The Liverpool Bay Coastal Observatory

Howarth, M. John; Proctor, Roger; Balfour, Chris; Knight, Philip J.; Palmer, Matthew; Player, Rose J.. 2008 The Liverpool Bay Coastal Observatory. In: PECS 2008: Physics of Estuaries and Coastal Seas, Liverpool, UK, 25th - 29th August 2008. Liverpool, 411-414.

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Abstract/Summary

A pre-operational Coastal Observatory has been operating since August 2002 in Liverpool Bay, Irish Sea. Its rationale is to develop the science underpinning the ecosystem based approach to marine management, including distinguishing between natural and man-made variability, with particular emphasis on eutrophication and predicting possible impacts of climate change. Liverpool Bay has strong tidal mixing, receives fresh water principally from the Dee, Mersey and Ribble estuaries, each with different catchment influences, and has enhanced levels of nutrients. Horizontal and vertical density gradients are variable both in space and time. The water column stratifies intermittently. The challenge is to understand and model accurately this variable region which is turbulent, turbid, receives enhanced nutrients and is productive. The Observatory, with emphasis on physical and chemical / biological variables, has three components, for each of which the goal is at least some (near) real time operation – measurements; coupled 3-D hydrodynamic, wave and ecological numerical models; a data management and web-based data delivery system, see http://coastobs.pol.ac.uk (Howarth et al., 2006). In the next few years the Observatory will expand in spatial coverage and in capability, for instance through the deployment of gliders, forming a focus for Irish Sea studies.

Item Type:	Publication - Conference Item (Paper)
Programmes:	Oceans 2025 > Integration of sustained observations
Additional Keywords:	IRISH SEA; COASTAL OBSERVATORY; LIVERPOOL BAY; POLIRISH
NORA Subject Terms:	Marine Sciences
Date made live:	18 Mar 2009 11:31 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/6485

Item Type:

Publication - Conference Item (Paper)

Programmes:

Oceans 2025 > Integration of sustained observations

Additional Keywords:

IRISH SEA; COASTAL OBSERVATORY; LIVERPOOL BAY; POLIRISH

NORA Subject Terms:

Marine Sciences

Date made live:

18 Mar 2009 11:31 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/6485