Water chemistry

The programme collects monitoring data from approximately 20 countries in Europe and North America to monitor and investigate the extent to which air pollution affects lakes and rivers, particularly regarding acidification, heavy metals and pollutants.

The program "Monitoring in reference rivers" consists of monitoring in assumed reference sites in rivers with no or negligible human impact.

The purpose of the monitoring program is to provide reference data from unaffected water bodies against which impacts can be assessed, to monitor long-term changes in natural conditions and large-scale human impact, and to monitor acidification effects in freshwater in Norway as a result of atmospheric inputs of long-range transported air pollutants.

The section employs observational, experimental, and modeling approaches to further our understanding of physical, chemical, biological, and biogeochemical processes and services of the marine environment. 

The section receives and handles approx. 15,000 samples/year which are partial deliveries in monitoring projects, research projects and other assignments led by researchers at NIVA. 

We do chemical analyses of inorganic substances.