AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
2006 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA7 The Potential Socio-economic Implications of Licencing the SEA7 Area (NE Atlantic west of Scotland)

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA7) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). This report assesses the socio-economic implications of further oil and gas licensing the SEA7 area. The Department of Trade and Industry provided scenarios of possible exploration and development activity in the area and these scenarios were converted into optimistic and pessimistic scenarios. They were then used to produce forecasts of: oil and gas production; oil and gas reserves; expenditure; employment; and tax revenues. The implications for existing facilities in the area are discussed and the potential social impacts. An underpinning report, Economic and Social Baseline Study, is also available.

Tags: Energy resources, Species distribution
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2006 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA7 Technical Report - Fish and fisheries (NE Atlantic west of Scotland)

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA7) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). The SEA7 area includes the west coast of mainland Scotland with its numerous sea lochs, the continental shelf with the Hebridean Islands, the continental slope of the northern Rockall Trough, the Rockall Trough and its seamounts, the Rockall and Hatton Banks and the abyssal depths to the west of Hatton Bank. All these areas, except the abyssal depths support a diverse variety of fisheries using demersal, pelagic and static gears. SEA7 lies within ICES Sub areas VI and XII. Relevant aspects of the biology of 39 species or species groups have been described. Brief descriptions are given of the fishery for each species, including the method of fishing and the long term trends in the landings from each of the management areas are described.

Tags: Species distribution
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2006 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA7 Technical Report - hydrocarbon prospectivity, earthquakes, continental shelves and Rockall Trough surficial and sea-bed geology and sea-bed processes

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA7) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). Investigations of the hydrocarbon prospectivity and earthquake activity include the whole of SEA7 but in this report investigations of the sea-bed sediments are restricted to the Hebrides Shelf, Rockall Trough and east Rockall Bank. 

On the Hebrides Shelf, Hebrides Slope, east Rockall Bank and in the deep-water Rockall Trough the modern sea-bed sediments are mainly composed of mixtures of former glacial deposits and grains of modern interglacial biogenic carbonate shell. Former glacial deposits and modern biogenic carbonate are now mainly mixed and transported by wave-orbital currents and residual currents on Rockall Bank and by combinations of wave-orbital currents, tidal currents and residual currents on the Hebrides Shelf and upper Hebrides Slope. Below approximately 300 metres water depth in the Rockall Trough the sea-bed sediments are mainly transported by circulating deep-water residual currents.

Tags: Geology
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2006 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA7 Technical Report - Hydrography (NE Atlantic west of Scotland)

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA7) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change) and describes the hydrography of the SEA7 area. SEA7 lies across the northern end of the Atlantic Meriodional Overturning Circulation and contains a number of major oceanic currents carrying surface water northward across the whole region and returning cold Artic water around the foot of some of its slopes.

Tags: Hydrography
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2006 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA7 Technical Report - Underwater Ambient Noise (NE Atlantic west of Scotland)

This report on underwater noise is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA7) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). This report initially gives a general introduction to underwater ambient noise and the underlying mechanisms that generate sound. The report then identifies a number of sources of underwater acoustic noise, describes the characteristics of the noise including frequency content, levels and variability, and also identifies the current state of knowledge on each source. In all cases the sources are considered in the context of the SEA 7 area. Mechanisms that can modify the ambient sound levels are described. The dominant noise sources in the SEA 7 area are identified. Recommendations are then made for the methodology to be used to obtain meaningful characterisation of noise levels in order to establish baseline levels. The report then goes on to present an analysis of measured ambient noise data in the SEA 7 area, model predictions of spectrum levels, and compares the measured and modelled data.

Tags: Production and industrial facilities
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2006 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA7 sample analysis - Physical/chemical analysis of marine sediment samples collected during the SEA7 survey August/September 2005 (NE Atlantic west of Scotland)

This report present the data obtained from the analysis of sediment samples collected during survey operations for the Department of Trade and Industry's (now Department of Energy and Climate Change) Strategic Environmental Assessment programme (SEA7), carried out in August/September 2005. Samples were analysed for: Total organic carbon and nitrogen; Particle size analysis; Hydrocarbons and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons; Trace and heavy metals. A spreadsheet of data is included.

Tags: Geology
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2006 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA7 Technical Report - Plankton Ecology (NE Atlantic west of Scotland)

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA7) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). The purpose of this report was to provide an assessment of the plankton ecology for SEA7.

