National Capability – Science Single Centre Research

The current NC SSC programmes started in 2018 and run for five years. The marine-related NC SSC is the Climate Linked Atlantic Sector Science (CLASS) programme.

Climate Linked Atlantic Sector Science (CLASS)

• CLASS is a NC SSC programme to deliver knowledge and understanding of the Atlantic Ocean.
• CLASS is led by the NOC and is a collaboration with the Scottish Association for Marine Science, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, the Marine Biological Association, and the Sea Mammal Research Unit.
• CLASS will capitalise on current and past NC and strategic programme outcomes to address knowledge gaps related to ocean variability, biodiversity and resultant functional capacity.
• CLASS will compliment or provide observations for existing NC multicentre and other programmes:
  • RAPID-Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation
  • Overturning in the Subpolar North Atlantic Program (OSNAP)
  • The North Atlantic Climate System Integrated Study (ACSIS)
  • Ocean Regulation of Climate by Heat and Carbon Sequestration and Transports (ORCHESTRA)
  • Drake Passage
  • Ellett Array
  • Atlantic Meridional Transect (AMT)
  • Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR)
  • Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS)
  • International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set (ICOADS)
  • Global Sea Level Observing System (GLOSS)
  • Argo integrated global observation strategy
  • European Regional Seas Ecosystem Model (ERSEM)
  • Western Channel Observatory (WCO)

Fixed Point Observatories

The Western Channel Observatory (WCO) and the Porcupine Abyssal Plain (PAP) have been regularly sampled for decades as part of Marine National Capability, and are ICOS designated Fixed Point Observatories.