The project aims to instrument and run long-term monitoring sites for an array of physical, chemical and biological essential ocean variables at Mace Head and Lehanagh Pool, Co. Galway and Newport catchment, Co. Mayo. These sites will examine changes in plankton ecology, nutrient, dissolved oxygen and carbon inputs and physical oceanographic conditions (currents, temperature, salinity) to underpin the evidence base for marine climate policy. This includes the sectoral climate adaptation plan for Ireland’s seafood sector.
The 3 sites are currently at varying degrees of readiness in terms of automation of data collection, implementation of standards and archival of data for end-users
The objectives of this project are to:
- Upgrade existing monitoring capabilities at these sites through the purchase of new instrumentation
- Develop and implement standard operating procedures and processes for the collection, retrieval and analysis of essential ocean variables
- Provide field technical support to each of the sites to ensure their smooth continued operation
- Working with the data and digital services project on EOVs, process and archive all climate data from the sentinel sites for end-users
- Ensure data are available publicly to policy makers and wider end-users of marine climate data.
This project will ensure that up-to-date marine climate data are available to help fulfil national and European climate policies, including the Climate Action Plan and the NMPF. It will improve marine knowledge about the impacts of climate change will support decision making by building capacity.
Improved coordination of climate knowledge also contributes to integrated delivery of Ireland’s Marine legislative obligations such as the CFP, National Marine Planning Framework, Habitats Directive, Birds Directive, Water Framework Directive and Marine Strategy Framework Directive. It also increasing data quality and sharing through national and international data portals
This project will run for 5 years from 2023 to 2027
- Better understanding of the impacts of Climate Change
- Improving accessibility, understanding and utility of marine data and knowledge
- Increase inter-agency cooperation and information sharing at national, EU and
- Capacity building
- Climate information available to policy makers and the wider user community e.g. local authorities, government departments.
- General public better informed about climate risks, resilience and adaptation
Email: glenn.nolan@marine.ie
- Long-term climate research infrastructure in place for general ocean climate and aquaculture specific sites.
- Technical and data coordination capacity established specifically for essential climate variables.
- Appropriate data sets to underpin long-term climate planning
- Established procedures and standards to enable climate monitoring in Irish waters
