ANNEX XI

WORKING DOCUMENT ON POSSIBLE COOPERATION BETWEEN C-GOOS AND LOICZ

by Jozef M. Pacyna

 

1.	INTRODUCTION

There is a number of international organizations and research programmes studying the relationships between the atmosphere, the aquatic ecosystem, and the terrestrial ecosystem. The main goal of these programmes is to investigate the alterations of biogeochemical cycles of various chemicals in the environment due to human activities, as well as other pressure factors of natural character. These investigations include qualitative and quantitative assessment of pressure factors, such as the releases of chemicals to the air, water and land, transport of chemicals through the environment, and their effects on the environment and human health. The ocean is the ultimate recipient of these chemicals. The degree of changes of environmental pressures and their consequences on the environment and humans is of particular importance in these studies, together with the development of future scenarios for these changes under various conditions related to macroeconomic change in the world, socio-cultural factors and public opinion. The above mentioned studies are being carried out at a local, regional (e.g. continental), and global scale.

The IGBP Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone (LOICZ) and the IOC-WMO-UNEP-ICSU Coastal Panel of the Global Ocean Observing System (C-GOOS) are two examples of programmes engaged in understanding the nature of interaction between the ocean, the atmosphere, and terrestrial ecosystem. Although the scientific interest of both programmes is very similar, the issues and approaches of exploring this interest are different. LOICZ focuses on research projects aiming at the assessment of local, regional, and global changes of material fluxes and their environmental effects in the coastal zone through studying the dynamics and kinetics of these changes and biological, physical, chemical, and hydrological mechanisms of interactions between the ocean and other ecosystems. C-GOOS focuses on monitoring/ measuring the changes of chemicals resulting from these interactions over a period of time. Thus, the approaches of LOICZ and C-GOOS are quite complementary in improving our understanding of the role of the ocean in global change of the environment and the effects of this change on the ocean.

2.	THE OBJECTIVES OF THE WORKING DOCUMENT

The main goal of the Working Document is to investigate the potential for cooperation and complementary activities between LOICZ and C-GOOS in order to improve our understanding of interactions between the ocean, the atmosphere, and terrestrial ecosystem at regional to global scale, and to propose joint activities, e.g. joint assessments of changes in cycling of chemicals (materials) in the coastal zone.

The above mentioned goal will be achieved through the following tasks:

• review of LOICZ and C-GOOS scientific objectives, definitions of the study problems, work structures, and science and implementation plans,
• definition of functional categories of coastal systems and the regions of priority in studying the changes in the coastal zone, and
• elaboration of a list of activities which will contribute to better fulfilment of tasks and goals of both programmes.

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3.	HOW CLOSE ARE THE SCIENTIFIC GOALS AND TASKS OF LOICZ AND C-GOOS?

The goals of LOICZ as stated in the Science Plan of the programme are:

• to determine at global and regional scales: (a) the fluxes of material between land, sea, and the atmosphere through the coastal zone, (b) the capacity of coastal systems to transfer and store particulate and dissolved matter, and (c) the effects of changes in external forcing conditions on the structure and functioning of coastal ecosystems,
• to determine how changes in land use, climate, sea level, and human activities alter the fluxes and retention of particulate matter in the coastal zone, and affect coastal morphodynamics,
• to determine how changes in coastal systems, including responses to varying terrestrial and oceanic inputs of organic matter and nutrients, will affect the global carbon cycle and the trace gas composition of the atmosphere, and
• to assess how responses of coastal systems to global change will affect the habitation and usage by humans of coastal environments, and to develop further the scientific and socio-economic bases for the integrated management of the coastal environment.

The research foci and activities of LOICZ and their relationship to those outlined in the LOICZ Science Plan are the following:

