ECN - UK Environmental Change Network
Background and Goals
The Environmental Change Network is a long-term, integrated research program for collecting, analysing and interpreting climate change data from 12 terrestrial and 45 freshwater monitoring sites in the United Kingdom. This information on the effects of and the reactions to environmental changes is provided in the form of physical, chemical and biological data.
Objectives:
- To establish and maintain a selected network of sites within the UK from which to obtain comparable long-term datasets through the monitoring of a range of variables identified as being of major environmental importance
- To provide for the integration and analysis of this data, so as to identify natural and human-induced environmental changes and improve understanding of the causes of change
- To distinguish short-term fluctuations from long-term trends, and predict future changes
- To provide, for research purposes, a range of representative sites with good instrumentation and reliable environmental information
Content time
Research area/region
Country
- Great Britain
Steps in the process of adaptation to climate change
Step 1: Understand and describe climate change
Approach and results
Climate effects and impacts on the environmental are assessed with physical, chemical and biological variables and published in the form of standardised protocols (freshwater protocols and terrestrial protocols). The protocols can also be obtained online: https://ecn.ac.uk/measurements
Step 5: Watch and evaluate adaptation (monitoring and evaluation)
Approach, objective and results of the monitoring and/or evaluation
A Targeted Monitoring Network for analysing the effects of climate change impacts and air pollution on biodiversity is being planned - the Environmental Change Biodiversity Network (ECBN).
Participants
Funding / Financing
Finance is being provided by various sponsors, which each fund one or more measuring stations:
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute;
- Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council;
- Cyngor Cefn Gwlad Cymru - Countryside Council for Wales;
- Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru - National Assembly for Wales;
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory;
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs;
- Environment Agency;
- Forest Research;
- Natural England;
- Natural Environment Research Council;
- Northern Ireland Environment Agency;
- Scottish Environment Protection Agency;
- Scottish Government;
- Scottish Natural Heritage
Project management
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
Cooperation/Partners
Besides the sponsors (see Financing) the following institutions are also involved in data acquisition:
- Acid Waters Monitoring Network;
- Agricultural Development Advisory Service;
- Freshwater Fisheries Laboratory;
- Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research;
- Rothamsted Research;
- The Macaulay Institute
Contact
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Library Avenue
LA1 4A Lancaster
United Kingdom
