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New programmable weighing machine
Marine Pollution Bulletin
Ocean Dataset Available on Microcomputer Nearly a century and a half of oceanic and atmospheric data on the world's oceans has been made accessible on microcomputer to scientists worldwide. The historical dataset, called the Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set (COADS), was compiled by NOAA's National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, North Carolina, and three other organizations. The dataset consists of 100 million observations of sea and weather conditions collected aboard ships on the world's oceans since 1854. The dataset was developed as part of an international project called Climate and Eastern Ocean Systems, which aims to study ocean upwelling systems and produce environmental databases in forms utilizable by scientists in the United States and elsewhere. Until recently, the data had been accessible for study on large computers only, and much of it was very difficult to obtain because of the way the data were stored and grouped. Converting the dataset to a form that can be accessed by personal computer has made it much easier for scientists to study specific parts of the world's oceans and make worldwide comparisons of the variability in the ocean environment. Further information is available from: Department TOA, ORSTOM, 213 rue La Fayette, 75480 Paris, CEDEX 10, France.
New Programmable Weighing Machine Salter-Tronix Ltd have just launched a new programmable weight indicator, the W l - 1 3 0 . The new machine has been designed for a range of weighing applications and can be customized on-site to meet the precise needs of the user. Checkweighing, processing and standard weighing tasks can be performed on this fully programmable, multi-function unit at the touch of a button and with very little operator training. Flexibility was the key to the design, resulting in an intel 16-bit processing unit, offering a complete choice of functions, which can be programmed and configured using its specially designed Simposer software. The relatively small W-130 is housed in a stainless steel IP67 enclosure which is ideal for washdown applications. A flash memory system stores user data and customized application programs, to protect them even in the event of a power failure. A battery protects the real time clock and RAM. A fluorescent dot graphic display can be tailored to show up to four simultaneous weight values and/or four lines of text. The alpha numeric display can also combine weight and text, and can even be programmed to produce a bar graph display, 574
including over/under indications for checkweighing applications. Print-outs can be fully customized to include company logos and bar codes can be incorporated. Further information from Salter Weigh-Tronix Ltd, George Street, West Bromwich, Birmingham B70 6AD, UK.
UK Commercial Environmental Risk/Performance Index Ecco-Check Index, the first fully-commercial index of environmental performance in Europe, has recently been introduced by Environmental Counselling & Communications Ltd 0ECCO) in conjunction with the Infocheck Group, a UK financial information agency. The Index will be compiled during the next twelve months from the 850 000 companies on Infocheck's database and will provide a simple means of assessing the inherent and performance risks of environmental damage on the credit-worthiness of companies. The target market for the Index is initially the main city financial institutions and all the major industrial companies. The Index has been designed to provide a guide for banks, investors (especially ethical funds), fund managers, insurers, analysts and purchasing departments seeking to assess the level of environmental risk in their supply chain. For a fee commensurate with those charged by existing credit agencies, anyone can check on the environmental performance of specific companies. Ratings will be based on information already publicly available from HM lnspectorate of Pollution, the National Rivers Authority consent registers and waste management licences held by waste regulation authorities. This information will be supplemented by data derived from questionnaires, follow-up correspondence and meetings. Companies will be rated from 1A, the lowest risk, to 4C, the highest risk. Where companies can show improved risk reduction or a better environmental management system their rating will be upgraded on application. Any organization with a pollution conviction or damages judgement will carry an endorsement on its rating for three years after the offence.
Anti-Pollution Posters The Southampton-based UK Marine Safety Agency (MSA) has developed a new series of posters telling seafarers about restrictions on the disposal of garbage at sea. The posters, which encourage them to use garbage reception facilities provided in ports and harbours, graphically illustrate the after-effects on sea creatures and shorelines as a result of illegal dumping. The posters bring to the attention of all seafarers their
Ocean Dataset Available on Microcomputer Nearly a century and a half of oceanic and atmospheric data on the world's oceans has been made accessible on microcomputer to scientists worldwide. The historical dataset, called the Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set (COADS), was compiled by NOAA's National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, North Carolina, and three other organizations. The dataset consists of 100 million observations of sea and weather conditions collected aboard ships on the world's oceans since 1854. The dataset was developed as part of an international project called Climate and Eastern Ocean Systems, which aims to study ocean upwelling systems and produce environmental databases in forms utilizable by scientists in the United States and elsewhere. Until recently, the data had been accessible for study on large computers only, and much of it was very difficult to obtain because of the way the data were stored and grouped. Converting the dataset to a form that can be accessed by personal computer has made it much easier for scientists to study specific parts of the world's oceans and make worldwide comparisons of the variability in the ocean environment. Further information is available from: Department TOA, ORSTOM, 213 rue La Fayette, 75480 Paris, CEDEX 10, France.
New Programmable Weighing Machine Salter-Tronix Ltd have just launched a new programmable weight indicator, the W l - 1 3 0 . The new machine has been designed for a range of weighing applications and can be customized on-site to meet the precise needs of the user. Checkweighing, processing and standard weighing tasks can be performed on this fully programmable, multi-function unit at the touch of a button and with very little operator training. Flexibility was the key to the design, resulting in an intel 16-bit processing unit, offering a complete choice of functions, which can be programmed and configured using its specially designed Simposer software. The relatively small W-130 is housed in a stainless steel IP67 enclosure which is ideal for washdown applications. A flash memory system stores user data and customized application programs, to protect them even in the event of a power failure. A battery protects the real time clock and RAM. A fluorescent dot graphic display can be tailored to show up to four simultaneous weight values and/or four lines of text. The alpha numeric display can also combine weight and text, and can even be programmed to produce a bar graph display, 574
including over/under indications for checkweighing applications. Print-outs can be fully customized to include company logos and bar codes can be incorporated. Further information from Salter Weigh-Tronix Ltd, George Street, West Bromwich, Birmingham B70 6AD, UK.
UK Commercial Environmental Risk/Performance Index Ecco-Check Index, the first fully-commercial index of environmental performance in Europe, has recently been introduced by Environmental Counselling & Communications Ltd 0ECCO) in conjunction with the Infocheck Group, a UK financial information agency. The Index will be compiled during the next twelve months from the 850 000 companies on Infocheck's database and will provide a simple means of assessing the inherent and performance risks of environmental damage on the credit-worthiness of companies. The target market for the Index is initially the main city financial institutions and all the major industrial companies. The Index has been designed to provide a guide for banks, investors (especially ethical funds), fund managers, insurers, analysts and purchasing departments seeking to assess the level of environmental risk in their supply chain. For a fee commensurate with those charged by existing credit agencies, anyone can check on the environmental performance of specific companies. Ratings will be based on information already publicly available from HM lnspectorate of Pollution, the National Rivers Authority consent registers and waste management licences held by waste regulation authorities. This information will be supplemented by data derived from questionnaires, follow-up correspondence and meetings. Companies will be rated from 1A, the lowest risk, to 4C, the highest risk. Where companies can show improved risk reduction or a better environmental management system their rating will be upgraded on application. Any organization with a pollution conviction or damages judgement will carry an endorsement on its rating for three years after the offence.
Anti-Pollution Posters The Southampton-based UK Marine Safety Agency (MSA) has developed a new series of posters telling seafarers about restrictions on the disposal of garbage at sea. The posters, which encourage them to use garbage reception facilities provided in ports and harbours, graphically illustrate the after-effects on sea creatures and shorelines as a result of illegal dumping. The posters bring to the attention of all seafarers their