The scientific evidence base to support credible risk assessment for the design of appropriate microbial standards for bathing waters is insufficient. This is particularly true for Mediterranean waters, for new member states and for effects associated with exposure to toxic algal products. This is a pressing problem as Directive 76/160/EEC is currently in the process of amendment by the EU. It is therefore intended to address three questions, namely: a. What is the nature and level of the risk and how does exposure affect risk? b. What level of protection is afforded by the threshold values in Directive 76/160/EEC and CEC (2004)? c. How do the risks vary between fresh and marine waters and does the 1:2 ratio of the faecal indicator threshold values in coastal waters vs freshwaters ensure a comparable level of protection? In the first 12 months, this proposal will (i) complete a literature review and meta-analysis of current epidemiological data derived principally from UK and German studies, (ii) define data gaps restricting the application of credible health-evidence-based policy to bathing water standards outside these regions and (iii) design and agree a suitable research protocol for filling these data gaps. The second twelve months of research (from month 13 to 24) will (iv) implement this protocol and the project will deliver (v) a scientific report of the findings and detailed policy interpretation before the project end, i.e. 36 months following commencement. Prime Contractor: University Wales, University College Aberystwyth; Aberystwyth; Aberystwyth.
Im Rahmen des internationalen Klimaschutzprozesses und zur Erfüllung der europäischen Verpflichtungen aus dem Kioto-Protokoll müssen auch die Treibhausgasemissionen der Landwirtschaft gesenkt werden. Gemeinsam mit Partnern aus verschiedenen europäischen Ländern unterstützt Ecologic die Europäische Kommission dabei, dieses Ziel zu erreichen. Zunächst werden landwirtschaftliche Techniken identifiziert, die zur Reduzierung von Treibhausgasemissionen beitragen. In einem zweiten Schritt soll untersucht werden, welche politischen Instrumente geeignet sind, um Anreize für die notwendigen Änderungen in der Landnutzung und -bewirtschaftung zu schaffen.
The ARCHAIA project aims at implementing two training seminars on cultural heritage based on an innovative integrated perspective deriving both from the human and the natural sciences. The seminars address 90 post-graduate students, scholars and professionals of different backgrounds. Starting from the need of disseminating the results of 9 funded EU research projects and COST actions, we aim at presenting these within an innovative framework, i.e. a global approach towards planning and management of archaeological parks starting from the very first steps of field research and going through the characterisation of the materials retrieved and topographical studies in order to mould every bit of historical information within a coherent project, properly displayed for the public. Through an innovative didactic methodology, innovative scientific contents will be disseminated. Dealing with the initial program of archaeological research in the field, integrated with techniques of archeobiological and geoarchaeological investigation, our final goal is to supply the participants with the guidelines for moulding research strategies and managing archaeological sites, in order to be able to publicly display the historical content derived from research results and effectively proceed to the protection of the cultural heritage. One training seminar will be in Copenhagen and another one in Bologna. Five key topics have been selected: Topic 1 concerns Topography, surveying and landscape archaeology, Topic 2 Archaeological research and restoration of monuments, Topic 3 Material culture characterization, Topic 4 Anthropology and environment and Topic 5 Data processing and public presentation. The dissemination of the lectures presented through a monograph and multimedia products will also supply guidelines for integrated protocols on the management of archaeological sites, set in their landscape, within a global perspective.
The project 4G-PHOTOCAT allies the expertise of 7 academic and 3 industrial partners from 5 EU countries (Germany, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Poland, and Finland) and 2 ASEAN countries (Malaysia and Vietnam) for the development of a novel generation of low-cost nano-engineered photocatalysts for sunlight-driven water depollution. Through rational design of composites in which the solar light-absorbing semiconductors are coupled to nanostructured redox co-catalysts based on abundant elements, the recombination of photogenerated charges will be suppressed and the rate of photocatalytic reactions will be maximized. In order to achieve fabrication of optimal architectures, advanced chemical deposition techniques with a high degree of control over composition and morphology will be employed and further developed. Furthermore, novel protocols will be developed for the implementation of the photocatalysts into a liquid paint, allowing for the deposition of robust photoactive layers onto flat surfaces, without compromising the photoactivity of immobilized photocatalysts. Such paintable photoreactors are envisaged particularly as low-cost devices for detoxification of water from highly toxic persistent organic pollutants which represent a serious health issue in many remote rural areas of Vietnam and other countries. The 4G-PHOTOCAT project will provide novel scientific insights into the correlation between compositional/structural properties and photocatalytic reaction rates under sunlight irradiation, as well as improved fabrication methods and enhanced product portfolio for the industrial partners. Finally, 4G-PHOTOCAT will lead to intensified collaboration between scientists working at the cutting edge of synthetic chemistry, materials science, heterogeneous photocatalysis, theoretical modelling, and environmental analytics, as well as to unique reinforcement of cooperation between scientists and industry partners from EU and ASEAN countries.
