1. Task 1 - Intercalibration WG 2A ECOSTAT - Intercalibration
WG 2A Ecological Status
Task 1 - Intercalibration
Progress update 1 July, 2003
WG 2A ECOSTAT - Intercalibration

2. Mandate: Objectives/ Tasks
Ensure comparable biological quality assessment systems and harmonised ecological quality criteria
Ecological quality class boundaries should be (a) consistent with the normative definitions and (b) comparable between countries
Establishment of the intercalibration network following the procedure agreed in the Intercalibration guidance
Develop guidance for the intercalibration exercise in
Progress update 1 July, 2003
WG 2A ECOSTAT - Intercalibration

3. Outcomes of WG meeting on 17-18 March
Agreement on :
Geographical Intercalibr. groups (MS & AC & CC)
Common types for the Intercalibr. Network (some still open: input expected ASAP)
Major pressures for each water body type
Major quality elements for the intercalibration network/ exercise
Progress update 1 July, 2003
WG 2A ECOSTAT - Intercalibration

4. Outcomes of WG meeting on 17-18 March
Agreement on process for continuation:
next steps for intercalibration network selection process
process for metadata analysis
3 drafting groups for WG 2A ECOSTAT
Increase involvement of Accession Countries with direct contacts and workshops
Progress update 1 July, 2003
WG 2A ECOSTAT - Intercalibration

5. IC network selection process
Draft document: Overview of common Intercalibration types and Guidelines for the Selection of Intercalibration sites’ compilation coordinated by JRC/ EEWAI
Draft distributed for comments to WG & Experts: 9 April
Comments expected by: May 1
Final ‘Guidelines’ distributed together with metadata questionnaire to all WG & experts on 15 May
to be updated after metadata analysis
Progress update 1 July, 2003
WG 2A ECOSTAT - Intercalibration

6. Metadata compilation and analysis
Overview of the data availability and other information from the provisional Intercalibration sites
MS (& AC) will collect information & send it to COM/ JRC metadatabase (preceded by selection of provisional sites for the intercalibration network)
Expert networks evaluate the consistency and comparability of the sites, and scope & data requirements for intercalibration exercise
Progress update 1 July, 2003
WG 2A ECOSTAT - Intercalibration

7. Metadata web interface
Developed and tested
will be available this week
Progress update 1 July, 2003
WG 2A ECOSTAT - Intercalibration

8. Timetable for the site selection process
Metadata Questionnaire to MS & AC May 15
MS & AC provide metadata End of July
Expert evaluations of metadata Sep-October
Meeting of ECOSTAT WG Late October
Draft register ready November 20
Meeting of Art 21 Committee December 4-5
Progress update 1 July, 2003
WG 2A ECOSTAT - Intercalibration

9. WG 2A ECOSTAT - Intercalibration
Drafting groups
1) Further guidance for the intercalibration exercise; Participants until now Austria, Denmark, France, Latvia and Spain & JRC (start autumn 2003)
2) Identification of needs for harmonization/ standardization of methods; Participants until now Austria, France, and Spain & JRC relatively small task - not in present mandate - still needed?
Progress update 1 July, 2003
WG 2A ECOSTAT - Intercalibration

10. Guideline / International standard
Quality Element
Object
Guideline / International standard
BIOLOGICAL Q.E.
Phytoplankton
Sampling procedure;
Abundance
OSPAR and HELCOM Conventions:
HELCOM COMBINE Manual, Part C., Annex C-6,
OSPAR JAMP Eutrophication Monitoring Guidelines: Phytoplankton).
Abundance ; Composition
Standard in preparation: CEN/TC 230 NO423 "Water quality - Guidance standard for the routine analysis of phytoplankton abundance and composition using inverted microscopy (Utermöhl technique)" - The first working document shall be available in December 2003.
Chlorophyll a
HELCOM COMBINE Manual (Part C, Annex C-4),
OSPAR JAMP Eutrophication Guidelines: Chlorophyll a.
ISO guideline (ISO 10260), only for the spectrophotometric determination of chlorophyll ‘a’.
Reference: WG COAST

11. WG 2A: Summary of Meetings in 2003
Kick-off of ECOSTAT WG, in Brussels July 1
Expert meetings on IC site selection
1) coastal waters - Oslo Sep
2) rivers/lakes - JRC Ispra Sep
ECOSTAT WG meeting
IC draft register, final agreement on classification paper JRC Oct
Progress update 1 July, 2003
WG 2A ECOSTAT - Intercalibration

12. WG 2A ECOSTAT - Intercalibration
Points for discussion
Deadlines for site selection process
constrained by art. 21 committee agenda
MS should keep deadline
Drafting groups
intercalibration exercise - outline to be discussed WG2A meeting October
overview of existing methods / harmonisation needs - how to proceed? `
Progress update 1 July, 2003
WG 2A ECOSTAT - Intercalibration