The ceilometer CL51 employs a pulsed diode laser LIDAR technology, where short, powerful laser pulses are sent out in a vertical or near-vertical direction. The reflection of light (backscatter) caused by clouds, precipitation or other obscuration is analysed and used to determine the cloud base height, the cloud layer height and the amount of clouds (in octas) in different layers.

UNDER EMBARGO - This dataset contains seasonal physiological measurements from controlled laboratory experiments on two dominant suspension-feeding species expected to colonise floating offshore structures: the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis; AphiaID 140480) and the wrinkled barnacle (Balanus crenatus; AphiaID 106215). The measured parameters include clearance rates, respiration rates, faecal pellet production rates, and faecal pellet sinking velocities. Mussels were collected from an aquaculture longline at the Westdiep SeaFarm, while barnacles were manually retrieved from the intertidal beachhead at Raversijde (Oostende, Belgium). All experiments were conducted using natural seawater collected from offshore sites in the Belgian part of the North Sea. Measurements were repeated across multiple seasons to capture temporal variability in physiological performance. The dataset was produced within the SWiM and EcoMPV projects and is suitable for reuse in ecosystem and biogeochemical modelling, including simulations of phytoplankton dynamics associated with large-scale offshore marine photovoltaic (MPV) developments.

Mean key indicators on future climate for Belgium for precipitation, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, global solar radiation and potential evapotranspiration (spatial distributions are available through the WMS view service). The key indicators are derived from a multi-model ensemble of climate change signals or factors for a mean and high impact scenario (corresponding to respectively the 50th, and 5th or 95th percentile of the change factors), and for multiple future target years (2030, 2050, 2085, 2100).

Annual, seasonal and monthly precipitation amounts given in respectively mm/year, mm/3 months and mm/month. The precipitation amounts are available for the future target year 2085, which corresponds to the middle of the 30-year period 2071-2100, and for mean and high impact scenarios corresponding to respectively the 50th, and 5th or 95th percentiles of the change factors.

This dataset describes the extents and location of Sandbanks (code 1110) in the Belgian Part of the North Sea (BPNS) as required for article 17 of the Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. The Council Directive seeks to contribute to ensuring biodiversity in the European Union by the conservation of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora species.

Annual, seasonal and monthly precipitation amounts given in respectively mm/year, mm/3 months and mm/month. The precipitation amounts are available for the present target year 1975, which corresponds to the middle of the 30-year period 1961-1990.

This dataset contains the orthophoto mosaics that were created following the floods of July 2021 in the valleys of the Vesdre, the Meuse and the Demer. Orthophotos are aerial photographs that have been geometrically corrected (orthorectified) to eliminate distortions caused by terrain relief, lens distortion, and camera tilt. Unlike raw aerial imagery, orthophotos have a uniform scale and accurate geometry, making them suitable for cartography, measurements, and visual analysis. This specific dataset includes orthophotos based on aerial photographs acquired in July 2021 by Hansa Luftbild, commissioned by the National Geographic Institute (NGI), following the floods in the zones of the Vesdre, a part of the Meuse downstream of Liège and the Demer. The resulting orthophoto mosaics are georeferenced in the Lambert 2008 coordinate system. All orthophotos are in colour (RGB). The ground resolution (GSD) is 6.5 cm (4 cm above the Hoëgne). The spatial coverage of this dataset is limited to the affected zones. The data can be visualized via the corresponding web service (WMS). The data is available on request via https://ngi.be/aanbod/kaarten-en-fotos/luchtfotos-orthofotos/.

