UKSeaMap 2010 - Mapping marine seabed habitats

 

Overview:

This project will produce a new seabed habitat map for the UK marine area. It builds on the previous work of the Irish Sea Pilot, UKSeaMap 2006 and MESH. Newly available data products and improved techniques are being used to prepare the input data layers. An enhanced predictive approach is being developed to produce an updated version of UKSeaMap.

 

For more detailed information on the new UKSeaMap project, a project description can be downloaded.

Extent:

UK continental shelf area

 

Classification system:

EUNIS habitat classification system

 

Input data layers:          

• Seabed substrates
• Depth
• Proportion of surface light reaching the seabed
• Energy (disturbance) at the seabed caused by tidal currents
• Energy (disturbance) at the seabed caused by waves

 

 

Aims:

1. Produce a new seabed habitat map using improved input physical data layers to predict EUNIS habitat types in the UK marine area, by February 2010
2. Create improved confidence layer based on the input data used, by February 2010
3. Update maps of topographic and coastal physiographic features, by April 2010
4. Publicise results of the work, including through the UKSeaMap webGIS on the JNCC website

 

 

WebGIS:

The interactive web based mapping system will be updated to show the data layers, confidence layers, final predictive seabed map and updated topographic and coastal physiographic feature layers from UKSeaMap 2010. The outputs of UKSeaMap 2006 are currently available on the web based maping system.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Find out more:

UKSeaMap (2006)

EUSeaMap

MESH project website

Irish Sea Pilot Project (2004)

EUNIS habitat classification system

 

 

 

For further information contact:

Fionnuala McBreen

Marine Ecosystems Team

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project Partners:

UKSeaMap 2010 is funded through funds which remained after UKSeaMap 2006. UKSeaMap 2006 funding partners, as well as the JNCC, are Defra, Scottish Government, Department of Communities and Local Government (formerly Office of the Deputy Prime Minister), Department for Energy and Climate Change (formerly Department of Trade and Industry), The Crown Estate, Countryside Council for Wales, Natural England (formerly English Nature), WWF-UK, and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. The project has also received European Regional Development Funding through the INTERREG III B Community Initiative, as part of the Development of a Framework for Mapping European Seabed Habitats project (MESH).