Miljøovervågning

Miljøovervågning refers to the systematic, long‑term collection and analysis of environmental data to describe the state of the environment, detect trends, and assess potential risks to ecosystems and human health. It is a foundational tool for informing policy, regulatory compliance, and risk assessment by providing evidence about current conditions and how they change over time.

The scope of environmental monitoring typically includes air quality, water quality, soil and land use, biodiversity and ecosystems, climate variables, noise, and radiation. Key elements are monitoring networks and sites, data collection methods, indicators and targets, data management and quality assurance, and reporting and transparency.

Methods used in miljøovervågning include fixed monitoring stations, mobile surveys, remote sensing, automated sensors and data loggers, and periodic field campaigns. In recent years, citizen science has complemented professional monitoring in some programs. Data are used for regulatory compliance, trend analysis, risk assessment, environmental impact assessments, and informing the public and stakeholders.

Governance is usually overseen by government agencies or public authorities, often in collaboration with research institutions and industry. International frameworks and guidelines aim to harmonize methods and indicators to enable data comparability and cross-border learning.

Challenges include ensuring adequate spatial and temporal coverage, maintaining data quality and metadata, securing long-term funding, and achieving interoperability between different data systems. Miljøovervågning is essential for detecting environmental change, guiding management decisions, and supporting sustainable development.

Examples of indicators commonly monitored are atmospheric pollutants such as PM2.5 and NO2, water quality parameters like dissolved oxygen and nutrients, biodiversity indicators, and soil and groundwater conditions.