Processing and Presentation of Information on HMs and POPs:
Database and Web Site

MSC-E Technical Note 5/2001

E.Kozodaeva, A.Gusev, D.Amelin

ABSTRACT

This Technical Note is dedicated to information processing in Meteorological Synthesizing Centre-East (MSC-E). In the first part of the Technical Note database on Heavy Metals (HM) and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) is described. The second part contains the description of MSC-E web site and presentation of information on HM and POP modelling on the Internet.

The database is meant for storage of emission data, measurements, geophysical data, physical-chemical properties of pollutants and modelling results. At the present stage the database provides:
- storage of HM and POP data of measurements in different environmental compartments (air, precipitation, soil, sea water, vegetation etc.);
- storage and processing of HM and POP emission data received from different sources (expert estimates and official data);
- search and retrieval of emission data for modelling;
- search and retrieval of measurement data for the comparison and verification of modelling results;
- realization of different levels of access to the database, data protection against unsanctioned access, data archiving.

The main directions of further database development are the following:
- development of a unit for geophysical data (Land Cover, Soils, LAI etc.);
- development of a unit for physical-chemical properties of considered pollutants (HMs and POPs);
- development of a unit for the storage of modelling results.

The database is currently used by specialists of MSC-E and in future it is planned to make it accessible for EMEP countries and interested experts.

The second part of the note describes a general structure of MSC-E web site and gives the list of basic topics presented by the Centre on the Internet. It may be interesting for Parties to the Convention and specialists working in closely related fields. Comparing to its previous version of MSC-E web site is extended by a number of features: search through the documents stored on the site, registration, subscription to news of the site, discussion forum, etc. According to the recommendations of the Steering Body to EMEP information on pollution of European region by HMs and POPs on MSC-E web site is yearly updated (in graphical and digital format).