A set of underwater noise observations which provide information on noise levels over an 21 year period potentially setting a base line for future environmental monitoring. The data were collected for military operations by RAF Nimrod aircraft using air-deployed sonobuoys. They consist of averaged noise levels, measured in db, at a range of frequencies and depths throughout the UK Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The data set comprises acoustic and associated environmental data from multi-parameter underwater acoustic experiments undertaken in the Gulf of Lions, N.W. Mediterranean and Loch Ness, Scotland. Measurements were made over the period 30 January 1995 to 22 September 1995. Of primary interest were shallow water (10-200m), medium range (1-10km) channels at communication frequencies in the 10-100kHz range. Modulation techniques used include: Carrier Wave, ASK, PSK, FSK, Multi-ASK, Multi-PSK and Multi-FSK. Multi-parameter underwater acoustic experiments were carried out under high level control and in total more than 36 Gigabytes of acoustic and associated environmental data were gathered. Experiments were carried out at medium depth (50-100m) in the Gulf of Lions and deeper water (50-200m) in Loch Ness, and the data were stored on a series of CD-ROMs. A suite of tests was performed over set ranges (1km, 7km, etc.). In general, each range was contained on a set of three CD-ROMs which specifically referred to individual parameters set for that particular range (e.g. location, gain levels, projector and hydrophone depths). Alongside the data recordings, the IRIG 'B' time signal was also recorded during all experiments to allow derivation of precise timings of all signal transmissions and receptions. This information is also contained on the CD-ROMs. Associated environmental parameters were recorded and documented. These data were collected using CTD profilers, thermistor chains, tide gauges, current flow meters and an ORETECH Weatherpak-400. The raw data were logged in an ASCII format on a DAT cartridge. The primary aim of EEVMAC (European Experimentally Validated Models for Acoustic Channels) was the generation of signals and the recording of data for propagation model validation in connection with the characterisation of underwater acoustic channels. Data were collected by researchers from Heriot-Watt University, UK and the Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie Marines (LPCM), France. The British Oceanographic Data Centre holds 19 Gigabytes of edited data on CD-ROM, along with copies of the raw environmental data. Further details on the environmental data can be sought from Laboratoire d’Oceanographie de Villefranche, formerly LPCM.

This dataset consists of optical and acoustic seabed profiles of near bed hydrodynamics, bed morphology and suspended material in the water. Fieldwork was carried out by a team of researchers over a two week period, 24 May to 04 June 2013, surveying an area near Hilbre Island in the Dee Estuary. Measurements were taken in the inter-tidal and sub-tidal zones. Measurements were collected at three sites within the sampling area. A SEDbed suite of acoustic and optical instruments were deployed at each station to collect data. These instruments included CTD, LISST, Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter, Bedform and suspended sediment imager, Multi-tier sediment trap and 3-D Acoustic Rippler Profiler. The data collection described formed the fieldwork component of the NERC-funded project “Realistic Sedimentary Bedform Prediction: Incorporating Physical and Biological Cohesion (COHBED)”. The project was undertaken with the aim to produce information about the growth, movement and stability of bedforms that consist of natural mixtures of sands and muds. The project was composed of Standard Grant reference NE/I027223/1 as the lead grant with child grants NE/I026863/1, NE/I024402/1, NE/I02478X/1. The lead grant runs from 05 January 2012 to 04 July 2015 and the child grants run from 15 December 2011 to 14 June 2015 (NE/I026863/1), 01 January 2012 to 30 June 2015 (NE/I024402/1), and 01 January 2012 to 31 October 2015 (NE/I02478X/1). Dr Jacobus Hugo Baas of Bangor University, School of Ocean Sciences was the principal investigator of the lead grant of this project. The child grants were led by Dr Sarah Bass of University of Plymouth, School of Engineering, Professor Daniel Roy Parsons of University of Hull, Geography, Environment and Earth Science, and Professor Daniel Paterson of University of St Andrews, Biology, respectively. The data described here have been received as raw files by BODC and will be processed using our in-house systems and made available online in the future.

This dataset describes an evaluation project using ocean glider data collected in the Celtic Sea, funded by the United Kingdom Integrated Marine Observing Network (UK-IMON) initiative. The data measured form a three dimensional trajectory through the water column covering a transect from just North West of the Scilly Isles, to the South west in the Celtic Sea. The date span for the data is 12 September 2013 to mid-October 2013 (expected). Deployment occurred off the RV Cefas Endeavour on 12th September and it is expected that the gliders will be recovered in Mid October. The project includes 2 ocean gliders, both equipped with a CTD and triplet optical phytoplankton fluorescence, backscatter and coloured dissolved organic matter sensor. There is also an echo sounder (on one glider) and Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) Passive Acoustic Monitor (PAM) (cetacean monitoring) on the other glider. The goal of the evaluation project is to study tidal mixing and to contribute to oceanographic sensor development. The organisations contributing to the dataset are the UK National Oceanography Centre (NOC), the Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) and the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU). The data are held by BODC as an archive of the real time data stream as transmitted by the glider. The delayed mode full resolution (downloaded on platform recovery) and delayed mode quality controlled data are expected in due course.

The Marine Autonomous Systems in Support of Marine Observations (MASSMO) campaign 4 dataset includes data collected by 8 submarine gliders, 2 wavegliders and one autonomous surface vehicle. The dataset comprises recovery version data. i.e. the data downloaded from a vehicle at the end of its mission. The data obtained from gliders operated by the University of East Anglia (UEA) is fully quality controlled. No quality control procedures have been applied to the data obtained from all other autonomous vehicles. Parameters observed include, temperature, salinity, chlorophyll fluorescence, optical backscatter, oxygen, acoustic noise and video data. The dataset was collected within the UK sector of the Faroe-Shetland Channel, focussing on the outer shelf and upper shelf. The work area had a bounding box of 58-62 degrees north and 2-9 degrees west. The MASSMO 4 campaign was run between 1st June 2017 until 7th June 2017 while platforms were deployed they were collecting data continuously. The dataset was collected using a mixture of three autonomous surface vehicles and eight submarine gliders. Glider sensor suites included CTD, bio-optics, oxygen optodes, and passive acoustic sensors. Additionally the surface vehicles were equipped with meteorological sensors and cameras. The campaign comprised a range of oceanographic data collection, but had a particular focus on passive acoustic monitoring of marine mammals and oceanographic features, and included development of near-real-time data delivery to operational data users. MASSMO 4 was co-ordinated by the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) in partnership with University of East Anglia (UEA), Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) and Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS). The mission was sponsored by Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and involved close co-operation with the NATO Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE) and UK Royal Navy, and was supported by several additional commercial, government and research partners.