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Environmental Surveys

Recent Submissions

  • Environmental Survey of Coastal Waters (Galway - Dublin – Galway): – Winter nutrients, benthic macro-invertebrate and contaminants monitoring 2022 (CV22-0013)

    O'Beirn, Francis; O'Donnell, Garvan (Marine Institute, 2022)
    The 2022 survey continues the Marine Institute’s Winter Nutrients monitoring that commenced in 1990/91. The survey has evolved and expanded during this time period with respect to target areas, parameters and sampling strategy. In 2011 this survey was re-established as a winter environmental survey with a broader remit to provide supporting information for OSPAR and Water Framework Directive (WFD- Directive 2000/60/EC) assessments and also to maintain the winter time series on key biogeochemical parameters in Irish waters in response to pressures such as land based inputs of nutrients and climate change. Since 2011 the survey circumnavigates the Island of Ireland every two years, alternating south-about and north-about, starting in the Irish Sea and ending in Galway. This provides a complete coverage of Ireland’s coastal waters over 2-year periods. However, given the timing of the surveys, winter by necessity to ensure minimal biological activity and therefore highest concentrations of dissolved nutrients, the weather is a significant factor in determining the actual as opposed to planned coverage of the target stations. The 2022 survey was designed to collect multidisciplinary information on physical conditions, water chemistry (dissolved nutrients, total alkalinity (TA), dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and salinity), sediment chemistry (persistent organic pollutants POPs and trace metals), sediment particle size distribution and benthic macroinvertebrates (at targeted waterbodies around the coast). This contributes to data collection needs of various statutory drivers (WFD and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) Directive 2008/56/EC) as well as providing a research dataset on status and changing conditions (trends and variations) for key environmental variables. As a result of the COVID pandemic, in 2021 operational adjustments were implemented such that scientific complement on-board was limited to 2-3 persons at any one time. In light of this, the survey plan was adjusted to allow the survey to be completed in two legs (both south-about): 1. Leg 1 – Galway – Dublin: benthic macro-invertebrate sampling 2. Leg 2 – Dublin – Galway: winter nutrient, carbon and contaminants sampling. This survey structure was continued in 2022. Furthermore, and in order to fully achieve this plan, the number of survey days was increased to 17.
  • Environmental Survey of Coastal Waters (Galway - Dublin – Galway): – Winter nutrients, benthic macro-invertebrate and contaminants monitoring 2021 (CV21-001).

    O'Beirn, Francis; O'Donnell, Garvan (Marine Institute, 2021)
    The 2021 survey continues the Marine Institute’s Winter Nutrients monitoring that commenced in 1990/91. The survey has evolved and expanded during this time period with respect to target areas, parameters and sampling strategy. In 2011 this survey was reestablished as a winter environmental survey with a broader remit to provide supporting information for OSPAR and Water Framework Directive (WFD- Directive 2000/60/EC) assessments and also to maintain the winter time series on key biogeochemical parameters in Irish waters in response to pressures such as land based inputs of nutrients and climate change. Since 2011 the survey circumnavigates the Island of Ireland every two years, alternating southabout and northabout, starting in the Irish Sea and ending in Galway. This provides a complete coverage of Irelands coastal waters over 2 year periods. However, given the timing of the surveys, winter by necessity to ensure minimal biological activity and therefore highest concentrations of dissolved nutrients, the weather is a significant factor in determining the actual as opposed to planned coverage of the target stations. This work is complementary to inshore water quality monitoring activities of the Irish Environmental Protection Agency and Marine Institute and the annual offshore oceanographic survey/climate section (53N/Rockall Trough) on the RV Celtic Explorer led by the Oceans Climate and Information Services group at the Marine Institute. The 2021 survey was designed to collect multidisciplinary information on physical conditions, water chemistry (dissolved nutrients, total alkalinity (TA), dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and salinity), sediment chemistry (persistent organic pollutants POPs and trace metals), sediment particle size distribution and benthic macroinvertebrates (at targeted waterbodies around the coast). This contributes to data collection needs of various statutory drivers (WFD and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) Directive 2008/56/EC) as well as providing a research dataset on status and changing conditions (trends and variations) for key environmental variables. As a result of the COVID pandemic, operational adjustments were implemented such that scientific complement on-board was limited to 2-3 persons at any one time. In light of this, the survey plan was adjusted to allow the survey to be completed in two legs. 1. Leg 1 – Galway – Dublin: benthic macro-invertebrate sampling 2. Leg 2 – Dublin – Galway: winter nutrient, carbon and contaminants sampling. In order to achieve this plan, the number of survey days was increased to 16.
  • Environmental Survey of Coastal and Shelf Waters – Southabout: Benthos monitoring 2020 (CV20-001)

