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List of indicators |  |
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Search | |
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Custodians | |
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About SOE reporting | |
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What are indicators? | |
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About our database — SIMR | |
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Frequently asked questions | |
List of indicators
Follow links on the Indicator number to see full details of the indicator. Use the Indicator Search form to find indicators by various criteria.
| Indicators | Type |
|---|---|
| 1 - Monthly mean air temperatures at Australian Antarctic Stations | C |
| 2 - Highest monthly air temperatures at Australian Antarctic Stations | C |
| 3 - Lowest monthly air temperatures at Australian Antarctic Stations | C |
| 4 - Monthly mean lower stratospheric temperatures above Australian Antarctic Stations | C |
| 5 - Monthly mean mid-tropospheric temperatures above Australian Antarctic Stations | C |
| 8 - Monthly mean atmospheric pressure at Australian Antarctic Stations | C |
| 9 - Daily records of total column ozone at Macquarie Island | C P |
| 10 - Daily broad-band ultra-violet radiation observations using biologically effective UVR detectors | C |
| 11 - Atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gas species | C P |
| 12 - Noctilucent cloud observations at Davis | C |
| 13 - Polar stratospheric cloud observations at Davis | C |
| 14 - Midwinter atmospheric temperature at altitude 87km | C |
| 15 - Stratopause region parameters for Davis | C |
| Indicators | Type |
|---|---|
| 27 - Regional populations of Adelie penguins in the vicinity of Casey, Davis and Mawson. | C |
| 29 - Breeding population of the Southern Giant Petrel at Heard Island, the McDonald Islands and within the AAT | C |
| 30 - Breeding population of King Penguins at Heard Island | C |
| 31 - Annual population estimates of Southern Elephant Seals at Macquarie Island | C |
| 32 - Fecundity and pup growth in fur seal colonies on Macquarie Island | C |
| 33 - Annual catch in tonnes of marine species harvested in Australian Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters | C P |
| 37 - Species and numbers of species killed, taken or interfered with or disturbed in the Antarctic and the sub-Antarctic for the purpose of scientific research | P |
| 70 - The presence or absence of vascular plant species in two defined areas of Heard Island | C |
| 72 - Windmill Islands terrestrial vegetation dynamics | C |
| Indicators | Type |
|---|---|
| 38 - Mean sea level for the Antarctic region | C |
| 43 - Fast ice thickness at Davis and Mawson | C |
| Indicators | Type |
|---|---|
| 46 - Annual tourist ship visits and tourist numbers | P |
| 48 - Station and ship person days | P |
| 49 - Medical consultations per person year | C |
| 50 - Volume of wastewater discharged from Australian Antarctic Stations | P |
| 51 - Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) of wastewater discharged from Australian Antarctic Stations | P |
| 52 - Suspended solids (SS) content of wastewater discharged from Australian Antarctic Stations | P |
| 53 - Waste returned to Australia | P R |
| 54 - Amount of waste incinerated at Australian Antarctic Stations | P R |
| 56 - Monthly fuel usage of the generator sets and boilers | P |
| 57 - Monthly incinerator fuel usage of Australian Antarctic Stations | P |
| 58 - Monthly total of fuel used by vehicles at Australian Antarctic Stations | P |
| 59 - Monthly electricity usage at Australian Antarctic Stations | P |
| 60 - Total flight hours in the Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT) by Australian helicopters and fixed wing aircraft | P |
| 61 - Total potable water consumption at Australian Antarctic Stations | P |
| 68 - Number of expeditioners undergoing environmental education | R |
| 69 - Resources committed to environmental issues | R |
| 76 - Monthly fuel usage of ships travelling to Australian Antarctic Stations | P |
| 83 - Quality of Potable Water at Australian Antarctic and Subantarctic Stations | C |
| Indicators | Type |
|---|---|
| 35 - The number of permits issued for entry into Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs) in the Australian Antarctic Territory | P |
| 62 - Water levels of Deep Lake, Vestfold Hills | C |
| 63 - The number and area of protected areas in the Australian Antarctic and sub-Antarctic jurisdiction | R |
| 65 - Station footprint for Australian Antarctic Stations | P |
| 67 - Resources committed to heritage expertise | R |
Search
List of other search and related links.
- Search for Indicators
- Bibliography
- Data
- Data plotting
- List of Indicators by themes
- Parameters measured
- Species used
Custodians
The custodial login is for custodians of State of the Environment indicators to enter data or evaluations, or perform other administrative tasks.
About SOE Reporting
Antarctica is the world's greatest remaining wilderness area. It plays a significant role in many global environmental issues such as wind and water currents and world weather patterns.
State of the Environment Reporting:
- provides a "snap-shot" of the status of the Antarctic environment
- relies on long-term monitoring of environmental and other variables
- allows the detection of trends and patterns, which may be due to natural variability or human-induced (anthropogenic) pressures
Why are we interested?