Im Bereich der Reaktorbegrenzungen als Bestandteil der Sicherheitsleittechnik sind in einigen Kernkraftwerken softwarebasierte leittechnische Einrichtungen eingesetzt. Außerdem besteht der Trend, in der Peripherie der Sicherheitsleittechnik wie zum Beispiel für Messumformer und Aktoren softwarebasierte Einrichtungen mit Schnittstellen zu Netzwerken einzusetzen. Die Betriebserfahrung zeigt einen Einfluss interner Kommunikation eines vernetzen Leittechniksystems auf dessen Zuverlässigkeit. Die Auswirkungen potentieller Fehlereffekte innerhalb und außerhalb von Kommunikationsnetzwerken für sicherheitsrelevante Funktionen in Kernkraftwerken hat ein Vorhaben mit folgender Aufgabenstellung untersucht: Arbeitspaket 1: Phänomenologische Untersuchungen zu potentiellen Netzwerkfehler in Leittechniksystemen. Zunächst wurde der Stand von Wissenschaft und Technik zu eingesetzten Netzwerktechnologien und zu Methoden für die Analyse von Netzwerkfehlern dokumentiert. Auf Basis dieser Studie wurden sicherheitsrelevante Aspekte der Netzwerktechnologien in der Leittechnik ermittelt und hinsichtlich der Auswirkungen potentieller Fehler in einem generischen Netzwerk kategorisiert. Hierbei wurden unterschiedliche Netzwerk-Topologien, Kommunikationsprotokolle, Schnittstellen und Betriebsarten der Netzwerke hinsichtlich sicherheitstechnischer Aspekte der Kommunikation berücksichtigt. Weiterhin wurden methodische Ansätze zur Analyse potentieller Netzwerkfehler und zur Analyse der Auswirkungen (Ausbreitung) postulierter Fehler in typischen Netzwerken der Sicherheitsleittechnik entwickelt und zu ausgewählten Topologien ein 'worst-case' Szenario für Netzwerkfehler festgelegt, um das Ausfallverhalten sicherheitsrelevanter Kommunikation in der Leittechnik deterministisch bewerten zu können. Arbeitspaket 2: Weiterentwicklung FTA-Methodik zur Modellierung redundanter beziehungsweise vernetzter Systeme. Die bewährte Methode der Fehlerbaumanalyse (Fault tree analysis - FTA) wurde für die Modellierung von komplexen Netzwerken weiterentwickelt und exemplarisch an einem generischen Leittechniksystem erprobt. Dazu wurde eine Programmierschnittstelle zur Erstellung und Modifizierung von Fehlerbäumen für redundante beziehungsweise vernetzte Systeme entwickelt.
he main objective of the Action was to develop common protocols and new instruments within a larger European network for optical measurements, bringing together scientists and industries in order to increase the reliability, value and cost-efficiency of the existing spectral observations within the European flux network. The Action focused entirely on the optical sampling strategies, which can be considered a fundamental tool in monitoring Biophysical Parameters (BP) and which act as a 'bridge' between the flux tower and the remote sensing community.
Descriptions are provided by the Actions directly via e-COST. The global environment is a complex system with numerous intricately linked processes. The land surface-atmosphere interface plays a vital role in the functioning of the Earth System by controlling transfers of energy, momentum and matter. Thus, land atmosphere interactions are important factors controlling and affecting the Earth climate system. To increase and evaluate our understanding of the critical controlling processes, interactions and feedbacks between biosphere and atmosphere, long-term integrated interdisciplinary monitoring efforts are necessary. This COST Action creates a platform for analysis, harmonisation, and synthesis, assessment of future needs and further development of a European integrated monitoring program for comprehensive trace gas flux observations. The existing national and European flux monitoring communities work separately; networking by this COST Action creates added value and is invaluable to advance the continuity, scope and quality of flux monitoring. This Action advances the applicability of produced data in climate and Earth system modelling research, as well as in more operational short to medium term forecasting of weather and air quality. Current methodologies, operationality, dissemination, and coordination will also be addressed in this COST Action. Development of common methodologies, data management systems and protocols will increase the reliability, value and cost-efficiency of European flux observations. Keywords: land-atmosphere interactions, energy and biogeochemical fluxes, multi-species flux monitoring, assimilation in climate and weather forecasting models, climate and global change
Differenzierung der Quellen- und Senkenfunktion des Bodens unter Berücksichtigung der Nutzungsgeschichte. Im Rahmen des CARBOEUROFLUX-Projekts wurden im Hainich (Thüringen) Kohlenstoff (C)- Speicherungsraten festgestellt, die der Vorstellung der Kohlendioxid-Neutralität von alten Wäldern widersprechen und die Frage nach deren Kyoto-Relevanz aufwerfen. Im Rahmen europäischer Projekte lässt sich allerdings nicht klären, wie diese hohen Speicherraten entstehen und wo C im System verbleibt. Wir vermuten, dass durch historischen C-Export, z.B. infolge von Streunutzung, die Böden im Hainich verarmten und die entleerten Speicher jetzt wieder aufgefüllt werden. Um das Ausmaß des nutzungsbedingten C-Exports abschätzen zu können, werden aus Schriftquellen Art und Umfang der Biomassenutzung in ihrer zeitlichen und örtlichen Entwicklung