north-west shelf western channel
Two main datasets are readily available in the Western English Channel (L4 and E1 time series and MODIS AQUA surface chlorophyll and other EO products). L4 and E1 are part of Plymouth Marine Laboratory's Western Channel Observatory http://www.westernchannelobservatory.org.uk/ while EO data are processed by the NERC Earth Observation Data Acquisition and Analysis Service (NEODAAS) http://www.neodaas.ac.uk/ hosted by Plymouth Marine Laboratory.
Other observatories operated in the area are the Station Biologique de Roscoff http://www.sb-roscoff.fr/Somlit/ and the Channel Coastal Observatory http://www.channelcoast.org/
Remote Sensing
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Earth Observation Data Acquisition and Analysis Service (NEODAAS) is funded by NERC to support UK research scientists with remote sensing data and information. We have the capability to automatically receive, archive, process and map global data from multiple polar-orbiting sensors in near-real time, including MERIS, MODIS, SeaWiFS, AVHRR and CASI, allowing the support of global studies. We also receive and process data from multiple geostationary satellites including SEVIRI, VISSR, GOES and MTSAT.
This service is hosted at 2 sites: data processing is provided by the Remote Sensing Group at the Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML); data reception and acquisition is provided by the Dundee Satellite Receiving Station at the University of Dundee (UoD).
Latets EO products related to the Western Channel Observatory can be found in http://www.neodaas.ac.uk/multiview/pa/flexiview/?display_mode=wco
Sea Surface temp
True Color (Chl)
In Situ
The Western Channel Observatory (WCO) is situated in the Western English Channel and comprises of long-term sustained observations at a number of stations and moorings. The two main stations are L4 (50°15.0'N; 4°13.0'W) and E1 (50°02.6'N; 4°22.5'W). For detail information about the WCO and up to date observations follow http://www.westernchannelobservatory.org.uk/
Parameters generally measured on a weekly basis at L4 station include:
Vertical temperature and salinity profiles, surface temperature Total, and size-fractionated, chlorophyll Total, and size-fractionated, particulate CHN Phytoplankton species and biomass Zooplankton species abundance Mesozooplankton size-fractionated biomass Copepod egg production, particularly Calanus helgolandicus
Similar parameters are sampled at E1 but on a monthly basis
Mooring (Multiparameters)
The Western Channel Observatory (WCO) moorings are situated in the Western English Channel in L4 (50°15.0'N; 4°13.0'W) and E1 (50°02.6'N; 4°22.5'W). For detail information about the WCO moorings and up to date observations follow http://www.westernchannelobservatory.org.uk/
The WCO is an ideal location as: (i) it has a long history (>100 years) of in situ sampling at several stations; (ii) it represents both ocean influenced and coastal waters within 30 km of PML; and (iii) PML has recognised excellence in ecosystem modelling (ERSEM) and satellite remote sensing (Earth Observation - EO) science. By integrating these quantitative in situ measurements, modelling studies and EO we will be able to elucidate changes that are occurring in the marine component of the Earth system.
As part of the NERC Oceans 2025 programme, PML were awarded a capital grant to invest in an array of autonomous buoys. Each buoy is equipped with an array of sensors to look at both atmospheric and marine parameters. These include sea surface temperature, salinity, oxygen, turbidity, fluorescence (WetLabs WQM); air temperature, humidity, windspeed and direction and atmospheric pressure (AirMar); CDOM fluorescence (WetLabs); nitrate (Satlantic ISUS) and a hyperspectral radiometer (Satlantic). All these are controlled using a Satlantic StorX logger. An onboard Linux PC104 system controls dataflow and transmission to shore using a radiomodem link back to Rame Head. The current data rate is once per hour and data is transmitted every three hours to save on power.
Other moorings located in the Western Channel are those operated and maintained by the Met Office UK as part of their Marine Automatic Weather Station (MAWS) Network http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/coast/buoy/.
Data Centre
The data collected by the Western Channel Observatory at PML are archived both in situ and at BODC http://www.bodc.ac.uk/. EO observations are archived by The Remote Sensing Group at PML http://rsg.pml.ac.uk/