Owing to the size of the area being assessed this report divides the region into two sections. The basis of this division follows the 200m depth contour generally accepted as being the boundary between the shelf edge and oceanic realms. The first section being waters found on the continental shelf and are therefore more prone to freshwater runoff from land and anthropogenic inputs. The second section represents waters off the shelf edge, these waters are of a more oceanic origin and are less impacted by inputs from land-based sources. 

Information on the nutrient biogeochemistry (nitrate, phosphate and silicate) are presented for three geographical provinces, the oceanic and shelf edge realms outlined above and also for the Clyde Sea area this being a region noted as having elevated nutrient loadings from anthropogenic sources.

Tags: Species distribution
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2006 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA7 Technical Report - Archaeology (NE Atlantic west of Scotland)

This report on archaeology is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA7) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). There is a high likelihood of surviving prehistoric archaeology (10,000 - 5000 years old) in certain areas of SEA7, most notably to the west of the Outer Hebrides for a distance of some 10km, to a depth of -20m, and in and among the islands elsewhere (particularly around Islay, Jura, Mull and the Small Isles) along the coast and between S Scotland and N Ireland.

The reasons comprise a complex interplay of changing sea level and the rebound of the land once freed from the compression of ice at the end of the last Ice Age. The net result of these physical effects is that 10,000 years ago relative sea level has been up to 45m lower along much of the coast and this corresponds with the period of early human settlement in the area. In places this means that considerable areas of submerged land exist. An investigation of bathymetric, sedimentary and tidal data for the area suggests that the prehistoric land surface, including archaeological remains, may survive in many places. 

Cooperation between existing extraction companies and renewable industries and archaeologists elsewhere in Britain shows how the recording and investigation of archaeological material could be beneficial to both parties should work take place in SEA7. The final sections provide a preliminary examination of how matters might be taken forward to safeguard the archaeological knowledgebase without prejudicing commercial interests.

Tags: Geology, Production and industrial facilities
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2006 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA7 Technical Report - Seabirds (NE Atlantic west of Scotland)

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA7) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change). The aims of this study were: To provide an overview of individual bird species offshore distribution in SEA 7; To identify, where possible, offshore areas in SEA 7 that are important for seabirds; To assess offshore seabird vulnerability to surface pollution in SEA 7; To provide a brief outline on the potential for offshore SPAs in the offshore waters of SEA 7; To highlight major gaps in understanding and survey coverage in the offshore waters of SEA 7.

Generally seabird densities were low in offshore waters. Important areas were along the shelf break, Rockall Trough and Rockall Bank. Species diversity of seabirds was low in offshore waters compared to inshore waters, although more species were recorded during the summer months. Offshore waters were defined as greater than 200 m in depth and the offshore distribution of seventeen species of seabirds were reviewed.

Tags: Species distribution
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2006 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA7 Technical Report - Coastal Shellfish Resources and Fisheries (NE Atlantic west of Scotland)

This report is a contribution to the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA7) conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change) and deals with the shellfish resources and their commercial fisheries within SEA7. Exploited species of shellfish are found in the SEA7 zone occupying all types of habitat and distributed over a considerable range of depths, from the littoral zone down to 1000m. These species provide important fisheries and make vital contributions to the economy of remote communities on the west coast of Scotland. The main species reviewed in this report are: Norway lobster; European Lobster; Crawfish; Edible crab; Velvet swimming crab; Shore crab; Red crabs; Giant scallop; Queen scallop; Cockle; Common mussel; Razor shells; Whelks; Periwinkle

Tags: Species distribution
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2004 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA6 Kommandor Jack SEA6 Survey C (or Leg 3) - seabed sampling survey with photography (Irish Sea)

As part of the Department of Trade and Industry's (now Department of Energy and Climate Change) Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA6) a seabed survey was carried out. The survey comprised photography and seabed sediment and water sampling. The purpose of these surveys was to shed light on the distribution and extent of methane-derived autigenic carbonate (MDAC) in the Irish Sea.

942 photographs are available. Cruise report is available.

Tags: Habitats and biotopes
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2003 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA5 RV Kommandor Jack SEA5 Survey - seabed sampling survey with video and photography (North Sea)

As part of the Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change) Strategic Environmental Assessment project for Area 5 (SEA5) an environmental survey was carried out in the North Sea (Moray Firth, Southern Trench, Sandy Riddle, Pobie Bank, Braer Study Area, Fair Isle, Papa and Turbot Banks, Smith Bank and JONSIS Transect). The aim of the survey was to acquire biological, physical, and chemical sediment samples together with video and digital stills photography to groundtruth the geophysical data and to enable a general characterisation of seafloor habitats and community types present within a number of offshore areas. 
A report is available which provides an overview of the field sampling work undertaken.

