A Closer look at water chemistry and pollutant data
At the end of April (April 28–29, 2026), Astra Labuce, a researcher from the Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology, participated in the EMODnet Chemistry group meeting in Trieste, Italy. The meeting focused on marine chemistry data management, standardized reporting, and quality assurance solutions. Experts regularly discuss the challenges of marine data acquisition and data harmonization approaches, recognizing that data management is essential work that must be carried out accurately and in a standardized manner, regardless of the geographical location of data collection. Data quality is the foundation that enables the scientific community as a whole to create reliable and applicable data products for use at local, regional, and global scales.
The experts at EMODnet (European Marine Observation and Data Network) Chemistry collect, standardize, and make available marine chemistry data from various European countries and institutions. The Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology is an active partner in these activities, where the primary focus of EMODnet Chemistry is on eutrophication, ocean acidification, pollutants, and marine litter.
Chemistry data in the marine environment includes information on the concentration and distribution of various substances in water, sediments, and living organisms. It covers both natural processes, such as nutrient cycling involving nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations and oxygen levels, as well as human-induced impacts, including pollution from heavy metals, pesticides, petroleum products, and marine litter.
