5.4. Monitoring of abiotic parameters

Dr Giorgos Catsadorakis

Dr Giorgos Catsadorakis

Society for the Protection of Prespa

Access to a wide and – as much as possible – up-to-date database for the fundamental abiotic parameters of the target area is crucial for any kind of management decision. Collected data on abiotic parameters may vary enormously according to the body of water, its overall importance and the part of the world where it lies, as well as upon other factors, such as the size and status of the institution collecting these data. In the case of lakes, the abiotic parameters are of two main categories: meteorological and limnological physicochemical. The number, type and location of the meteorological stations operated in the Greek part of Prespa by state and private institutions has varied during the last 70 years for which we have data, but there are more data from the last 30 years than prior to this time. Currently, there are three operating meteorological stations collecting data on precipitation (rain and snow), air temperature, wind speed and direction, evaporation and sunlight. The SPP runs one of them, as well as monitoring the water level of both Prespa lakes. The SPP also takes monthly Secchi disk measurements of the water clarity (or turbidity) of both lakes, which is considered to be a rough proxy of primary productivity (phyto-plankton abundance). Some physicochemical parameters of both lakes are measured a few times annually under the country-wide national monitoring scheme. There is no other monitoring system of the physicochemical parameters of the two lakes, except for some years when intensive and systematic research may make such data available.