State of the Environment Reporting allows us to:
- assess the quality of the Antarctic environment
- identify threats to the Antarctic environment
- monitor the pressures we exert on it and track the impact and efficiency of our activities in the Antarctic.
How do we do it?
State of the Environment Reporting is based on environmental indicators. Indicators:
- are data that summarise physical, chemical, biological or socio-economic factors which best represent the key elements of the environment
- are grouped into themes
We have developed a web-accessible computer system called SIMR that manages the indicator data, metadata, and custodian information. The system automatically prompts custodians for data and evaluations when required and can produce reports on indicators via the web whenever requested.
What are indicators?
Indicators are measures of physical, chemical, biological or socio-economic factors which represent key elements of the environment. They capture information about the environment for management, monitoring and reporting uses.
Environmental Indicators are useful for state of the environment reporting because they:
- Are easily defined and measured.
- Show trends and changes in the real world.
- Can aid communication and allow information to be disseminated effectively.
A Condition, Pressure, Response framework (C, P, R) has been used to define the Indicators. The framework describes the CONDITION of important elements of a system; shows the extent of the major PRESSURES exerted on a system; determines RESPONSES to either condition or changes in the condition of a system.
All Indicators are checked against 15 criteria developed by Environment Australia.
Indicators are also classified according to the following theme areas:
- Atmosphere
- Biodiversity
- Coasts and Oceans
- Human Settlements
- Inland Waters
- Land
- Natural and Cultural Heritage
Use the Search form to find specific indicators.
Indicator selection criteria
The selection criteria for environmental indicators have been adopted from State of the Environment Reporting: Framework for Australia (Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories, 1994).
Environmental indicators should:
- Serve as a robust indicator of environmental change;
- Reflect a fundamental or highly-valued aspect of the environment or an important environmental issue;
- Be either national in scope or applicable to regional environmental issues of national significance;
- Provide an early warning of potential problems;
- Be capable of being monitored to provide statistically verifiable and reproducible data that shows trends over time and, preferably, apply to a broad range of environmental regions;
- Be scientifically credible;
- Be easy to understand;
- Be monitored with relative ease;
- Be cost-effective;
- Have relevance to policy and management needs;
- Contribute to monitoring of progress towards implementing commitments in nationally important environmental policies;
- Where possible and appropriate, facilitate community involvement;
- Contribute to the fulfilment of reporting obligations under international agreements;
- Where possible and appropriate, use existing commercial and managerial indicators; and
- Where possible and appropriate, be consistent and comparable with other countries? and State and territory indicators.
About our database - SIMR
SIMR, the System for Indicator Management and Reporting is a database management system linked to the Web for management and reporting. SIMR automates state of the environment reporting, delegating responsibility for updates to indicator custodians.
SIMR has the following attributes:
- It maintains a list environmental indicators classified into convenient themes.
- It maintains a standardised description (a template) of each indicator (stored within a metadata record) that is written by the custodian. This feature enables indicators and data to be discovered by national and international metadata catalogues such as the Global Change Master Directory, the Australian Spatial Data Directory, or the Geospatial Data Clearinghouse.
- The template has four dynamic components that the custodian is responsible for—
- Data (updated on a regular, and where possible automatic basis).
- Written evaluations (usually reported annually).
- Status of indicator (0-7 scale).
- State of knowledge about processes affecting the indicator (0-7 scale).
- All indicator data are stored for use (display or download) by the custodian and the public
- Reports 24/7 on the current knowledge of each indicator
- Alerts managers and custodians when indicator values exceed established parameters
SIMR can be downloaded with examples of the indicator data.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Why are we interested in SOE reporting?
- How do we conduct SOE reporting?
- What are the current threats to the Antarctic environment?
- Where can I find information about the governance framework for the Australian Antarctic Divisions SOE system, SIMR?
- How do I enter new data for my State of the Environment Indicator into the System for Indicator Management and Reporting?
- How do I enter an evaluation for my State of the Environment Indicator?
- I don't understand how to set the scales in the evaluation entry - especially the State of Knowledge scale.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
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We're interested in State of the Environment Reporting because it allows us to:
- assess the quality of the Antarctic environment
- identify threats (see below) to the Antarctic environment
- monitor the pressures we exert on it and track the impact and efficiency of our activities in the Antarctic.
-
State of the Environment Reporting is based on environmental. Indicators:
- are data that summarise physical, chemical, biological or socio-economic factors which best represent the key elements of the environment
- are grouped into themes
We have developed a web-accessible computer system called SIMR that manages and reports on the indicator data, metadata, and custodian information. This system has a public interface which permits interrogation of approved indicators and a restricted interface utilised by custodians to enter and maintain indicator information.
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Permanent Stations
Antarctica is largely untouched with little or no evidence of human impact over vast regions. The scientific stations situated along the edge of the continent are associated with significant environmental problems.
