Coastal Observatory

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The Coastal Observatory in Liverpool Bay is housed at the Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory in Brownlow Street Liverpool, England.

1 Objectives
2 Measurements
3 Proposed Developments
4 External links

[edit] Objectives

The objective of the Coastal Observatory is to understand study a typical coastal sea's response both to natural forces and to the effects of human activity. The Observatory integrates real-time data measurements with data from models into a "pre-operational coastal prediction system"^[1] whose results will be displayed on the web site.

The concept is founded on obtaining data in real time, using telemetry, sending the data from underwater to the sea surface, to land, to the Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory to the web site, enabling what is often known as 'armchair oceanopgraphy'.

The aim of the Coastal Observatory is to build a long time series of data, adding to and expanding the range of that data as and when technology and resources permit. The Observatory has a particular interest in such areas as storm surges, seasonality, and variations in river discharge, with an emphasis on the River Mersey.

[edit] Measurements

August 2007 marked five years of continuous running of the Coastal Observatory in Liverpool Bay, taking measurements such as:

In situ time series of current, temperature and salintiy profiles and of waves and weather. A second site, and measurements of turbidity and chlorophyll are now also operational.

The CEFAS SmartBuoy for surface properties including nutrients and chlorophyll.

Instrumented ferries for near surface temperature, salinity, turbidity, chlorophyll and later, nutrient data. The first route was Liverpool to Douglas (Isle of Man), with the ferry currently travelling between Birkenhead (Liverpool) and Dublin (Ireland)

Drifters, measuring surface currents and properties such as temperature and salinity.

Tide gauges, with sensors for meteorological, waves, temperature and salinity data, where appropriate.

Meteorological data from HF radar and tide gauge sites.

Shore-base HF radar measuring waves and surface currents out to a range of 50km.

Satellite data - infra-red (for sea surface temperature) and visible (for chlorophyll and suspended sediment) spectra.

[edit] Proposed Developments

2009

Instrumentation of a third mooring site (located to the west/south-west of the Isle of Man).

Addition of optics sensors to measurement program.

2008

First deployment of the autonomous Glider.

Use of mini-loggers (for sea temperature) and Microcats (for sea temperature and additional parameters)to give greater depth resolution of sites A and B.

Introduction of new conductivity sensors to the ferry program to give better salinity measurements.

2007

Implementation of multi-beam surveys of Liverpool Bay.

Instrumentation of additional ferry routes across the Irish Sea.

Introduction of geo-fencing to the ferry system to stop measurements prior to docking (instruments are often contaminated with mud during the docking process)