565 samples were collected. 47 videos are available.  1073 photographs are available

Tags: Geology, Habitats and biotopes
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2004 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA6 SV Lia SEA6 Survey - seabed sampling survey with video and photography (Irish Sea)

As part of the Department of Trade and Industry's (now Department of Energy and Climate Change) Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA6) a seabed sampling, video and geophysical survey was undertaken in the central Irish Sea with specific focus given to areas of Liverpool Bay and Tremadog Bay. The survey objectives were to conduct a strategic environmental study of locations where features of interest had been previously identified by organisations such as the Countryside Council for Wales and the School of Ocean Sciences. Survey operations were focused on the following features: Possible methane-derived carbonate reefs in Cardigan Bay; Gassy Sediments in Tremadog Bay, Biogenic Reefs - Horse mussel beds. 

36 video files are available. 186 photographs are available. 52 samples were collected using a Day Grab. A cruise report is available
Processed data mosaics are available

Tags: Habitats and biotopes
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2005 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA7 Kommandor Jack SEA7 Survey Leg 2 - seabed sampling survey with video and photography (NE Atlantic west of Scotland)

As part of the Department of Trade and Industry's (now Department of Energy and Climate Change) Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA7) a seabed sampling survey was undertaken at Anton Dohrn Seamount, Rockall Bank, Hatton Bank, George Bligh Bank and Rosemary Bank. The objective of this cruise were: To carry out a seafloor sampling programme in selected areas within the SEA7 area of the UK Continental Shelf to the west of Scotland. The purpose of this work is to study the ecology of seamounts and other potential Annex 1 (Habitats Directive) type habitats in deep water. The survey to include target areas of the Anton Dohrn and Rosemary Bank seamounts and the George Bligh Bank, northern Rockall Bank and selected areas on the Hatton Bank. The sampling to be guided by a broad survey designed developed in advance of the cruise and modified on the basis of field observations and information generated by geophysical data, including swathe bathymetry, side scan sonar and sub-bottom profiling, conducted immediately previously to this seafloor sampling programme; To similarly carry out seafloor photographic surveys in the same areas; To repeat seafloor sampling at selected stations on transects previously sampled by SAMS during oil-industry related surveys, and  the LOIS-SES surveys.

54 video files are available and 1813 photos are available.

Tags: Geology, Habitats and biotopes
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2006 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA7 SV Pelagia SEA7 Survey - seabed sampling survey with video and photography (Faroe Shetland Channel)

As part of the Department of Trade and Industry's (now Department of Energy and Climate Change) Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA7) a regional seafloor environmental survey was undertaken in the Faroe Shetland Channel off the north and west coasts of Shetland. The work included bathymetric surveys, sediment sampling for biological and chemical analysis, and seabed photography.

7 video files and 507 photographs are available. Raw multibeam data are available. A cruise report is also available.

Tags: Geology, Hydrography
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2003 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA5 Wessex Explorer SEA5 Survey - seabed sampling, video and geophysical survey (North Sea)

As part of the Department of Trade and Industry's (now Department of Energy and Climate Change) Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA5) a geophysical survey was undertaken on Wessex Explorer as part of a geophysical survey and seabed sampling on shallow sand bank areas in the Southern North Sea off the Norfolk Coast; in particular Race Bank, Docking Shoal and Ower Bank. Multibeam and sidescan sonar data were collected.

The survey comprised seabed sampling, video and geophysical survey on shallow sand bank areas in the Southern North Sea off the Norfolk Coast; in particular Race Bank, Docking Shoal and Ower Bank. The survey objectives were to collect geophysical data, conduct quantitative seabed sampling and gather video footage of the seabed in the vicinity of selected sand banks with a view to better understanding the complex sediment transport processes at work in the area. An additional objective was to collect seabed samples and video footage for subsequent identification and assessment of benthic habitat.

3 processed gridded multibeam files are available. Navigation and tide data and cruise reports are also available.

Tags: Geology, Hydrography
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2005 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA7 Kommandor Jack SEA7 Survey Leg 1 - geophysical survey (NE Atlantic west of Scotland)

As part of the Department of Trade and Industry's (now Department of Energy and Climate Change) Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA7) a geophysical survey was undertaken on Kommandor Jack over Anton Dohrn Seamount, Rockall Bank, Hatton Bank, George Bligh Bank and Rosemary Bank. 