Fisheries
Virtually all Antarctic life depends for its existence on the seas surrounding the continent. The Southern Ocean contains living resources potentially several times greater than the combined resources of all other fisheries. There is a long history of over-exploitation of Antarctic marine living resources, with consequent damage to the ecosystem. A number of species have become threatened by over-harvesting and illegal fishing, and others are vulnerable because of human intrusion into their habitat.
The impacts of Antarctic fishing are as yet poorly known, though it is likely that many of the species taken are long lived, making them more vulnerable to over harvesting. This could markedly alter the ecosystem in heavily fished areas. The question of by-catch is also important.
Changes in Climate
Studies in the Antarctic and around the world have shown that fluctuations, whether human induced or natural, in global weather patterns may have serious effects on the environment in Antarctica.
Tourism
Ecotourism in the Antarctic is increasing rapidly, but is generally well regulated, especially for the subantarctic islands. The potential for serious impact on sensitive areas, usually those most likely to attract tourists, is substantial.
- Where can I find information about the governance framework for the Australian Antarctic Divisions SOE system, SIMR?
The governance framework is available as a pdf document.
- How do I enter new data for my State of the Environment Indicator into the System for Indicator Management and Reporting?
To do this you will first of all need to be a custodian, or a designated data contributor. Simply log on and (if you are based at the Australian Antarctic Division, your user name and password will be the same as those for your general log on). The list of indicators you have access to will then be displayed. Simply click on the link for "Data Entry" to begin entering new data for your indicator.
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See the answer to the question about data entry above. Instead of going to "Data Entry" though, you click on "Evaluation Entry" instead.
- I don't understand how to set the scales in the evaluation entry - especially the State of Knowledge scale.
These scales are designed to provide a visual represenation of the State of the Environment. Each number on the scale has a corresponding colour, and the numbers range from 1-7. The pressure, condition and response scales are a measure of the pressure we're exerting on the environment, the condition of the environment, and the effort we're putting towards mitigating any environmental effects we may be causing. The State of Knowledge scale is an indication of how sure you are that the value you have assigned to the pressure/condition/response is reliable. For example a pressure value of 2 indicates a minimal environmental pressure, and a corresponding State of Knowledge value of 6 indicates that you are very confident in your pressure rating of 2.
We're interested in State of the Environment Reporting because it allows us to:
- assess the quality of the Antarctic environment
- identify threats (see below) to the Antarctic environment
- monitor the pressures we exert on it and track the impact and efficiency of our activities in the Antarctic.
State of the Environment Reporting is based on environmental. Indicators:
- are data that summarise physical, chemical, biological or socio-economic factors which best represent the key elements of the environment
- are grouped into themes
We have developed a web-accessible computer system called SIMR that manages and reports on the indicator data, metadata, and custodian information. This system has a public interface which permits interrogation of approved indicators and a restricted interface utilised by custodians to enter and maintain indicator information.
Permanent Stations
Antarctica is largely untouched with little or no evidence of human impact over vast regions. The scientific stations situated along the edge of the continent are associated with significant environmental problems.
Fisheries
Virtually all Antarctic life depends for its existence on the seas surrounding the continent. The Southern Ocean contains living resources potentially several times greater than the combined resources of all other fisheries. There is a long history of over-exploitation of Antarctic marine living resources, with consequent damage to the ecosystem. A number of species have become threatened by over-harvesting and illegal fishing, and others are vulnerable because of human intrusion into their habitat.
The impacts of Antarctic fishing are as yet poorly known, though it is likely that many of the species taken are long lived, making them more vulnerable to over harvesting. This could markedly alter the ecosystem in heavily fished areas. The question of by-catch is also important.
Changes in Climate
Studies in the Antarctic and around the world have shown that fluctuations, whether human induced or natural, in global weather patterns may have serious effects on the environment in Antarctica.
Tourism
Ecotourism in the Antarctic is increasing rapidly, but is generally well regulated, especially for the subantarctic islands. The potential for serious impact on sensitive areas, usually those most likely to attract tourists, is substantial.
The governance framework is available as a pdf document.
To do this you will first of all need to be a custodian, or a designated data contributor. Simply log on and (if you are based at the Australian Antarctic Division, your user name and password will be the same as those for your general log on). The list of indicators you have access to will then be displayed. Simply click on the link for "Data Entry" to begin entering new data for your indicator.
See the answer to the question about data entry above. Instead of going to "Data Entry" though, you click on "Evaluation Entry" instead.
These scales are designed to provide a visual represenation of the State of the Environment. Each number on the scale has a corresponding colour, and the numbers range from 1-7. The pressure, condition and response scales are a measure of the pressure we're exerting on the environment, the condition of the environment, and the effort we're putting towards mitigating any environmental effects we may be causing. The State of Knowledge scale is an indication of how sure you are that the value you have assigned to the pressure/condition/response is reliable. For example a pressure value of 2 indicates a minimal environmental pressure, and a corresponding State of Knowledge value of 6 indicates that you are very confident in your pressure rating of 2.
