSI/ASAE EP411.4, “Guidelines for measuring and reporting environmental parameters for plant experiments in growth chambers”. The ISO9001:2000 Quality Assurance System procedures apply to the environmental parameters contained in EP 411.4, the calibration of the sensors and instruments, the characteristics of the acquisition and control systems, and the records necessary to validate the resulting data. Specific quality assurance procedures for parameters of the aerial environment of plant growth facilities are provided. Further development of procedures and guidelines to standardize and assure the quality of the environmental measurement of plant growth facilities is required. The comments or suggested revisions of the procedures proposed are solicited from the community of engineers and scientists involved in design, operation and use of plant growth facilities.

This chapter provides a general introduction to the measurement and modeling of environmental exposures for environmental epidemiological studies, focusing on source based modeling. It provides various examples and references.

This chapter provides a general introduction to the measurement and modeling of environmental exposures for environmental epidemiological studies, with specific reference to the use of geographical information systems (GIS). It provides an introduction of the general principles of the use of these techniques, and various examples and references.

This paper presents the theoretical aspects and a preliminary experimental validation of a criterion for determining the best observation positions for robot map building, intended as a particular environmental measurement task. The proposed criterion takes into account both the distance traveled and the information gathered by the robot.

Proceedings of the XVII IMEKO WORLD CONGRESS, organised by IMEKO and Croatian Metrology Society in Dubrovnik, June 22-27, 2003, available only on CD ROM (Book of summaries available in printed version). Altogether 20 Technical Committees of IMEKO participated.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses about occupational hygiene. Occupational hygiene deals not only with overt threats to health but also in a positive sense with the achievement of optimal “comfort conditions” for workers, that is, the reduction of discomfort factors that may cause irritation, loss of concentration, impaired work efficiency, and general decreased quality of life. When the potential for harm of a particular stress in the workplace has been recognized, it is necessary to evaluate it, and some common environmental measurement techniques together with their interpretation as they relate to accepted standards. Deficiency of oxygen in the atmosphere of confined spaces is often experienced in industry, for example, inside large fuel storage tanks when empty. Before such places may be entered to carry out inspections or maintenance work, a check must be made on the oxygen content of the atmosphere throughout the vessel. Hygrometers are instruments used in the measurement of the water vapor content of air, that is, the humidity.

This paper examines the Navy's current electro-optical systems involved in mine countermeasures to establish a baseline for critical environmental parameters which affect their performance. Having established this baseline of system-related parameters, we examine the current generation of environmental measuring capabilities to determine what further developments are needed to cover the shortfall in capability. A suite of measurements is then proposed, which will allow the Navy a performance-predictive capability to assess the expected operation of the sensors.

Characterization is required on thirty-one buildings at Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site (RFETS or the Site) with known or suspected under building contamination. The Site has teamed with Sandia National Laboratory (SNL) to deploy Environmental MeasureWhile-Drilling (EMWD) in conjunction with horizontal directional drilling (HDD) to characterize under building contamination and to evaluate the performance and applicability for future characterization efforts. The Environmental Measurement-While-Drilling-Gamma Ray Spectrometer (EMWD-GRS) system represents an innovative blend of new and existing technology that provides the capability of producing real-time environmental and drill bit data during drilling operations. The project investigated two locations, Building 886 and Building 123. Building 886 is currently undergoing DD however, the slab is present with under building process waste lines and utilities. This report presents the results of the EMWD Gamma Ray Spectrometer logging of boreholes at these two sites. No gamma emitting contamination was detected at either location.

This Quality Assurance Project Plan addresses the quality assurance requirements for the activities associated with the preoperational and near-facility environmental monitoring directed by Waste Management Technical Services and supersedes HNF-EP-0538-4. This plan applies to all sampling and monitoring activities performed by Waste Management Technical Services in implementing near-facility environmental monitoring at the Hanford Site. This Quality Assurance Project Plan is required by U.S. Department of Energy Order 5400.1 (DOE 1990) as a part of the Environmental Monitoring Plan (DOE-RL 1997) and is used to define: Environmental measurement and sampling locations used to monitor environmental contaminants near active and inactive facilities and waste storage and disposal sites; Procedures and equipment needed to perform the measurement and sampling; Frequency and analyses required for each measurement and sampling location; Minimum detection level and accuracy; Quality assurance components; and Investigation levels. Near-facility environmental monitoring for the Hanford Site is conducted in accordance with the requirements of U.S. Department of Energy Orders 5400.1 (DOE 1990), 5400.5 (DOE 1993), 5484.1 (DOE 1990), and 435.1 (DOE 1999), and DOE/EH-O173T (DOE 1991). It is Waste Management Technical Services' objective to manage and conduct near-facility environmental monitoring activities at the Hanford Site in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner that is in compliance with the letter and spirit of these regulations and other environmental regulations, statutes, and standards.