The objectives of the cruise were to collect EM120, and where water depths permit, EM1002 multibeam bathymetry and backscatter data, and also where desired, high resolution sidescan sonar data, over Anton Dohrn Seamount, George Bligh and Rosemary Banks, the eastern margin of Rockall Bank and selected areas of Hatton Bank. The aims were: to create high quality bathymetric maps of the survey areas; create acoustic backscatter maps over the same areas; when possible, define the extent of any potential coral habitats; create high resolution bathymetric, backscatter and sonar maps of specific features as may be discovered, such as mud diapers, carbonate mounds etc.; complete, during the cruise, a preliminary interpretation of the above data, to be used as a guide for the sampling and seabed photography cruise which followed immediately. This was a highly successful cruise with virtually all cruise objectives achieved. 6,384 line-km of multibeam bathymetry and backscatter data were obtained in water depths between 150 and 2,400 m. In addition, approximately 240 line-km of high resolution sidescan sonar were collected in depths between 150 and 1,500 m, and 6,323 line-km of high resolution CHIRP profiles were also collected.

A cruise report is available.

Tags: Geology, Hydrography
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
1999 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA1 RRS Charles Darwin (119C) SEA1 Survey Leg 2 (or B) seabed survey (Faroe Shetland Channel)

As part of the Department of Trade and Industry's (now Department of Energy and Climate Change) 1999 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA1 (White Zone) Environmental Survey: Seabed survey of the deep-waters to the north and west of Scotland. 

The aims were to : Complete TOBI sidescan sonar survey of the "White Zone" begun on RRS Charles Darwin cruise 119C leg A; To carry out photographic surveys of the "White Zone" to ground truth the sidescan sonar imagery and provide an assessment of the seabed fauna; To carry out seabed sampling to further ground truth the sidescan sonar imagery and generate samples for the future analysis of selected environmental parameters (hydrocarbons, elements, particle size).

39 samples were collected. Raw TOBI Bathymetry - includes sidescan sonar, sub-bottom profiler and magnetometer data and Mosaiced TOBI sidescan imagery are available.
The survey report is also available.

The preliminary report describes the data collection and interpretation carried out by Southampton Oceanography Centre in the summer of 1999 on behalf of the DTI. The areas surveyed were in unlicensed parts of the UKCS NW of Scotland, and the purpose of the work was to obtain regional environmental information. The work was carried out in two survey legs, Leg A was a regional side-scan sonar survey, whilst leg B was a seafloor survey of targets selected from the results of leg 1. This report is presented in 4 sections: Section 1 - Cruise report for Leg A; Section 2 - Cruise report for Leg B; Section 3 - Regional environmental interpretation from side-scan sonar and camera data; Section 4 - Initial environmental assessment.

Tags: Geology, Habitats and biotopes, Hydrography
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2004 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA1 RV Professor Logachev - seabed sampling survey (Faroe Shetland Channel)

Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change) as part of the SEA1 (White Zone) environmental sampling programme. The biodiversity, characteristics and distinguishing features of deep-water epifaunal communities from the Wyville-Thomson Ridge, Darwin Mounds and Faeroes Plateau. Samples were obtained using a benthic television (TV) grab on board the R/V Professor Logachev during cruises in August 2000. 19 grab samples were collected.

Tags: Geology, Habitats and biotopes
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2006 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA7 Survey, August 2006.  Biological, physical and chemical sampling survey report (Faroe Shetland Channel)

As part of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Strategic Environmental Assessment project for Area 7 (SEA7) and environmental survey was carried out from the RV Pelagia in the Faroe Shetland Channel. The aim of the survey was to acquire seabed samples for biological, physical and chemical analysis together with video and digital stills photography to ground truth the  geophysical data and enable a general characterisation of seafloor habitats and community types present within the SEA7 area. This report provides a log of the field sampling work.

Tags: Geology, Habitats and biotopes
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)
2003 Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA2 Sediment hydrocarbon analyses of seabed sediments collected in Central and Southern North Sea, May/June 2001 ERT Report 637/R004

As part of the UK Department of Trade and Industry's (now Department of Energy and Climate Change) sectorial Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) programme a seabed survey programme (SEA2) was undertaken in May/June 2001 for areas in the central and southern North UKCS. This report summarises the sediment total hydrocarbon and aromatic data generated from the analyses of selected samples from three main study areas:  area 1 (sand bank/wave study areas, Norfolk Coast), Area 2 (Dogger Bank transects) and Area 3 (South Fladen pockmark study areas of the central North Sea).

Tags: Geology, Habitats and biotopes
Organization: British Geological Survey (BGS)