• the effects of changes in external forcing or boundary conditions on coastal fluxes, with activities on: (a) catchment basin dynamics and delivery, (b) atmospheric inputs to the coastal zone, (c) exchanges of energy and matter at the shelf edge, and (d) development of coupled models for coastal systems. These activities are linked to IGBP cross-cutting projects adding to the "land element of LOICZ", especially through the Continental Aquatic Systems project,
• coastal biogeomorphology and global change, with activities on: (a) the role of ecosystems on determining coastal morphodynamics under varying environmental conditions, (b) coastal biogeomorphological responses to anthropogenic activities, and (c) reconstruction and prediction of coastal zone evolution as a consequence of global change. Major activities focus on developing and implementing a practical and effective typology (ies) approach, and building further specific data sets to complement LOICZ current ones. This will provide a global perspective and assist in up-scaling the processes and flux information,
• carbon fluxes and trace gas emissions, with activities on: (a) cycling of organic matter within coastal systems, (b) estimation of net fluxes of N2O and CH4 in the coastal zone, and (c) estimation of global coastal emissions of dimethyl sulfide. The organic matter activity is the major priority at this stage, and
• economic and social impacts of global change in coastal systems, with activities on: (a) evolution of coastal systems under different scenarios of global change, (b) effects of changes to coastal systems on social and economic activities, and (c) development of improved strategies for the management of coastal resources.

Currently the LOICZ work plan is being revised by the LOICZ Executive Committee with the aim to further develop the work plan for the 5 year period from 1998 through 2002. This work plan focusses on an integrated programme of material fluxes in/between coastal basins, coastal seas and boundary fluxes with atmosphere and continental slopes. The emphasis is on C, N, P (particularly CO2) and dissolved, particulate states/forms of the materials. The socio-economic dimension is important; the effect of people activities on the material fluxes and how the subsequent changes in the coastal zone may influence the human dimension of the coastal zone. The modeling approach will use the "currencies" of biophysics (especially carbon, energy) and the monetary values of changes and influences.

Fundamental to LOICZ approach is the recognition for local, regional and global scale assessments that the coastal zone is not a simple "line boundary" but is a global "compartment" with special and characteristic features. In addition, it is recognized that there is a huge amount of existing and recorded data and work being done around the globe on coastal habitats at a variety of scales (and that there are gaps in this work). Hence, LOICZ plans to continue to network and integrate the expertise and information at these levels into delivering science knowledge to address LOICZ regional and global questions. LOICZ particularly provides a forum and mechanism for this integration to deliver relevant science knowledge (to the LOICZ data users, e.g. NGO, IGO, national coastal zone managers and decision makers, and the wider science and general community).

The development of nutrient budgets at local and regional scales for coastal seas including flux boundary conditions at landward estuarine environments and continental margins environments, is a core activity. Allied river basins work is to elucidate the material input conditions and processes, including the socio-economic effects and conditions, to be closely linked with the coastal sea material budgets. Work with JGOFS (through our joint Continental Margins Task Team) is focussed on the flux boundary evaluation of linkage to the oceans across the continental slope.

In addition to the biophysical and socio-economic dimensions and assessments of horizontal material fluxes, the scaling issues and methodological developments are crucial to LOICZ. There is a strong involvement of researchers at local scales. Through the development of typology approaches, tools and methods LOICZ will try to find a coherent approach to the up-scaling issue.

C-GOOS goals are to link monitoring (measurement, observation) programme needs and products to the needs and products that are beneficial to society and various groups of users working in the coastal zone. Therefore, the C-GOOS objectives include:

1. Determination of user needs in the coastal zone and specification of the environmental data and products required to satisfy these needs.
2. Identification of regions where current monitoring efforts are inadequate and formulation of plans to fill these gaps.
3. Identification of inadequacies in the measurement programmes of current observation systems in terms of the variables measured, the scales on which they are measured, and their usefulness.
4. Promotion of regional to global coordination and integration of monitoring and modeling.
5. Promotion of the design and implementation of internationally coordinated strategies for data acquisition, integration, synthesis, and dissemination of products.
6. Promotion of the use of regional and global networks to improve now-casting, forecasting and prediction of environmental change in the coastal zone.

C-GOOS is now working on formulation of strategic and implementation plans for achieving the above goals.

As seen from the above, the goals of LOICZ and C-GOOS complement each other in meeting the overall goal of better understanding: (a) the interactions between the ocean, the atmosphere, and the terrestrial environment, (b) the pressures affecting these interactions, particularly the impact of human activities, (c) the consequences of these interactions, and (d) the cost-efficient possibilities to reduce these interactions.

Both, LOICZ and C-GOOS operate on local, regional, and global scales with respect to the definition of pressure factors, the monitoring/ modeling of the state of the aquatic environment, and the assessment of consequences of pressure factors on the environment. Locally defined pressures in the coastal zone may have consequences on a global environment.

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4.	WHAT ARE THE PRACTICAL WAYS FOR C-GOOS TO COMPLEMENT THE ACTIVITIES OF LOICZ?

