of possible general changes in the area monitored, with special studies of the dumping areas 
of dredged materials, enabling biocoenotic shifts to be correctly attributed. 
Monitoring and investigation methods 
Once a year, in autumn, 27 sublittoral stations are sampled for macrozoobenthos using van- 
Veen grabs (0.1 m2 , 3-6 parallel samples) and research dredge (1 haul per station). The 
stations are located in the mouths of the rivers Ems, Weser, Elbe, and Eider (genuine 
estuaries) as well as in the Jade Bay and Outer Jade near the edges of the navigation channels, 
distributed in such a way that preferably unimpaired areas are covered, with even coverage of 
the salinity gradient (limnetic to marine). Apart from abundances and biomasses of the 
individual taxa, also the loss on ignition of the sediment is determined. With the data thus 
obtained, cluster analyses, multidimensional scaling, and an analysis of similarity are carried 
out for each of the estuaries. 
Products and services 
The data are evaluated once a year in a detailed BfG report. Part aspects are discussed in 
papers published in scientific journals. The measured data are to be included in MUDAB, the 
Marine Environmental Data Base at the BSH. The monitoring programme forms part of the 
BLMP Federal and State Government Measuring Programme. 
The results of biological monitoring are required for an assessment of the quality status of the 
estuaries with a view to potential impacts of dredged materials dumping . Their scientific 
evaluation serves as a basis for political decisions in the field of marine environmental 
protection. 
Contribution by the Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD), Offenbach 
- German Weather Service - 
DWD-P1 - Operational recording of marine meteorological and relevant oceanographic 
in-situ data on all oceans 
Objectives 
To obtain data for 
- the determination of the current distribution of marine parameters for numerical weather 
forecasts and associated services 
analysis, representation and monitoring of the marine climate and its variability, and data 
for climate modelling 
validation of satellite measurements (ground truth) 
preparation of expert opinions, provision of information and other services to different 
user groups. 
Present scientific knowledge 
An indispensable prerequisite to numerical weather forecasting is knowledge of the prevailing 
field distribution of the relevant marine meteorological and associated oceanographic 
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