Case Studies

The oceanography community most commonly measures ocean salinity using the ‘Practical Salinity Scale’, which is based on comparing seawater electrical conductivity with the conductivity of a commercially available standard solution made from North Atlantic seawater. This salinity is then used to calculate other properties, like...

The instruments used on board satellites to make measurementsof key climate variables are calibrated prior to launch to ensure their accuracy. However, instrument performance can change during launch into space, and once in flight instruments operate in a very different environment to that in which they were calibrated. Changes...

As the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere has increased, so too has the acidity of our oceans. The carbon balance between the oceans and the earth’s atmosphere is extremely delicate with small changes in acidity having a significant effect on the marine eco-system. Monitoring pH is vital if we are to protect mar...

The Water Framework Directive specifies a list of 33 priority water pollutants which present a significant risk to or via the aquatic environment. The Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) Directive specifies maximum allowable concentrations of these pollutants in surface waters such as rivers, lakes and coastal waters. EU memb...

The WFD specifies a list of 33 priority water pollutants, for which maximum allowable concentrations have been defined – these are known as Environmental Quality Standards (EQS). EU member states are required to implement monitoring programs to ensure their water bodies comply with the EQS. Some of the priority pollutants ident...

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a type of organic chemical commonly found in furniture, carpets and paints used indoors. VOCs easily evaporate at room temperature into the air, and given that some are known to cause respiratory problems, the ability to reliably control exposure to VOCs is crucial to protecting public heal...