A review of certain aspects of scope of both programmes, as well as certain terms of habitat characteristics, and factors used for comparative analysis of systems studied within the programmes needs to be carried out in order to address the above mentioned question. This review can be made using the LOICZ research plan, as well as the LOICZ Strategy and Work Plan 1998-2002, presently under development.

LOICZ projects encompass both the land margin to an approximate altitude of 200 m above sea level and the coastal waters out to the edge of the continental shelves, approximately matching the region that has been alternatively flooded and exposed during the sea level fluctuations of the late Quarterly period. Thus, the coastal domain within LOICZ varies from 200 m above to 200 m below sea level.

4.1.	DEFINITION OF FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES OF COASTAL SYSTEMS IN LOICZ

Organic production and the transformation of nutrients, carbon, pollutants and sediments in, and their transport through coastal systems are strongly influenced by physical and chemical forcing at the land, ocean, and atmosphere boundaries. This forcing is directly related to functional categories of coastal systems. LOICZ considers several functional categories which have a direct impact on the degree of environmental pressures. The following impact categories are generally defined within the LOICZ projects:

• tourism (recreation),
• fresh water supplies,
• fishing/ aquaculture,
• coastal residences,
• commercial/ industrial buildings, ports, etc,
• coastal ecosystems and wetlands, and
• agriculture.

Typologies approaches and modeling tools for integrated assessment of human and environmental dimensions are yielding new tools and address these "people" and physico-chemical interplays at regional and global scales. LOICZ and C-GOOS are envisaged as partners in development and applications of the typology approach and "people"/environment assessment models currently being evolved by LOICZ.

On-site and off-site linkages are usually found to be involved in the pressures on the coastal zone resources. The major linkages include:

• urban sprawl and industrial and tourism development,
• ollution from riverain, airborne, and marine sources,
• channelization of the lowland sections of rivers and upstream diversion of rivers leading to beach loss and replenishment requirements,
• waste disposal in excess of assimilative capacities and posing human health risk,
• loss of coastal habitats, such as coral reefs, wetlands, and dune complexes,
• over fishing,
• sand and gravel mining, and
• oil and gas exploitation and transport leading to shoreline loss and pollution.

The context for these pressures and other linkages has recently been addressed by LOICZ (Towards integrated modeling and analysis in coastal zone: principles and practice, R.K. Turner, W.N. Adger and I. Lorenzoni, LOICZ Reports and Studies No. 11, in press).

The environmental change in the coastal zone is defined as a function of or in a form of:

• the rate of population growth and economic development,
• the rate of degradation of natural resources,
• the rate of coastline modification resulting in dynamic changes, including barrier and near shore islands,
• the rate of decline of biological productivity and biological diversity,
• increasing exposure of coastal populations to natural and anthropogenic hazards,
• increasing risk over utilization of sink assimilative capacity because of extensive links to "upstream" human activities,
• declining management effectiveness resulting from complexes related to the problem of coordination between different management regimes for marine and land resources, and
• vulnerability to potential climate change effects, including accelerated sea level rise.

The effects of changes in external forcing related to the functional categories of coastal systems mentioned above on coastal fluxes are a subject of studies within Focus 1 (Coastal Basins) and the collaborative activities of Focus 4 (Human Dimensions) of LOICZ.

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4.2.	DEFINITION OF DATA NEEDS WITHIN LOICZ

The aims of LOICZ in terms of global and regional synopses and forecasts can be translated into a combination of specific measurements and model data required to meet these aims. Indeed, a vast spectrum of measurements, observations, models, documents, and other types of data at a variety of scales is needed in order to meet the LOICZ goals. The data (collected in-situ, remotely sensed and from models) and the information needed for LOICZ would cover many different types and various spatial and temporal scales. These data are being collected and stored in accordance with the guidelines of the LOICZ Data and Information System (LDIS).

The following examples can be given for required data types and preferred temporal scales based upon the requirements identified by the LOICZ Implementation Plan:

• terrestrial data: from seasonal to interannual (land cover and use, soil map, coastal morphology, hydrological data, river runoff, geology, geophysics, etc.),
• marine data: from yearly, for slow processes, up to twice daily, for processes changing with tides (waves, current, tide, temperature, productivity, bathymetry, biology, chemistry, pollution, etc.),
• atmospheric data: from seasonal to daily (wind, temperature, humidity, cloud cover, chemistry, etc.),
• infrastructure data: yearly (location and characteristics of population centres, commercial ports, marinas, agriculture plants, industrial complexes, etc.), and
• socio-economic data: yearly (population density and composition, means of living, income per capita, market prices, etc.).

