Prioritising Ocean Observations: The Ellett Array Sustained Observing Programme

UKRI (NERC) have commissioned the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) to lead a study to
identify the key priorities in the area of sustained scientific ocean observations (SSOOP). The UK
SSOOP study aims to inform future UKRI investment decisions in sustained ocean observing. Once all
evidence and feedback are gathered, NOC will convene a small workshop of experts from the
marine community to discuss the consultation results and identify the key priority observations.
The final report will be shared with stakeholders by the NERC in early 2023 (https://oceanobservations.uk/ ).
The Ellett Array is a long-term observing programme in the Rockall Trough to the west of Scotland.
These observations are currently funded by the NERC Climate Linked Atlantic Sector Science
Programme. Professor Stuart Cunningham at the Scottish Association for Marine Science and the
University of the Highlands and Islands is the Programme lead and was invited to provide a report
to the expert panel on the Ellett Array sustained observations. This report was submitted to the
SSOOP panel on 28th February 2022.
Because of the importance of these observations, particularly in the Scottish context, I have
converted the submitted report from the feedback format to this report for wider distribution. The
content is otherwise identical except for the removal of some confidential financial information.