The NCOF Partners are:
Coastal Observatories
Two coastal observatories are operated by the NCOF partners: the Western Channel Observatory by PML, and the Liverpool Bay Coastal Observatory by POL.
The Western Channel Observatory
The Western Channel Observatory (WCO) is situated in the Western English Channel and comprises of long-term sustained observations at a number of stations.
The WCO is an ideal location as:
- it has a long history (>100 years) of in situ sampling at several stations;
- it represents both ocean influenced and coastal waters within 30 km of PML; and
- 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.
Western Channel Observatory web site.
The Liverpool Bay Coastal Observatory
The Liverpool Bay Coastal Observatory will integrate near-real-time measurements with coupled models into a pre-operational coastal prediction system whose results are displayed on the observatory web site. The concept is founded on obtaining data in near-real-time, using telemetry, from underwater to the sea surface to land to POL to the coastal observatory web site. It will grow and evolve as resources and technology allow, all the while building up a long time series. The foci are the impacts of storms, variations in river discharge (especially the Mersey), seasonality, and blooms in Liverpool Bay.
Monitoring
The observatory monitoring systems include:
- Coastal tide gauges measuring sea level from selected ports and locations around the Irish Sea.
- Ferry measurements of sea surface water quality during their cross-Irish-Sea trips.
- Fixed moorings building up time series of physical and ecosystem parameters.
- Met stations making real time meteorological observations around the Irish Sea.
- HF and X-band radars measuring currents and waves in Liverpool Bay
- River inputs into the Irish Sea.
- Satellite observations including sea surface temperature, chlorophyll and suspended sediment.
- Webcams providing near real time images.
Modelling
The observatory's modelling systems include:
- The POL Costal Ocean Modelling System, with model suites run daily at both the Met Office and POL, predicting mean currents, temperature and salinity for the north west European shelf, including a high resolution model of the Irish Sea and an ecosystem model based on the European Regional Seas Ecosystem model under development at PML.
- The Met Office wave model forecasting wind and swell waves, and mesoscal atmospheric model.
Liverpool Bay Coastal Observatory web site.
(Last Updated: 06-02-2008)