Western Channel Observatory (WCO)

The Western Channel Observatory (WCO) is an oceanographic time-series and marine biodiversity reference site in the Western English Channel. In situ measurements are undertaken weekly at coastal station L4 and fortnightly at open shelf station E1 using the research vessels of the Plymouth Marine Laboratory and the Marine Biological Association. These measurements are complemented by PML's recognised excellence in ecosystem modelling and satellite remote sensing science. By integrating these different observational disciplines we can begin to disentangle the complexity of the marine ecosystem.

The WCO measures several key parameters important to the functioning of the marine ecosystem such as light, temperature, salinity and nutrients. Station L4 has some of the longest time-series in the world for zooplankton and phytoplankton, and fish trawls have been made by the MBA for a century. Station E1 has a hydrographic series dating from 1903. These long series are complemented by hourly measurements made at our moorings situated at both stations. These can elucidate changes not captured by the routine weekly sampling.

Citation proposal
. Western Channel Observatory (WCO). https://services.mspdata.eu:/geonetwork/srv/api/records/64a8ff9c-6011-4dcd-ae80-154759da2930

Date ( Publication )

Identifier: 64a8ff9c-6011-4dcd-ae80-154759da2930

Credit: Plymouth Marine Laboratory

Credit: Marine Biological Association

Point of contact

Plymouth Marine Laboratory - Tim Smyth

Prospect Place Plymouth Devon PL1 3DH United Kingdom

Thèmes Sextant ( Theme )

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 ( Theme )

Mission Atlantic - Resources ( Theme )

Database

Other constraints: THE DATA POLICY of the NERC National Capability funded Western Channel Observatory is to make the data freely available at the point of delivery. However, we request that prospective data users first contact the points of contact at PML before obtaining the data. They will provide the metadata, the most up to date versions of the data (where available) and most importantly local expertise in how the data can be used. We expect that co-authorship will be offered to relevant PML experts in response to their active collaboration in projects using these data. Any publication or report using these data should acknowledge them as being provided by the Western Channel Observatory using the following: "The Western Channel Observatory is funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council through its National Capability Long-term Single Centre Science Programme, Climate Linked Atlantic Sector Science, grant number NE/R015953/1"