AlterEco ‘Welcome to the AlterEco 2nd newsletter . AlertEco is a NERC funded programme, developing an alternative framework to assess marine ecosystem functioning in shelf seas. Over the next three years, AlterEco will use the results gathered from deploying small fleets of submarine and ocean surface robots, to provide measurements of ocean processes in time and space, to better understand shelf sea ecosystem health and functioning. By using the latest robotic technology, AlterEco will:
- Provide measurements to better understand the impacts of variability on the functioning of shelf-sea ecosystems;
- Provide the tools necessary to inform ocean forecasting models of the stressors on and consequences of the environmental status of shelf seas; and
- Trial a modular integrated framework for a new, efficient, diagnostic monitoring system for the sea that has global transferability.
The results of this programme will help fulfill the UK’s legal obligations to monitor water quality and good environmental status. Additionally it will develop a globally transferable framework to assist developing nations achieve affordable marine system monitoring capability, without the need for large scale infrastructure such as dedicated research vessels.’