Aim: to collect and analyse data in the Plymouth Sound and its associated rivers as well as nearby offshore areas to gain understanding of the biological, chemical, physical and geological processes taking place and how these ultimately affect the functioning of the systems.

During a 10-day period from the 3^rd till the 13^th of July 2018 our team of 9, undergraduate, Oceanography and Marine Biology Students from the University of Southampton undertook the applied oceanography and fieldwork course at the Plymouth Marine Station with the aim to study the biological, chemical, physical and geophysical components of the estuarine and coastal waters around Plymouth.  The results of which have been collated together to be presented on this website giving a summarised overview of the whole system and the key findings.

Click on the map below to choose one of our stations:

Plymouth Sound:

Plymouth Sound is situated on the South Coast of England and is roughly 10km² in size, (Castignetti, 1997). The main features include a Breakwater, located in roughly the centre causing the estuary to be partially restricted from the open ocean, Drake’s Island and the rivers Tamar and Plym, (Castignetti, 1997; Siddorn, Allen and Uncles, 2003). The River Tamar is the dominant source of freshwater into the system with an average freshwater input ranging from 5 m³s^-1 to 140 m³s^-1, (Uncles and Stephens, 1990).

Meet the team:

References:

• Castignetti, P. (1997). POPULATION DYNAMICS AND FACIES ASSOCIATION OF RECENT FORAMINIFERA FROM A NEARSHORE MARGINAL MARINE ENVIRONMENT: PLYMOUTH SOUND. [online] Pearl.plymouth.ac.uk. Available at: https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/handle/10026.1/2050 [Accessed 10 Jul. 2018].
• Uncles, R. and Stephens, J. (1990). Computed and Observed Currents, Elevations, and Salinity in a Branching Estuary. Estuaries, 13(2), p.133.
• Siddorn, J., Allen, J. and Uncles, R. (2003). Heat, salt and tracer transport in the Plymouth Sound coastal region: a 3-D modelling study. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK, 83(4), pp.673-682.

Disclaimer: The views expressed on this website are those of 9 undergraduates and do not reflect the University of Southampton.