Activities

Eutrophication is a phenomenon in which conditions of certain water bodies such as seas, lakes and rivers change from being oligotrophic to eutrophic. Originally, this term explains a natural process occurring in ponds and lakes by non-periodic changes of biotic communities under certain environmental conditions; oligotrophic water with low nutrient concentration and low production activities by some plankton and fish changes to being eutrophic with high nutrient concentration and high production activities. However, recently this term has been used more often to indicate increase of nutrient inputs to water bodies by anthropogenic activities. Sewage, runoffs from agriculture and livestock industries, and industrial waste water are considered as causes of this type of eutrophication.

Activities on eutrophication were implemented jointly by WG3 (HAB) and WG4 (RS).

Publications

1. Development of Procedures for Assessment of Eutrophication Status including Evaluation of Land Based Sources of Nutrients for the NOWPAP Region (2009)

   In order to assess the eutrophication status in the NOWPAP region, CEARAC developed Procedures for Assessment of Eutrophication Status including Evaluation of Land Based Sources of Nutrients for the NOWPAP Region (NOWPAP Common Procedure).

2. Integrated Report on Eutrophication Assessment in Selected Sea Areas in the NOWPAP Region: Evaluation of the NOWPAP Common Procedure (2011)

   NOWPAP Common Procedure was evaluated through case studies in the NOWPAP member states. Eutrophication status assessed with the NOWPAP Common Procedure is introduced in the report.

3. Case Study Reports on Assessment of Eutrophication Status in Selected Sea Areas (2011)

   Using the NOWPAP Common Procedure, the eutrophication status in China (Changjiang River Estuary and its Adjacent Area), Japan (the Northwest Kyushu sea area and Toyama Bay), Korea (Jinhae Bay) and Russia (Peter the Great Bay) were assessed.

4. Application of the NOWPAP Common Procedure for Eutrophication Assessment in Selected Sea Areas in the NOWPAP Region (2013)

   NOWPAP Common Procedure was refined based on the case studies implemented in each member state. Using the refined NOWPAP Common Procedure, eutrophication status in the NOWPAP region was re-assessed in some selected sea areas in the NOWPAP region.

5. Trial Application of the Screening Procedure of the NOWPAP Common Procedure for Eutrophication Assessment

   CEARAC applied the screening procedure of the NOWPAP Common Procedure to the entire NOWPAP sea area in order to identify potential eutrophic zones as well as to verify the suitability of this preliminary diagnosis.
   In the discussion at the 12th CEARAC FPM (2014), it was agreed that one parameter (residence time of nutrient) in the screening procedure is changed to long-term trend of COD (or TOC), which is an extensively used parameter in the NOWPAP member states.

6. Expert Meeting on Eutrophication Assessment in the NOWPAP Region (October 18, 2017, Qingdao, China)

   An expert meeting on eutrophication assessment in the NOWPAP region was held in 2017 in China with nominated experts in the member states who have conducted eutrophication assessment in the respective countries and other relevant experts. The meeting reviewed the on-going CEARAC activities on the trial application of the screening procedure, which is part of the NOWPAP Common Procedure. The meeting also discussed the refinement of the current assessment method and future plans on coastal eutrophication assessment.