A list of required variables for LOICZ includes 187 variables and is presented in LDIS Plan (LOICZ Reports and Studies No. 6, 1996). The list is presented in Annex 1 after the LDIS Plan.

C-GOOS may contribute to the LDIS data base with information from the measurement/ monitoring networks which would be established with the C-GOOS help. On the other hand, C-GOOS may use the LDIS data base when identifying inadequacies in the measurement programmes of current observation systems in terms of variables measured, the scales of which they are measured, and their usefulness (Objective No. 3 of the C-GOOS). Indeed, there is a great need for frequent and continuous consultation between LOICZ and C-GOOS when planning and then launching new projects/ measurement networks with respect to the availability of information on parameters to be measured/ monitored and the need for further measurements/ monitoring. A liaison unit between the C-GOOS and LOICZ can be established to carry out this consultation.

Another important task of such liason would be to contribute to the assessment of results of LOICZ as a whole programme and its individual projects/ case studies. Such assessments, carried out at the end of certain period of LOICZ operation are quite necessary in order to conclude on the state of the marine environment and to plan further activities. The C-GOOS experience may be considered by LOICZ when concluding on the work being performed and planning future activities.

4.3.	MODELING DATA NEEDS WITHIN LOICZ

One of the long term objectives of LOICZ is to develop improved numerical models that describe the dynamics of biogeochemically important elements in the coastal zone at regional and global scales. The development of common and consistent modeling approaches is needed in order to produce outputs at the local scale. These outputs shall then be integrated into larger scale regional synthesis. The main priority of LOICZ modeling is to develop carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus (CNP) models in the coastal zone. Special guidelines have been developed within LOICZ on how to develop biogeochemical models within the programme (LOICZ Biogeochemical Modeling Guidelines, LOICZ Reports & Studies No.5, 1966). In general, these guidelines outline biogeochemical modeling methodologies which shall help to promote the collection and analysis of necessary data, and resolve these issues.

The models are aquatic models that include water, sediment and nutrients, as well as various forms of carbon. They include internal dynamics as well as important exchanges across landward and seaward boundaries. Three spatial scales, defined in terms of linear coastline length, have been identified in the LOICZ Implementation Plan as being of primary interest to LOICZ. They are:

• local/ site scale (~1-100 km): these would address specific habitats, such as saltmarshes, mangrove forests, deltas, coral reefs, estuaries, bays, and fishing banks. It is intended to develop these models in such a way that they can be applied to several sites with similar conditions,
• regional scale (~100-10,000 km): these would incorporate a variety of near-shore and off-shore habitats, in some cases out to the 200 m isobath. Modeling on this scale would be geographic in nature and would be carried out for a particular region of the world, such as the North Sea, South China Sea, etc., and
• global scale: these would incorporate several regional models representing either the entire world's coastal zone or a substantial proportion, based on representative regions, the results from which are up- scaled to the global scale.

Models would also differ with respect to temporal scales depending on their particular purpose. In general, in order to study multi-year phenomena it is necessary for LOICZ models to resolve seasonal cycles, annual cycles, and directional cycles. The initial LOICZ priority is on the estimation of the present fluxes of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in particular coastal systems on the local scale.

One of the most important steps in developing and application of models is their verification/ validation through a comparison with data from monitoring networks and/or specific measurement campaigns. It is anticipated that LOICZ and C-GOOS will find common interests in cooperating in preparation of measured data sets for validation purposes. C-GOOS may identify regions where current monitoring efforts are missing or inadequate for validation of LOICZ models and formulate plans to establish such measurements/ monitoring networks to fill the gaps (Objective No. 2 of C-GOOS).

Details on the modeling guidelines with the description of case studies of budget estimates in Bahia San Quintin, Mexico, Klong Lad Khao, Thailand, Tomales Bay, California, Gulf of Bothnia, the Baltic- Kattegat System, Spencer Gulf, Australia, Tokyo Bay, Japan, and East China Sea are presented in LOICZ Reports and Studies No.5.

