Dear <<First Name>>,
Here's the latest news from the UK Environmental Change Network.There's a lot more information about ECN on our website, including details of our long-term monitoring and research sites, the measurements we make and ECN-related publications.
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New ECN data paper describing ECN terrestrial datasets
 Data Scientist Sue Rennie and ECN Terrestrial Site Managers have published a paper in Earth System Science Data (ESSD), describing the 19 datasets that comprise data collected at ECN terrestrial sites from 1993 to 2015.
This paper is the result of the collective efforts of our dedicated ECN site managers and data management staff, past and present, and we are really grateful to them for all their hard work.
Abstract
Long-term datasets of integrated environmental variables, co-located together, are relatively rare. The UK Environmental Change Network (ECN) was launched in 1992 and provides the UK with its only long-term integrated environmental monitoring and research network for the assessment of the causes and consequences of environmental change. Measurements, covering a wide range of physical, chemical, and biological “driver” and “response” variables are made in close proximity at ECN terrestrial sites using protocols incorporating standard quality control procedures. This paper describes the datasets (there are 19 published ECN datasets) for these co-located measurements, containing over 20 years of data (1993–2015). The data and supporting documentation are freely available from the NERC Environmental Information Data Centre under the terms of the Open Government Licence.
Reference
Rennie, S., Andrews, C., Atkinson, S., Beaumont, D., Benham, S., Bowmaker, V., Dick, J., Dodd, B., McKenna, C., Pallett, D., Rose, R., Schafer, S., Scott, T., Taylor, C. and Watson, H. (2020). The UK Environmental Change Network datasets – integrated and co-located data for long-term environmental research (1993–2015). Earth System Science Data, 12, 87-107.
DOI
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Discover ECN long-term datasets
Our longest running terrestrial ECN sites began operating in 1992, making 1993 the first complete year of data collection. ECN data including meteorology, soil solution chemistry, atmospheric nitrogen, butterflies, moths, beetles, bats, bird and vegetation can be downloaded for free from the CEH Environmental Information Platform under an Open Government Licence. If you are engaged in ecosystem research or teaching, why not see if these datasets could support your work? Use the link below to quickly access our unique physical, chemical and biological datasets containing the complete run of data available from our terrestrial sites. Data for seven of the sites span the entire 23 year period up to 2015.
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UKEOF Conference 2020: Environmental Monitoring: meeting evidence needs
 The UK Environmental Observation Framework (UKEOF) was established in 2008 in response to a growing need for closer communication between organisations with respect to evidence needs, improved efficiency of data collection and the sharing of observation plans, programmes and data. The UKEOF conference will bring together public sector providers and analysts of long-term data with researchers and a broad range of stakeholders with interests in environmental change. It will provide a range of examples of current activities and what is being learnt from them, consider opportunities for synergies and efficiencies through more joined up activities and adoption of novel technologies, and attempt to identify areas where important lines of evidence are currently most lacking and what can be done to address these. Outcomes from the event will help inform UKEOF’s future strategic direction.
- Date: 27 February 2020
- Time: 10:00 – 16:00
- Venue: Manchester, UK
For more details about this event, please visit the UKEOF website. Note that this is not an ECN event, though it is very relevant to what we do and ECN staff will be involved.
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ECN sites - outdoor laboratories at which to study our changing environment
 The wide range of regular environmental measurements, coupled with a wealth of historical data and the local knowledge of site managers mean that many ECN sites make excellent locations for field environmental research and teaching.
[Photo © UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology]
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Featured Publication
 Rennie, S., Andrews, C., Atkinson, S., Beaumont, D., Benham, S., Bowmaker, V., Dick, J., Dodd, B., McKenna, C., Pallett, D., Rose, R., Schafer, S., Scott, T., Taylor, C. and Watson, H. (2020). The UK Environmental Change Network datasets – integrated and co-located data for long-term environmental research (1993–2015). Earth System Science Data, 12, 87-107. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-12-87-2020
This paper describes the 19 ECN datasets comprising data collected at terrestrial ECN sites from 1993 to 2015.
» Details...
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Featured Site
 Lough Neagh Lough Neagh covers 386 km2 and is by far the largest area of freshwater in the British Isles. Situated in north-east Ireland, its drainage basin is shared between Northern Ireland (91%) and the Republic of Ireland (9%). Although large in area, the lake is relatively shallow. The lake supports commercial fisheries for eels, pollan, perch and trout of which the eel fishery is the most significant.
» Details...
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