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Monitoring the South Rockall Trough
Since 2018, we have operated deep-sea observing systems in the South Rockall Trough. They record temperature, salinity, and ocean circulation over the long term.
What we measure
- temperature and salinity
- ocean currents
- water-column structure from 500m–3,000m depth
- Labrador Sea Water
- Mediterranean Overflow Water
- Subarctic Intermediate Water
Monitoring infrastructure
The observing system combines a deep-sea mooring, instruments at several depths, and seabed landers.
Deep-sea mooring
The mooring operates at 3,012m depth.
ADCPs
Instruments at 500m and 1,000m measure ocean currents.
CTD sensors
Sensors operate at multiple depths from 500m–3,000m.
Seabed landers
We operate six seabed landers to monitor shelf and shelf-edge currents.
Research value
- analyse long-term ocean variability
- study water-mass transport
- validate ocean models
- link physical, chemical, and biological processes
Why deep-ocean observations matter
- how deep currents move water
- how heat travels through the ocean
- how different ocean layers interact
From the seabed to the surface
Deep sea moorings and seabed landers complement offshore buoy and coastal tide networks. Together, these observations show how the ocean functions across its full depth.
The programme combines long-term monitoring with research surveys to provide trusted scientific evidence about environmental change.
Access infrastructure or collaborate
Contact the team to discuss access to the infrastructure or potential research collaboration.