Further discussion on budgets for Mexican coastal lagoons, including lagoons in arid Pacific and Gulf of California coasts, humid Pacific Coast and Gulf of Mexico is presented in a document on Comparison of Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fluxes in Mexican Coastal Lagoons (LOICZ Reports & Studies No. 10, 1997).

A preliminary discussion on question whether coastal seas are a net source or sink of CO2 to the atmosphere is presented in a LOICZ document on Coastal Seas: A net source or Sink of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide? (LOICZ Reports & Studies No. 1, 1995). Obviously, this very important question is also very difficult to answer. Taking into account riverine discharge of organic carbon and total sedimentation, it was suggested that coastal seas should be net heterotrophic, that is they release more CO2 to the atmosphere than they take up. To dates, the accuracy of estimates of riverine carbon discharge and carbon burial in sediments is inadequate (see the discussion during the Kyoto meeting on reductions of greenhouse gas emissions in December 1997). C-GOOS in cooperation with LOICZ may consider the promotion and design of internationally coordinated strategies for data acquisition, integration, and synthesis with respect to riverine discharge of organic carbon and total marine sedimentation (Objective No. 5 of C-GOOS).

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5.	C-GOOS AS A MODULE BASED ON A GLOBAL DATA ACQUISITION NETWORK

C-GOOS has been established to address issues on global scale. However, many problems in the coastal zone are especially severe in certain regions, located often in developing countries. These local problems may well have a global impact. Therefore, if the C-GOOS is realized in a global sense, all the world's coastal regions must be considered in detail, with their local, regional, and global peculiarities. However, it is essential that the locally implemented constituents of a global GOOS are consistent with a global perspective as to achieve regular and comprehensive sampling. For the same reason, the local/ regional methodologies used to obtain and to process the data and its quality control, must be of adequate precision and accuracy to meet global standards and requirements.

Case studies/ projects carried out on local and regional scale within LOICZ may provide a body of information which can be used in regional to global networks to improve now-casting, forecasting, and prediction of environmental change in the coastal zone. C-GOOS aims at the promotion of the use of such networks (Objective No. 6 of C-GOOS) and therefore is envisaged to be a vital "broker" in working with LOICZ in transferring the LOICZ data to such networks. LOICZ data meet the requirements of consistency with respect to a global perspective demands.

The EU European Land-Ocean Interaction Studies (ELOISE) programme shall also be a partner for cooperation with C-GOOS with respect to the promotion of the design and implementation of internationally coordinated strategies for data acquisition, integration, synthesis and dissemination of products (Objective No.5 of C-GOOS) and the promotion of the use of regional to global networks to improve now-casting, forecasting, and prediction of environmental change in coastal zone (Objective No.6 of C-GOOS). ELOISE, consisting of 29 research projects is regarded as a European contribution to LOICZ. The overall goal of ELOISE is to determine the role of coastal seas in land-ocean interactions (including shelf-deep sea interactions along the shelf edge) in perspective of global change. This goal should be achieved through the assessments of the ELOISE project results within three ELOISE working groups on: (1) Biogeochemical Fluxes and Cycling, (2) Ecosystem Structures, and (3) Modeling and Data Management. After two years in operation, ELOISE projects produce now a great number of data based on measurements and modeling carried out in wide range of geographical coverage and various time scales. Some of the projects deal with measurements in small estuary systems, the other projects study the open sea systems. Obviously, the hydrology of one sea may differ from the hydrology of another sea making the integration of data from both regions rather difficult. Thus, one of the major problems within ELOISE is the data integration from various projects. C-GOOS may consider the subject of data integration as a priority area in further activities within its Objective 5 on the promotion of the implementation of internationally coordinated strategies for data collection, integration, and dissemination. ELOISE is expected to be an active and vital partner with C-GOOS addressing these issues.

Another subject for further consideration of C-GOOS is whether the results from projects carried out within one programme, (e.g. ELOISE) can be applied by users other than scientists within or outside this programme community, e.g. by decision making, environmental management and/or planning, or even industry located in coastal zone (fishery, transport, tourism, water supplies, etc). This touches the strategic question of the mid- to long-term exploitation of research results in a view of economic development (e.g., wider economic impacts), and social objectives (e.g., impacts on the quality of life, employment, and skills, on the environment and its resources, etc) of the respective programmes. The above subject is related to the C-GOOS Objective No.1 on the promotion of user needs in the coastal zone and the specification of the environmental data and products required to satisfy these needs.