This Quality Assurance Project Plan addresses the quality assurance requirements for the activities associated with the preoperational and near-facility environmental monitoring directed by Waste Management Technical Services and supersedes HNF-EP-0538-4. This plan applies to all sampling and monitoring activities performed by Waste Management Technical Services in implementing near-facility environmental monitoring at the Hanford Site. This Quality Assurance Project Plan is required by U.S. Department of Energy Order 5400.1 (DOE 1990) as a part of the Environmental Monitoring Plan (DOE-RL 1997) and is used to define: Environmental measurement and sampling locations used to monitor environmental contaminants near active and inactive facilities and waste storage and disposal sites; Procedures and equipment needed to perform the measurement and sampling; Frequency and analyses required for each measurement and sampling location; Minimum detection level and accuracy; Quality assurance components; and Investigation levels. Near-facility environmental monitoring for the Hanford Site is conducted in accordance with the requirements of U.S. Department of Energy Orders 5400.1 (DOE 1990), 5400.5 (DOE 1993), 5484.1 (DOE 1990), and 435.1 (DOE 1999), and DOE/EH-O173T (DOE 1991). It is Waste Management Technical Services' objective to manage and conduct near-facility environmental monitoring activities at the Hanford Site in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner that is in compliance with the letter and spirit of these regulations and other environmental regulations, statutes, and standards.

The Environmental Measurement-While-Drilling (EMWD) system and Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) were successfully demonstrated at the Mock Tank Leak Simulation Site and the Drilling Technology Test Site, Hanford, Washington. The use of directional drilling offers an alternative to vertical drilling site characterization. Directional drilling can develop a borehole under a structure, such as a waste tank, from an angled entry and leveling off to horizontal at the desired depth. The EMWD system represents an innovative blend of new and existing technology that provides the capability of producing real-time environmental and drill bit data during drilling operations. The technology demonstration consisted of the development of one borehole under a mock waste tank at a depth of {approximately} {minus}8 m ({minus}27 ft.), following a predetermined drill path, tracking the drill path to within a radius of {approximately}1.5 m (5 ft.), and monitoring for zones of radiological activity using the EMWD system. The purpose of the second borehole was to demonstrate the capability of drilling to a depth of {approximately} {minus}21 m ({minus}70 ft.), the depth needed to obtain access under the Hanford waste tanks, and continue drilling horizontally. This report presents information on the HDD and EMWD technologies, demonstration design, results of the demonstrations, and lessons learned.

The growth and development of chlorophyllous explants, shoots and plantlets in vitro are influenced by aerial and/or physical environmental factors more significantly in photoautotrophic micropropagation using sugar-free culture medium than in heterotrophic or photomixotrophic micropropagation using sugar-containing culture medium. It is because, in photoautotrophic micropropagation, carbon dioxide(CO2) in air is a sole carbon source for increase in dry mass by photosynthesis. Thus, measurement and control of aerial and/or physical environmental factors are essential in photoautotrophic micropropagation to promote their photosynthesis, growth and development and to reproduce a number of quality plantlets in vitro at low production costs. In this article, methods of environmental measurement and control used in photoautotrophic micropropagation are briefly discussed. A detailed discussion has been given in Kozai et al. (1995).

The past five years has seen huge growth in the volume and complexity of environmental monitoring and reporting as driven by regulatory pressure. Coupled with this, innovative improvements in environmental measurement systems, for example, continuous and remote loggers, has resulted in the flow of information increasing dramatically. However, the disparate nature of incoming data, some paper-based, some on disk but in different formats, has led to a growing overhead in clerical-style data management and less time for data analysis. As a result information overload is now a very real problem for managers. A well considered data management strategy utilising modern data management software tools is thus critical for enabling information review and analysis.

Atmospheric remote sensing is one of the most challenging application areas for new laser sources. Amongst the most widely-used techniques in this area is Differential Adsorption Lidar (DIAL) which uses repetitively pulsed narrow bandwidth lasers to make range-resolved measurements of species in the atmosphere. The most widely- used applications of DIAL use ultraviolet and visible lasers to measure a limited range of species, including ozone,sulphur dioxide, the oxides of nitrogen, toluene and benzene. More recently the applications of DIAL have increased significantly with the availability of tunable high-powered infrared laser sources including OPO's. DIAL measurements in the infrared including methane, propane, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen sulphide and hydrogen fluoride.

Publisher Summary The Vario environmental measurement station is located in northeastern Lapland near Finnish–Russian border. The station is located in a natural park in sparsely populated area far from local pollution sources. Therefore, the effects of long range transport of pollutants to air quality can clearly be seen. The nearest considerable pollutant sources are located in Montshegorsk and Nikel, less than 200 km northeast from Varrio. The sum exceeds the total emissions from Finland by a factor of two or three. Measurements of gas and particle concentrations and meteorological data are performed continuously at the station. In the summer, continuous measurements are also provided for photosynthesis. The gas and particle concentrations are measured on four levels and the meteorological data on five levels ranging from 2–15 meters. The measurement tower is constructed on a pine-growing hill with mean tree-height of 7 meters.

