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The Western Channel Observatory (WCO) is situated in the Western English Channel and comprises of long-term sustained observations at a number of stations.
Stations
Click to enlarge
Webcam
Latest weather data
Latest weather station data:
| Wind direction: | 294.3 ° |
| Wind speed: | 2.8 ms-1 |
| Pressure: | 1012 mb |
| PAR: | 0 μE m-2s-1 |
| Humidity: | 100 % |
| Temperature: | 15.6 °C |
| Rainfall: | 0.00 mm |
Last Reading taken at: 3:35:47 GMT
Latest point extractions
Station L4:
| Chlorophyll: | n/a |
| Temperature: | 15.6°C |
Station E1:
| Chlorophyll: | n/a |
| Temperature: | 16.8°C |
Last updated: 29/07/2010
Latest EO Chlorophyll
Daily composite updated: 29/07/2010 16:40 GMT
Daily composite updated: 29/07/2010 16:36 GMTEO Sea surface temperature
Daily composite updated: 29/07/2010 19:17 GMT
About the WCO
The WCO is an ideal location as: (i) it has a long history (>100 years) of in situ sampling at several stations; (ii) it represents both ocean influenced and coastal waters within 30 km of PML; and (iii) PML has recognised excellence in ecosystem modelling (ERSEM) and satellite remote sensing (Earth Observation - EO) science. By integrating these quantitative in situ measurements, modelling studies and EO we will be able to elucidate changes that are occurring in the marine component of the Earth system.
Autonomous Buoy project
The WCO has two autonomous buoy platforms, designed to produce data for operational oceanography. Click here for more details.
Blog
Click here to leave your comments and observations from the English Channel or any aspect of the work of the observatory.
Partners: PML, Marine Biological Association (MBA), Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science (SAHFOS) and the NERC Earth Observation Data Aquisition and Analysis Service (NEODAAS).
Other observatory links
Local observatories
Oceans 2025 funded observatories
- SO1: Atlantic Meridional Transect
- SO2: Porcupine Abyssal Plain Observatory
- SO11: Liverpool Bay Coastal Observatory
