Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 31, 2026
10:05
Integrated Field Lysimetry and Porewater Sampling for Evaluation of Chemical Mobility in Soils and Established Vegetation
Published on: July 4, 2014
Ospar 98/3: an environmental turning point or a flawed decision?
1Bellamy Wilkinson Associates, Blyth House, Bridge Street, Halesworth, Suffolk IP19 8AB, UK.
Marine Pollution Bulletin
|May 31, 2001
Summary
The Ospar Commission
Area of Science:
- Marine environmental policy
- Offshore infrastructure management
Background:
- Over-fishing and eutrophication threaten European seas.
- The Ospar Commission mandates removal of redundant offshore oil rigs.
- This decision was made in 1998 with significant financial implications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically evaluate the Ospar Commission's 1998 decision on redundant rig removal.
- To assess the scientific and environmental basis for the decision.
- To examine the decision-making process and its potential environmental implications.
Main Methods:
- Review of Ospar Commission's decision-making process.
- Analysis of available scientific evidence on redundant rig environmental impact.
- Evaluation of the 'best practicable environmental option' for rig disposal.
Main Results:
- Limited evidence on the environmental impact of redundant rigs was available.
- Scientific support for rig removal as the best option was lacking.
- The decision appears influenced by factors beyond marine quality improvement.
Conclusions:
- The Ospar Commission's decision on rig removal may not be environmentally optimal.
- The decision-making process lacked robust scientific justification.
- Further scrutiny is needed regarding the environmental and procedural aspects of the decision.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:43Sustainable Development
As the human population continues to grow and use resources, we must be mindful of our planet’s natural limits. Sustainable development provides a pathway to maintain and improve human life now while also ensuring that future generations will have the resources that they need. The long-term success of sustainability efforts rests on understanding the interplay between human actions and ecological systems.
01:41Social Traps
Social traps are negative situations where people get caught in a direction or relationship that later proves to be unpleasant, with no easy way to back out of or avoid. The concept was orignally introduced by John Platt who applied psychology to Garrett Hardin's "Tragedy of the Commons", where in New England herd owners could let their cattle graze in the common ground. This situation seems like a good idea, but an individual could have an advantage. If they owned more cows, the larger...
02:07Conservation of Declining Populations
Conservation of declining population focuses on ways of detecting, diagnosing, and halting a population decline. The approach uses methods to prevent populations from going extinct.
01:16Contaminants and Errors
Effective sample preparation is crucial for accurate and reliable laboratory analysis. During this process, two significant sources of error can arise: concentration bias from improper sample splitting and contamination caused by methods used to reduce particle size, such as grinding or homogenization. Identifying and minimizing these potential errors is crucial to ensuring the validity of the analysis.
Another key consideration is determining the appropriate number of samples required to...
Another key consideration is determining the appropriate number of samples required to...
01:19Quality of Water
In concrete preparation, the quality of water is paramount as it affects the strength and durability of the concrete. Potable water is usually preferred; however, it must not have excessive sodium or potassium to prevent compromising the concrete's integrity. Water quality is typically evaluated based on impurities such as dissolved solids, chlorides, and sulfates, and its pH value is ideally between 6 and 8. Even slightly acidic natural water may be acceptable unless it contains harmful...
01:28Biodeterioration
Biodeterioration refers to the unwanted alteration of materials caused by microorganisms—especially fungi—which damage both organic substrates (paper, wood, textiles) and inorganic ones (stone, plaster, glass). Unlike abiotic decay, biodeterioration results from biological activity that produces physical disruption and chemical degradation.Physical deterioration occurs as fungal hyphae penetrate pores, cracks, and surface irregularities. Hyphal turgor pressure, thigmotropic growth along...