Alternate title

GB001120

Date (Publication)

2018-04-26

Date (Creation)

2014-06-02

Citation identifier

EMODnetSeabedHabitats / GB001120

Point of contact

Organisation name	Individual name	Electronic mail address	Role
DEFRA		open@defra.gsi.gov.uk	Owner
Natural England		enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk	Custodian

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0

• Habitats and biotopes

http://inspire.ec.europa.eu/codelist/ReferenceHabitatTypeSchemeValue

• Eunis

Use limitation

┬® DAERA. Data may be re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence.

Use limitation

geossAttribution

Access constraints

Other restrictions

Other constraints

no limitation

Spatial representation type

Vector

Denominator

4000

Language

English

Topic category

• Biota
• Oceans

Begin date

2012-03-06

End date

2012-03-20

Reference system identifier

EPSG / WGS 84 (EPSG:4326) / 7.9

Topology level

Geometry only

Distribution format

Name	Version
ESRI Shapefile	1.0

OnLine resource

Protocol	Linkage	Name
WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link	http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=12821_BeachyHeadEastrMCZ_SummarySiteReport_V12.pdf	Beachy Head East rMCZ Post-survey Site Report
WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link	https://www.emodnet-seabedhabitats.eu/access-data/launch-map-viewer/?zoom=11&center=0.40898,50.78008&layerIds=501&baseLayerId=1&activeFilters=NobwRANghgngpgJwJIBMwC4CsAGAjAGjADMBLCAF0VQwBYB2Q0ixAGQHs2BrAVwAdUAzhmABdRmUoIAKnAAe5DGADiAIWx5cAJmxgAviKA	EMODnet Seabed Habitats Map Viewer
OGC:WMS	https://ows.emodnet-seabedhabitats.eu/geoserver/emodnet_view_maplibrary/wms?	gb001120
OGC:WFS	https://ows.emodnet-seabedhabitats.eu/geoserver/emodnet_open_maplibrary/wfs?	gb001120
WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link	https://files.emodnet-seabedhabitats.eu/data/EMODnetSBHsurvey_GB001120.zip	EMODnet Seabed Habitats download

Hierarchy level

Dataset

Statement

Full coverage multibeam bathymetry and backscatter data were acquired from the offshore boundary of the rMCZ to the -2 m chart datum contour by EGS (International) Ltd in February and March 2012, using two vessels; EGS Pioneer and Wessex Explorer. The Wessex Explorer was mobilised with a pole-mounted Kongsberg EM3002D multibeam system and the EGS Pioneer with a similar hullmounted system. Images derived from the data collected are presented in Appendix 2, and the area surveyed is outlined in Figure 2. The bathymetric survey was conducted in accord with International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) standard Order 1a. Multibeam backscatter data were acquired following guidelines developed and provided by Cefas. For further detail on the acoustic data acquisition see ÔÇÿDefra MCZ R&D Data Collection Program ÔÇô Lot14 Beachy Head East Survey ReportÔÇÖ (EGS Ltd, 2012).

The acoustic data were not available for use in developing the groundtruthing survey design. Therefore, most ground truth stations were plotted using an approximate grid spacing of 1.6 km, except for those falling on previously identified blue mussel beds, Sabellaria spinulosa reef and subtidal chalk outcrops (Figure 2). The groundtruthing survey was carried out by the Environment Agency (EA) in February/March 2012, Beachy Head East rMCZ Post-survey Site Report 9 during which time sediment and infaunal samples were collected successfully from 14 stations using a 0.1 m 2 Hamon grab. An underwater camera system was deployed at 39 stations to collect video and still images of the seabed (see Appendix 1). On recovery of the grab, its contents were emptied into a suitable container and photographed. A representative subsample of sediment (~0.5 litres) was taken for particle size analysis (PSA). The remaining sample volume was measured (samples 1 mm fraction was transferred into a sample container and preserved in buffered 8% formaldehyde solution for later processing ashore. Within the broadscale habitat areas identified in the SAD, camera deployments were made at stations identified as being either rock substratum or biogenic reef (blue mussel or Sabellaria spinulosa). Camera deployments were made at an additional 18 stations where the Hamon grab had been unsuccessful in obtaining a suitable sample (i.e. where it collected <5 litres of sediment).

All new maps and their derivatives are based on a WGS84 datum. The habitat map was updated by analysing and interpreting the new acoustic and ground truth data collected by the dedicated survey of this site. Particle size data for the sediment samples were used to assign each sample to one of the four sediment classes defined by Long (2006), namely coarse sediment, sand, mud and mixed sediment. Results and summary statistics for the PSA are presented in Appendix 5. Seabed still images were assigned to broadscale habitat classes. The assignments were used to inform the semi-automated process of map production using object-based image analysis (OBIA; Blaschke, 2010) implemented in the software package eCognition v8.7.2.

The technical quality of the updated habitat map was assessed using the MESH ÔÇÿConfidence AssessmentÔÇÖ Tool1 , originally developed by an international consortium of marine scientists working on the MESH (Mapping European Seabed Habitats) project. This tool considers the provenance of the data used to make a biotope/habitat map, including the techniques and technology used to characterise the physical and biological environment and the expertise of the people who had made the map. In its original implementation it was used to make an auditable judgement of the confidence that could be placed in a range of existing, local biotope maps that had been developed using different techniques and data inputs, but were to be used in compiling a full coverage map for northwest Europe. Where two of the original maps overlapped, that with the highest MESH confidence score would take precedence in the compiled map.

Metadata

File identifier

2e227bc1-2b88-4e89-a0e2-65dac5698f7d XML

Metadata language

English

Character set

MD_CharacterSetCode_utf8

Hierarchy level

Dataset

Date stamp

2020-01-15T12:07:37

Metadata standard name

ISO19115

Metadata standard version

2003/Cor.1:2006

Metadata author

Organisation name	Individual name	Electronic mail address	Role
JNCC		HabitatMapping@jncc.gov.uk	Point of contact