    Healy, Louise; O'Beirn, Francis (Marine Institute, 2020)
    Since 2011 the Winter Environmental Survey (WES) has operated with an allocated ship-time of up to 13 days on the Celtic Voyager and funded through NDP. These surveys alternate between south-about and a north-about each year with a southerly survey proposed for 20202. The survey covers coastal waters and bays but also shelf waters through offshore transects and as such are complementary to EPAs estuarine water quality monitoring activities. While all previous surveys have had a strong multi-disciplinary component to them incorporating both Chemical and Biological elements, the survey during 2020 was reduced relative to previous years. During 2020, the Chemistry portion of the survey was omitted as a consequence of resource (personel) limitations. However, during 2020 the survey focused on benthos ecological quality element and some chemistry validation elements. It is expected that the survey will revert to a full multidisciplinary programme in 2021.
  • Environmental Survey of Coastal and Shelf Waters – Northabout: Winter nutrients, benthos and contaminants monitoring 2019 (Cv19-001)

    O'Beirn, Francis; O'Donnell, Garvan; Healy, Louise (Marine Institute, 2019)
    The 2019 survey continues the Marine Institute’s Winter Nutrients monitoring that commenced in 1990/91. The survey has evolved and expanded during this time period with respect to target areas, parameters and sampling strategy. In 2011 this survey was reestablished as a winter environmental survey with a broader remit to provide supporting information for OSPAR and Water Framework Directive (WFD Directive 2000/60/EC) assessments and also to maintain the winter time series on key biogeochemical parameters in Irish waters in response to pressures such as land based inputs of nutrients and climate change. Since 2011 the survey circumnavigates the Island of Ireland every two years, alternating southabout and northabout, starting in the Irish Sea and ending in Galway. This provides a complete coverage of Irelands coastal waters over two-year periods. However, given the timing of the surveys, winter by necessity to ensure minimal biological activity and therefore highest concentrations of dissolved nutrients, the weather is a significant factor in determining the actual, as opposed to planned, coverage of the target stations. This work is complementary to inshore water quality monitoring activities of the Irish Environmental Protection Agency and Marine Institute and the annual offshore oceanographic survey/climate section (53N/Rockall Trough) on the RV Celtic Explorer led by the Oceanographic Science Services group at the Marine Institute. The 2019 survey was designed to collect multidisciplinary information on physical conditions, water chemistry (dissolved nutrients, total alkalinity (TA), dissolved organic carbon (DIC) and salinity), sediment chemistry (persistent organic pollutants POPs and trace metals), sediment particle size distribution and benthic macroinvertebrates (at targeted waterbodies around the coast). This contributes to data collection needs of various statutory drivers (WFD and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) Directive 2008/56/EC) as well as providing a research dataset on status and changing conditions (trends and variations) for key environmental variables.
  • Environmental Survey of Coastal and Shelf Waters Killybegs–Cork: Benthos monitoring 2017 (CV17-001)

    Healy, Louise; O'Beirn, Francis X (Marine Institute, 2017)
    Since 2011 the Winter Environmental Survey (WES) has operated with an allocated ship-time of up to 13 days on the Celtic Voyager and funded through NDP. These surveys alternate between south-about and a north-about each year with a southerly survey proposed for 2017. The survey cover coastal waters and bays but also shelf waters through offshore transects and as such are complementary to EPAs estuarine water quality monitoring activities. While all previous surveys have had a strong multi-disciplinary component to them incorporating both Chemical and Biological elements, the survey during 2017 was reduced relative to previous years. During 2017, the Chemistry portion of the survey was omitted as a consequence of resource (personel) limitations. The Chemistry Section will focus efforts on surveys (GO-SHIP AO2 line, and Rockall Hydrographic Survey) to be carried out on the Celtic Explorer during Q1/Q2 of 2017. However, during 2017 the survey focused on benthos ecological quality element and some hydromorphological elements. It is expected that the survey will revert to a full multidisciplinary programme in 2018.
  • Environmental Survey of Coastal and Shelf Waters – Southabout: Winter nutrients, benthos and contaminants monitoring 2018 (CV18-001)

    O'Beirn, Francis X; O'Donnell, Garvan; Healy, Louise (Marine Institute, 2018)
    The 2018 survey continues the Marine Institute’s Winter Nutrients monitoring that commenced in 1990/91. The survey has evolved and expanded during this time period with respect to target areas, parameters and sampling strategy. In 2011 this survey was re-established as a winter environmental survey with a broader remit to provide supporting information for OSPAR and Water Framework Directive (WFD - Directive 2000/60/EC) assessments and also to maintain the winter time series on key biogeochemical parameters in Irish waters in response to pressures such as land based inputs of nutrients and climate change. Since 2011 the survey circumnavigates the Island of Ireland every 2 years, alternating southabout (odd years) and northabout (even years), starting in the Irish Sea and ending in Galway. This provides a complete coverage of Ireland’s coastal waters over 2-year periods. However, given the timing of the surveys, winter by necessity to ensure minimal biological activity and therefore highest concentrations of dissolved nutrients, the weather is a significant factor in determining the actual as opposed to planned coverage of the target stations. This work is complementary to inshore water quality monitoring activities of the Irish Environmental Protection Agency and Marine Institute and the annual offshore oceanographic survey/climate section (53N/Rockall Trough) on the Celtic Explorer led by the Oceanographic Science Services group at the Marine Institute. As in previous years, the 2018 survey was designed to collect multidisciplinary information on physical conditions, water chemistry (dissolved nutrients, total alkalinity (TA), dissolved organic carbon (DIC), salinity), sediment chemistry (persistent organic pollutants POPs and trace metals), sediment particle size distribution and benthic macroinvertebrates (at targeted waterbodies around the coast). This contributes to data collection needs of various statutory drivers (WFD and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) - Directive 2008/56/EC) as well as providing a research dataset on status and changing conditions (trends and variations) for key environmental variables.
  • Environmental survey of coastal and shelf waters Dublin - Galway: Winter nutrients, benthos and contaminants monitoring