6.	FINAL REMARKS

It is anticipated that LOICZ and C-GOOS will find common interests in cooperating in order to better understand various physical, chemical, biological and hydrological processes and their consequences on the state of the environment in the coastal zone on a local, regional, and global scale. Liaison mechanisms between the LOICZ and C-GOOS can be established to carry out consultation on cooperation within promotion and development of various measurement and modeling activities within the programmes.

C-GOOS is envisaged to be a vital "broker" in working with LOICZ in transferring the LOICZ data to global networks aiming at the improvement of now-casting, forecasting and prediction of environmental change in coastal zone (Objective 6 of C-GOOS). LOICZ and C-GOOS will encourage joint activities in regional coastal seas in order to provide a body of information for the global networks.

It is anticipated that LOICZ and C-GOOS will find common interests in cooperating in preparation of measured data sets for validation of LOICZ model results. C-GOOS may identify regions where current monitoring efforts are missing or inadequate for validation of LOICZ models and formulate plans to establish such measurements/monitoring networks to fill the gaps (Objective 2 of C-GOOS).

C-GOOS may consider the subject of data integration as a priority area in further activities within its Objective 5 on the promotion of the implementation of internationally coordinated strategies for data collection, integration, and dissemination. The EU ELOISE programme, the European contribution to LOICZ is anticipated to be an active and vital partner with C-GOOS addressing this issue.

Finally, any duplication of efforts within LOICZ and C-GOOS shall be avoided.

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ANNEX 1.

REQUIRED VARIABLES FOR LOICZ AND POTENTIAL SOURCES.

