LONG-TERM STUDY OF THE NATURAL-ENVIRONMENT - PERCEPTIVE SCIENCE OR MINDLESS MONITORING

The importance of long-term observation of the natural environment has long been recognized, and yet 'monitoring' is often dismissed as low- grade science which can contribute little to our understanding. The va lue of long-term study is assessed within the context of the Environme ntal Change Network (ECN) which was established in 1992 to provide a m inimum of 30 years' data from a network of sites within the UK. Follow ing a description of the ECN programme, there follows an assessment of the value and limitations of long-term study and consideration of alt ernative approaches, Three examples of long-term study (Coweeta Hydrol ogic Laboratory; Radcliffe Meteorological Station; and the Slapton Ley catchment study) are described by way of illustration. It is conclude d that long-term study provides an invaluable basis for the developmen t of environmental science. Well designed programmes, supported by sus tained funding, provide the best conditions for studying processes who se effects can only be identified over long periods of time and for re vealing new questions which could not have been anticipated at the tim e the monitoring began.