rekonstruiert. Zudem untersuchen wir, welche Anteile des C-Eintrages veratmet, gespeichert und über den Wasserpfad exportiert werden. Hierzu werden 13C und 14C- Isotopenverhältnisse an Bodengasen sowie gelöstem und festem Boden- C bestimmt. Unsere Untersuchungen zielen auf ein grundlegendes Verständnis der C-Speicherung im Jahresverlauf ab. Die Zusammenarbeit mit dem Kompetenzzentrum 'Dynamik Komplexer Geosysteme' und dem europäischen CARBOEUROPE Cluster wird die Doppelerhebung von Daten verhindern und deren gegenseitige Verfügbarkeit sicherstellen. Ziel der Arbeit ist es, den historischen Kohlenstoffexport insbesondere unter Berücksichtigung der forstlichen Nebennutzung abzuschätzen. Hierzu soll anhand von Literaturdaten einerseits die Vegetationsgeschichte geklärt werden. Andererseits soll der im Untersuchungsgebiet im Zuge der forstlichen und landwirtschaftlichen Nutzungen erfolgte Biomasseentzug nach Art und Umfang dokumentiert werden. Diese Arbeiten sind notwendig, um den Einfluss der Nutzungsgeschichte auf die Kohlenstoffspeicherung im Untersuchungsstandort abzuschätzen. Im Rahmen des Gesamtprojektes sollen zunächst Daten zur Entwicklung der Biomasse im Untersuchungsgebiet zusammengestellt werden. Eine weitere Aufgabe besteht darin, auf der Basis von Literaturstudien einen möglichen Vergleichsstandort mit unterschiedlicher Nutzungsgeschichte zu identifizieren.
Accurate assessment of the aquatic impact of organic contaminants relies heavily on quantifying the principal degradation processes responsible for their removal. It is increasingly understood that oxidation processes play a significant and complicated role in the degradation of many contaminants in aquatic systems. The goals of the proposed project are threefold: 1. To assess three distinct computational approaches for their ability to accurate predict oxidation reaction barriers for a suite of organic compounds. These methods will be validated against existing databases of experimental measurements and high-level theoretical benchmarks. 2. To extend the existing database of measured rate constants describing organic contaminant oxidation by important oxidations in aquatic systems, for a limited number of test pollutants, using previously validated experimental protocols. 3. To further test the validity of the kinetic models for describing the rates of oxidations of organic contaminants in natural waters, using the combined data set of newly measured rate constants and both measured and newly computed oxidation barrier free energy data. In the proposed project, we will test both existing and newly developed quantum chemical models to predict the oxidation rates of several target contaminant families. The approaches developed here are expected to enable the future screening of other contaminants for their reactivity with oxidants in aquatic environments. This has important implications for the fate and impact of organic contaminants in natural surface waters, water and wastewater treatment facilities, and remediation efforts at highly contaminated sites.
The implementation Stage 2 of GSE Forest Monitoring aims to enhance the results from the consolidation Stage 1. GSE Forest Monitoring is a unique element of the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) Joint Initiative. The goal of stage II is to implement a fully operational system for a larger community of end user. It is a strictly user oriented independent information system that provides key environmental information to European, national and local users. The FSU Jena is coordinator for the Service Production of the option Forest Monitoring in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia (Task 3) and Manager of the Research & Development Activities (Task 4). Task 3: This GSE FM service provides a powerful tool for effective forest monitoring and inventory at regional scale. Reliable and up-to-date information on forest extent and changes therein will be generated using high-resolution EO data. A total area of about 200.000 km2 will be monitored within this project. Task 4: The Research & Development activities with scope on identification, testing and implementation of new R&D shall be one of the key inputs for improved service provision. Throughout the entire services of the GSE FM Service Portfolio the interactive involvement within the process of production (in-situ measurements, data pre-processing, data classification, product accuracy assessment etc.) is the most cost and time efficient factor and should therefore be treated with high priority to research activities. (...) The Task 4 Science Board comprises experts in the fields of EO SAR data and methods (UNI Jena), EO optical data and methods (Joanneum Research), EO and in-situ combined methods (SFM Consultants GmbH) and experts from the Kyoto Protocol evolution (Joanneum Institute of Energy Research). The Board is managed by UNI Jena.
| Origin | Count |
|---|---|
| Bund | 22 |
| Type | Count |
|---|---|
| Förderprogramm | 22 |
| License | Count |
|---|---|
| offen | 22 |
| Language | Count |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | 7 |
| Englisch | 19 |
| Resource type | Count |
|---|---|
| Keine | 16 |
| Webseite | 6 |
| Topic | Count |
|---|---|
| Boden | 19 |
| Lebewesen und Lebensräume | 21 |
| Luft | 15 |
| Mensch und Umwelt | 22 |
| Wasser | 17 |
| Weitere | 22 |