    Marine Institute (Marine Institute, 2016)
    The 2016 survey continues the Marine Institute's Winter Nutrients monitoring that commenced in 1990/91. The survey evolved during this time period with respect to target areas, parameters and sampling strategy. In 2011 this survey was re-established as a winter environmental survey with a broader remit to provide supporting information for OSPAR and Water Framework Directive (WFD - Directive 2000/60/EC)assessments and also to maintain the winter time series on key biogeochemical parameters in Irish waters in response to pressures such as land based inputs of nutrients and climate change. Since 2011 the survey circumnavigates the island of Ireland every two years, alternating southabout (odd years) and northabout (even years), starting in the Irish Sea and ending in Galway. The 2016 survey was designed to collect multidisciplinary information on physics, water chemistry (dissolved nutrients, dissolved oxygen, carbonate parameters (TA, DIC), salinity), sediment chemistry (persistent organic pollutants POPs and trace metals)sediment particle size distribution and benthic macroinvertebrates.
  • Untitled

    Marine Institute (2015)
    The 2015 survey continues the Marine Institute's Winter Nutrients monitoring that commenced in 1990. The survey evolved during this time period with respect to parameters and sampling strategy. In 2011 this survey was re-established as a winter environmental survey with a broader remit to provide supporting information for OSPAR and Water Framework Directive (WFD - Directive 2000/60/EC)assessments and also to maintain the winter time series on key biogeochemical parameters in Irish waters in response to pressures such as land based inputs of nutrients and climate change. Since 2011 the survey circumnavigates the island of Ireland every two years, alternating southabout (odd years) and northabout (even years), starting in the Irish Sea and ending in Galway. The 2015 survey was designed to collect multidisciplinary information on physics, water chemistry (dissolved nutrients, dissolved oxygen, carbonate parameters (TA, DIC), salinity), sediment chemistry (persistent organic pollutants POPs and trace metals)sediment particle size distribution and benthic macroinvertebrates.
  • Environmental survey of coastal and shelf waters- Northabout winter nutrients, benthos and contaminants monitoring

    Marine Institute (Marine Institute, 2014)
    The 2014 survey continues the Marine Institute's Winter Nutrients monitoring that commenced in 1990. The survey evolved during this time period with respect to parameters and sampling strategy. In 2011 this survey was re-established as a winter environmental survey with a broader remit to provide supporting information for OSPAR and Water Framework Directive (WFD - Directive 2000/60/EC)assessments and also to maintain the winter time series on key biogeochemical parameters in Irish waters in response to pressures such as land based inputs of nutrients and climate change. the 2014 survey was designed to collect multidisciplinary information on physics, water chemistry (dissolved nutrients, dissolved oxygen, carbonate parameters (TA, DIC), salinity), sediment chemistry (persistent organic pollutants POPs and trace metals)sediment particle size distribution and benthic macroinvertebrates.
  • Environmental survey of coastal and shelf waters- Northabout winter nutrients, benthos and contaminants monitoring

    Marine Institute (Marine Institute, 2012)
    The 2012 survey builds on the MI Winter Nutrients Survey that ran from 1990 to 2011 (except 2010). The survey evolved during this time period with respect to parameters and sampling strategy. The 2012 survey designed to collect multidisciplinary information on physics, water chemistry (dissolved nutrients, dissolved oxygen, carbonate parameters (TA, DIC), salinity), sediment chemistry (persistent organic pollutants POPs and trace metals)sediment particle size distribution and benthic macroinvertebrates.
  • Environmental survey of coastal and shelf waters- winter nutrients

    Marine Institute (Marine Institute, 2011)
    The 2011 survey builds on the MI Winter Nutrients Survey that ran from 1990 to 2009. The survey evolved during this time period with respect to parameters and sampling strategy. The 2011 survey was further expanded to collect multidisciplinary information on physics, chemistry (nutrients, DO, carbonate parameters, salinity)and biology (benthic, macroinvertebrates, winter phytoplankton baseline)of these waters.