Using Lake Ontario as an example, this paper presents estimates of atmospheric inputs of mercury based on an atmospheric deposition and air-water exchange paradigm, invoking recent environmental measurement data obtained in the vicinity of this lake. These calculations consider not only direct deposition (wet & dry) to the lake surface, but also take into account atmospheric loading to the surrounding watershed (drainage basin), as well as mass transfer of elemental Hg at the air-water interface.

Is it possible to have a carbon-neutral gym? The idea must have occurred to many people as they sweat and struggle.

Environmental measurement and control systems related to transpiration and photosynthesis of chlorophyllous cultures and methods for estimating transpiration and net CO2 exchange (net photosynthetic/dark respiration) rates are described in this chapter. The environmental factors discussed are mainly air humidity, CO2, light and air flow rate (or air flow velocity). The information is expected to be useful for those who are trying to initiate research on environmental effects on, for example, nutrient uptake associated with transpiration and photosynthetic growth and development of cultures.

The Värriö environmental measurement station has been designed and constructed during 1991 and 1992. The measurement system consists of measurement units for gases (sulphur dioxide, ozone, carbon dioxide), particles, photosynthesis and irradiation. A meteorological station is also included. The preliminary measurement period was started on August, 1991. During the first year (1991â1992) some parts of the system were redeveloped and rebuilt. Full, continuous measurement started in August 1992. The system has been working quite reliably, with good accuracy. The preliminary results show that pollution episodes are observed when the wind direction is from Monchegorsk or Nikel, the main emission sources in Kola Peninsula.

It is difficult to calibrate sampling devices using radon or thoron progeny or particles measuring 1-4 nm; therefore, an interlaboratory comparison is important to verify the performance of graded diffusion batteries for the activity size distributions of the "unattached" progeny. This paper describes the results of an interlaboratory comparison of 220Rn progeny size distributions using graded diffusion batteries by alpha- and gamma-counting methods with different data inversion schemes. Graded diffusion batteries designed at the Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute and at the Environmental Measurement Laboratory were used in the study. Screens and backup filters from the Environmental Measurement Laboratory-graded diffusion batteries were counted simultaneously in alpha counters for total alpha activities, and those of the Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute-graded diffusion batteries were counted in a gamma detector for gamma activities from 212Pb. Because of the different counting methods and data analysis procedures used, this interlaboratory study of 220Rn progeny allows a more rigorous way of testing instrument performance. 212Pb particles generated in well-controlled environments of oxygen, nitrogen, or oxygen with 1 ppm of nitrogen oxide were measured. In general, good agreement in activity size distributions was obtained from these two methods. Some differences observed in individual size spectra were attributable to the data inversion programs used in each laboratory. When the data were analyzed by the same computer program, most differences disappeared.

The graphical representation of environmental information requires the display of objects like hazardous sites and measurement stations on a two-dimensional map. The map may be given as pixel information or vectorial information. The form of the optical representation itselfis difficult, if the number of objects is large and the types of objects have a wide variety.

Lead poisoning is a preventable condition caused by exposure to environmental sources such as lead-containing dust or lead-painted consumer products. The history of lead poisoning prevention has been defined to some extent by the quality of the analytical methods available for lead measurements, whether in environmental samples or biological tissues and fluids. The quality of blood lead methods has improved so greatly over the last three decades that we now know far more about the adverse health effects from low-level exposures. Recent evidence suggests that effects such as deficit in IQ occur below the current, (periodically revised) U.S. CDC threshold of 10 μg/dL, such that no safe threshold appears to exist for children. Improvements in analytical techniques have also had an impact on environmental measurement quality, yet many environmental thresholds have remained unchanged for decades. In light of our current understanding of adverse health effects at low levels of exposure, new thresholds for lead in children’s products have been introduced by the U.S. CPSC. The adequacy of current analytical techniques to detect lead accurately at the new, lower thresholds is questionable. XRF offers the advantage of being rapid and nondestructive compared to techniques such as AAS that require extensive sample preparation. However, the accuracy of handheld XRF determinations of lead in painted toys is generally limited. A brief comparative study on the performance of several analytical techniques for the determination of lead in toys is presented at the end of this

A wealth of data on the state of the environment is being created in innumerable programmes world-wide. Optimal use of this data requires that information on its existence is available, that it can be readily accessed and — most important — that the data be compiled and classified in a compatible way. Achieving this is the basic aim of harmonization of environmental measurement. Although great care is generally taken to harmonize data collected within programmes, harmonization between programmes remains a major goal for the future.

A wealth of data on the state of the environment is being created in innumerable programmes world-wide. Optimal use of this data requires that information on its existence is available, that it can be readily accessed and — most important of all -that the data be compiled and classified in ways which are compatible. Achieving this is the basic aim of harmonization of environmental measurement. Although great care is generally taken to harmonize data collected within programmes, harmonization between programmes remains a major goal for the future.