Confidence in the classification of the EUNIS 2007 habitat types in the EUSeaMap (2021) broad-scale predictive habitat map. Values are 1 (low confidence), 2 (moderate confidence) or 3 (high confidence). The final habitat type is classified by overlaying several layers of information; these layers of information are collectively known as 'habitat descriptors'. Habitat descriptors differ per region but include: Biological zone Energy class Oxygen regime Salinity regime Seabed substrate Riverine input The confidence in the classification of the habitat type is taken as the minimum of the confidence in all of the relevant habitat descriptors at that location. Confidence values are also available for each habitat descriptor and input data layer. Detailed information on the modelling process is found in the EMODnet Seabed Habitats technical reports and its appendices (links in Resources). Created by the EMODnet Seabed Habitats project consortium. Credit: Licensed under CC-BY 4.0 from the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) Seabed Habitats initiative (www.emodnet-seabedhabitats.eu), funded by the European Commission. It is important to note that a habitat type confidence score is only relevant to that particular level of the classification system. For example, a cell of A3.1 high energy infralittoral rock with ‘low’ energy class confidence, ‘moderate’ biozone confidence and ‘high’ substrate type confidence would have an overall ‘low’ confidence. However, moving up the hierarchy to EUNIS level two (A3 infralittoral rock) removes the energy class; therefore, the confidence of the EUNIS level two habitat type would only consider the ‘moderate’ biozone confidence and ‘high’ substrate type confidence, resulting in an overall ‘moderate’ confidence.

Confidence in the classification of: - the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) Benthic Broad Habitat Types (V. 2017) - the EUNIS 2019 habitat types - the Helcom Hub regional classification system habitat types - the Barcelona Convention classification system habitat types in the EUSeaMap (2021) broad-scale predictive habitat map. Values are 1 (low confidence), 2 (moderate confidence) or 3 (high confidence). The final habitat type is classified by overlaying several layers of information; these layers of information are collectively known as 'habitat descriptors'. Habitat descriptors differ per region but include: Biological zone Energy class Oxygen regime Salinity regime Seabed substrate Riverine input The confidence in the classification of the habitat type is taken as the minimum of the confidence in all of the relevant habitat descriptors at that location. Confidence values are also available for each habitat descriptor and input data layer. Detailed information on the modelling process is found in the EMODnet Seabed Habitats technical reports and appendices (links in Resources). A link to the correlation table between MSFD Benthic Broad Habitat types* and the EUSeaMap 2016 biozone and substrate types is available in Resources. *Marine Strategy Framework Directive Benthic Broad Habitat Types (V. 2017) are defined in: COMMISSION DECISION (EU) 2017/848 of 17 May 2017 Created by the EMODnet Seabed Habitats project consortium. Credit: Licensed under CC-BY 4.0 from the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) Seabed Habitats initiative (www.emodnet-seabedhabitats.eu), funded by the European Commission. It is important to note that a habitat type confidence score is only relevant to that particular level of the classification system.

Confidence in the classification of biological zones in the EUSeaMap (2021) broad-scale predictive habitat map. Values are on a range from 1 (Low confidence) to 3 (High confidence). Biological Zone is one of the layers of information used to categorise physical habitat types in EUSeaMap; these layers of information are collectively known as 'habitat descriptors'. Confidence in the classification of a Biological Zone at any location is driven by both the confidence in the values of the input variables, and the confidence in the classification based on proximity to, and uncertainty in, the boundary between classes (i.e. areas closer to a boundary between two classes will have lower confidence). Layers are also available showing confidence in the values of the input variables used to model Biological Zones. Detailed information on the modelling process is found in the EMODnet Seabed Habitats technical reports and its appendices (links in Resources). Created by the EMODnet Seabed Habitats project consortium.

This layer was created for the EUSeaMap 2019. It was computed from the CMEMS product "ARCTIC OCEAN - SEA ICE CONCENTRATION CHARTS - SVALBARD" (product identifier: SEAICE_ARC_SEAICE_L4_NRT_OBSERVATIONS_011_002). Daily values were averaged over the year 2018

This layer was created for spatial distribution modelling of Fucus spp. in the northern Baltic Sea (Lappalanen et al, 2019). The layer represents average salinity conditions throughout the growing season, i.e. June-August values averaged over the period 2004-2015. The horizontal resolution is 20 meters. It was re-used for the EUSeaMap 2019. For further details on how it was generated: Lappalainen, J., Virtanen, E.A., Kallio, K., Junttila, S., Viitasalo, M., 2019. Substrate limitation of a habitat-forming genus Fucus under different water clarity scenarios in the northern Baltic Sea. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 218, 31ÔÇô38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2018.11.010

Fraction of surface light reaching the seabed (Fr), values between 0 and 1. Derived from KDPAR and depth rasters (EMODnet bathymetry 100m DTM, 2019) using the following equation; Fr = e^-KDPAR*depth Datasets spatial extent covers European Seas including the Azores and Canary Islands, but excluding the eastern Baltic.

Raster showing the number of MERIS images that were used to derive KDPAR values for each pixel. Data was collected by the MERIS satellite between 2005 and 2009 and created for use in the 2016 EUSeaMap, but updated in 2018 in order to cover Iceland and the Barents Sea and used in EUSeaMap 2019. Datasets spatial extent covers European Seas including the Azores and Canary Islands, but excluding the eastern Baltic. Created by the EMODnet Seabed Habitats consortium using data from the European Space Agency MERIS instrument.

Raster showing the photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) reaching the seabed, values in mol.phot.m^-2.d^-1. Derived by multiplying the fraction of surface light reaching the seabed by the amount of light at the sea surface. Layer created for use in the 2019 EUSeaMap, and updated in 2018 in order to cover Iceland and the Barents Sea. Dataset's spatial extent covers European Seas including the Azores and Canary Islands, but excluding the eastern Baltic. Created by the EMODnet Seabed Habitats consortium using data from the European Space Agency MERIS instrument.

Raster showing the average diffuse attenuation coefficient of photosynthetic active radiation (KDPAR) between 2005 and 2009, values in metres^-1. Data was collected by the MERIS satellite and this layer was created for use in the 2019 EUSeaMap. In 2018 the coverage was extended to Iceland and Barents Sea. In 2022 the coverage was extended to the Caspian Sea. Dataset's spatial extent covers European Seas including the Azores and Canary Islands, but excluding the eastern Baltic. The spatial resolution of the dataset is around 100m, but that of the original data source is around 250m. Created by the EMODnet Seabed Habitats consortium using data from the European Space Agency MERIS instrument.

Raster showing the average diffuse attenuation coefficient of photosynthetic active radiation (KDPAR) between 2005 and 2009, values in meters^-1. Data was collected by the MERIS satellite and this layer was created for use in the 2016 EU SeaMap. Datasets spatial extent covers European Seas including the Azores and Canary Islands, but excluding the eastern Baltic.