The Royal Decree of 22 May 2019 establishing a marine spatial plan defines 4 aquaculture zones: Zone 1 for aquaculture (Eastern zone) (Art. 14§1), Zone 2 for aquaculture (Noordhinder Noord) (Art. 14§2), Zone 3 for aquaculture (Noordhinder Zuid) (Art. 14§3), Zone 4 for aquaculture (Fairybank) (Art. 14§3). It replaces the 2014 Marine Spatial Plan, which is included for completeness. The Royal Decree of 20 March 2014 establishing a marine spatial plan defines in its Art. 10, two zones for sustainable aquaculture: Zone 1 for sustainable aquaculture, Art. 10 § 2 Zone 1; Zone 2 for sustainable aquaculture, Art. 10 § 2 Zone 2. These zones are made available digitally in the resource described by this metadata document. Please refer to the Belgian official gazette (\"Moniteur belge/Belgisch Staatsblad\") for official reference information.

The DTM 5m, digital terrain model at 5m-resolution, is a homogeneous and regular point grid indicating the height of the ground level in order to model its surface, without taking into account objects on the surface such as buildings and vegetation. The DTM 5m is the result of the assembly of different data coming from various sources and with different coordinate systems and resolutions. The DTM 1m is achieved by interpolating in Lambert 2008 source data in Lambert 72 and at a 1m-resolution from the Flemish (2013-2015) and Brussels (2021) regions, and by adding Lambert 2008 data at 1m-resolution from the Walloon Region (2021-2022). The DTM 5m is obtained by resampling of the DTM 1m. In addition, the DTM 5m is improved and updated internally using direct photogrammetric surveys based on the most recent aerial photographs.

The Royal Decree of 22 May 2019 establishing a marine spatial plan defines 20 shipping and ports zones: Shipping regular regime (Art. 10§1), Northbound traffic flow starting at separation line 'Noordhinder Sud' (Art. 10§2.1°), Separation zone 'Noordhinder Sud' (Art. 10§2.1°), Precaution zone 'Near Thornton and Blighbank ' (Art. 10§2.10°), Northbound traffic flow starting at separation zone 'Off Noordhinder' (Art. 10§2.2°), Separation zone 'Off Noordhinder' (Art. 10§2.2°), Southbound traffic flow starting at separation line 'Off Noordhinder' (Art. 10§2.2°), Precaution zone 'Noordhinder Jonction' (Art. 10§2.3°), Eastbound traffic flow starting at separation line 'At West Hinder' (Art. 10§2.4°), Eastbound traffic flow starting at separation zone 'At West Hinder' (Art. 10§2.4°), Precaution zone 'At West Hinder ' (Art. 10§2.4°), Separation zone 'At West Hinder' (Art. 10§2.4°), Westbound traffic flow starting at separation line 'At West Hinder' (Art. 10§2.4°), Area to be Avoided 'At West Hinder' (Art. 10§2.6°), Deep water route 'Westerschelde approach' (Art. 10§2.7°), Border line 1 of two-way shipping lane 'Westpit' (Art. 10§2.8°), Border line 2 of two-way shipping lane 'Westpit' (Art. 10§2.8°), Precaution zone 'At Gootebank' (Art. 10§2.9°), Anchoring zone 'Oostdyck' (Art. 10§3.1°), Anchoring zone 'Westhinder' (Art. 10§3.2°). It replaces the 2014 Marine Spatial Plan, which is included for completeness. The Royal Decree of 20 March 2014 establishing a marine spatial plan defines in its Art. 9, nine zones with regards to shipping and ports: seven shipping zones (Shipping regular regime, Art. 9 § 1; Shipping route Northhinder South, Art. 9 § 2.1°; Shipping route Northhinder junction, Art. 9 § 2.2°; Shipping route Westhinder, Art. 9 § 2.3°; Shipping route Westhinder precautionary area, Art. 9 § 2.4°; Shipping route Westhinder area to be avoided, Art. 9 § 2.5°; Deep water shipping route Western Scheldt approach, Art. 9 § 2.6°) and two anchorage places (Anchorage place 'Oostdyck', Art. 9 § 4.1° and Anchorage place 'Westhinder', Art. 9 § 4.2°). These zones are made available digitally in the resource described by this metadata document. Please refer to the Belgian official gazette (\"Moniteur belge/Belgisch Staatsblad\") for official reference information.