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Space Sciences at the University of Berlin. To monitor the water quality of the river Elbe, 
novel methods for the evaluation of trace substances and nutrient analyses were tested, and 
fixed stations were established. 
Investigations in the estuary are based on automatic permanent measuring stations and on a 
model describing transports of water and water-borne substances as well as biogeochemical 
fluxes during the transport processes. In addition, the data recorded by ’’Wassergiitestelle 
Elbe” (Elbe water quality monitoring office) are to be used. It will be investigated how the 
water quality in terms of nutrients, production and oxygen concentrations as well as fluxes 
during transport processes can be assessed on the basis of few key parameters, and how it can 
be predicted for various sections of the river Elbe by means of a model. The Wassergiitestelle 
Elbe will participate in the project. 
With respect to the German Bight coastal waters, it will be examined how data from 
permanent stations and remote sensing systems can be combined for monitoring purposes. 
This approach focuses on the distribution of nutrients, suspended particulate matter (SPM) 
and phytoplankton. The data will be assimilated to an SPM transport model. 
From the time series, typical temporal/spatial distribution patterns will be determined and 
compared to standard monitoring methods. It will be investigated whether the;'e exist specific 
relationships between variables enabling easily measured variables to be substituted for others 
that are difficult to determine, in order to reduce the sampling effort. Besides, during 
monitoring operations, satellite data are transmitted to the vessels in order to optimize 
sampling, e.g., on the basis of latest SPM distribution data. The partner involved in these 
projects is the Bundesamt fur Seeschiffahrt und Hydrographie (BSH, Federal Maritime and 
Hydrographic Agency). To improve the evaluation of remote sensing data and validate the 
quantities derived from them, ground truth measurements are integrated into the monitoring 
system. In the first phase of the project field, permanent measuring stations and remote sensing 
techniques are developed under separate projects. In a subsequent phase, all monitoring 
techniques will be integrated and tested. 
A Wadden Sea project will be implemented to find ways of determining the impact which 
nutrient loads and organic matter from the river Elbe have on sediments and benthos in the 
Wadden Sea area. It will be investigated whether few representative test sections are 
sufficient, and what observations and measurements are suitable for studying the development 
of sediment and benthos. Also possibilities of mapping large-scale developments by use of 
additional remote sensing data (satellite and aircraft) will be analyzed. The test sections will be 
located within the area influenced by river runoff from the Elbe (Elbe estuary, islands of 
Busum and Sylt), with a reference area not influenced by Elbe runoff in the East Frisian 
Wadden Sea. Partners in this project are the Wadden Sea National Park regional offices. 
Expected results and uses 
Strategies and recommendations will be developed pointing out how the different monitoring 
systems can be linked via models. Pilot projects testing novel systems in co-operation with the 
regulatory agencies will be documented as case studies, enabling them to be applied similarly 
to other areas. Moreover, these systems will be assessed with respect to their capabilities and 
economic efficiency. Innovative testing and calibration methods are also to be used in testing 
novel systems of partners. 
The products of the project field will be documents describing the systems and techniques 
developed to optimize monitoring. In the reports, the evaluation methods that have been