VARIABLE	SOURCE
accretion rates in mangrove	FAO, UNEP
administrative/legislative/institutional context	Worldbank
air-sea CO2 exchange	JGOFS, WMO, ECMWF
alkalinity	IODE
along coast boundary exchange	IODE
amount of fine/coarse suspended river sediment	IHP, FAO
aquaculture sites	FAO
areal extent of habitat types	FAO, ETI
aridity	IHP
atmosphere deposition	IGAC, WMO, EEA
atmosphere terrestrial/fresh water fluxes	BAHC, WMO, EEA
basin wide circulation	IODE
bathymetry/bottom topography	GEBCO
below ground biomass	FAO
biodiversity	UNESCO/ETI
biogeochemical cycling	FAO
biogeochemical processes	FAO
biological production	FAO
biomass burning	LUCC, FAO, UNEP
C - dissolved organic fractions carbon	WMO
carbon in coastal waters	ICES, IODE
catchment area	IHP
CH4
chemical attributes of river borne C, N, P	GEMS, IHP, FAO
chemical contaminants - assimilation capacity	GEMS, IODE
chemical controls of C, N, P river movements	IHP, FAO
chlorophyll	FAO, ICES, NOAA
climate	WMO
climate fields	WMO, ECMWF
climatic variables	WMO, ECMWF
climatic zonation	WMO
CO2
coastal erosion - terrigenous inputs	EEA
coastal zone colour	NOAA, ESRIN, JRC
concentration of DOC in coastal water	ICES, IODE
coral reef accumulation	FAO, UNEP, ICLARM
coral reef community structure	FAO, UNEP, ICLARM
coral reef export	FAO, UNEP, ICLARM
coral reef production	FAO, ICLARM
cultural diversity and rate of change	Worldbank
currents	IODE
demographic characteristics	Worldbank, SEDA
development indicator	Worldbank
dimethylsulphide (DMS)
distribution of DOC in coastal water	ICES, IODE
DOC - Dissolved organic carbon	IODE
economic and social features	Worldbank
economic potential	Worldbank
ecosystem response to anthropogenic change	Worldbank, GCTE
endogenous sediments - supply, retention, ...
environmental quality	EEA, UNEP
erosion - shore & bottom	FAO
erosion rates	FAO, EEA
exchanges at the shelf edge	ICES, IODE, JGOFS
fertiliser use	LUCC, FAO
fisheries production	FAO, ICES
flocculation rate in river	IHP, FAO
flushing	IODE
fluxes between neighbouring coastal regions	ICES, IODE
food chain dynamics	FAO
forestry species and size class	FAO
freshwater runoff	IHP, FAO, BAHC
geology	WDC
geomorphology	WDC
groundwater	IHP
groundwater discharge	WMO, FAO, IHP
habitat type information	FAO, ETI
heavy metals	GEMS, IODE
high resolution photographic images	NOAA
human use & disturbance	UNEP
hydrological processes	IHP
hydrology	IHP
indicator of dependence on coast	Worldbank
inorganic C (concentration) in sediments
land cover	LUCC, FAO, EEA, UNEP
land use	LUCC, FAO, EEA, EROS,
	NOAA, SPOT
level of welfare indicator	Worldbank
levels of primary production	FAO
litter fall
local Redfield ratios
mangrove distribution	UNEP, ETI
mangrove Forest above ground biomass	FAO, UNEP
mangrove primary production	FAO, UNEP
mean rainfall	WMO
mean temperature	WMO, ECMWF
measure of "naturalness"
monthly maps of carbon sink/source
N - dissolved nutrients in coastal water	ICES, IODE
N - dissolved organic fractions
N2O
nephelometers	IODE
NH4 - dissolved nutrients in coastal waters	ICES, IODE
nitrate input from rain	WMO, UNEP, IHP
nitrogen
nitrogen in coastal water	ICES, IODE
nutrient cycling
nutrient input	FAO
nutrients	ICES, IODE
nutrients - assimilation capacity
organic C (concentration) in sediments
organic carbon
organic carbon - assimilation capacity
P
P - dissolved nutrients in coastal water	ICES, IODE
P - dissolved organic fractions
palaeography	PAGES
palaeographic reconstruction	PAGES
pCO2
pCO2 - free dissolved CO2	IODE
pH	IODE
phenology tree density and latitude	FAO, UNEP
photosynthesis
photosynthesis rate in water column
physical controls of C, N, P river movements	IHP, FAO
POC - Particulate Organic Carbon	IODE
pollution	IODE
pollution monitoring	IOC/IODE
population growth rates	Worldbank, CIESIN
population size	Worldbank, CIESIN
Q - river discharge	IHP, FAO, GLORI, BAHC
quantity of river borne C, N, P	IHP, FAO
rate of change of climate	WMO
ratio of CZ importance to overall national economy	Worldbank
reef distribution	FAO, UNEP, ICLARM
remineralisation rate of organic C
respiration
respiration rate in water column
river C, N, P	IHP, FAO
river total dissolved solids	IHP, FAO
river-estuary-shelf fluxes	EEA, JGOFS
salinity	IODE
saltmarsh distribution	UNEP
sea level	IODE, GLOSS, TOPEX
sea surface temperature	IODE, NOAA
seabed sediment characteristics	ICES, IODE
seagrass distribution	FAO, UNEP, ETI
seasonality of DOC
sediment	ICES, IODE
sediment accumulation
sediment delivery of rivers	IHP, GLORI
sediment input	IHP, FAO, GLORI
sediment loading	IHP, UNEP
sediment trap data	ICES, IODE
sedimentation rates
sediments - total suspended matter (concentration)	ICES, IODE, GLORI
sensitivity of coastal ecosystems	UNEP
shelf width	GEBCO
shoreline configuration	UNEP
silicon/silicate
snow cover	WMO
soil variables	FAO
soil types	FAO
soils	EEA, FAO
species and associations	ETI
subsidence rates	GLOSS
surface ozone concentrations	WMO, ECMWF
suspended matter	ICES, IODE
suspended matter - (concentration)	ICES, IODE
suspended matter - chlorophyll	ICES, IODE
suspended matter - inorganic C concentration
suspended matter - POC concentration	ICES, IODE
suspended sediment	ICES, IODE
synthetic organic compounds
tidal measurements	IODE
tidal range	IODE
tidal regime	IODE
tide	IODE
timing sequences for river borne C, N, P	IHP, FAO
topography	UNEP
total inorganic dissolved C
total sediment transport	IHP, FAO
tourist carrying capacity	Worldbank
tourist density
trace gas emission	WMO
trace metals	ICES, IODE
tributary chemistry	BAHC
tributary hydrology	IHP, FAO
TSS - total suspended sediments	IODE (marine), GLORI (river)
turbidity	IODE
type of seasonal boundary conditions	WMO, IODE
vegetation	FAO
vertical particle flux	IODE
waste water inputs	FAO, UNEP, IHP
water temperature	IODE
wave dominance	IODE
wetlands	UNEP, ETI