FOCCUS WP9 MS9.1 Applications prototype: ESC1 - 1.1.2 - Mapping coastal benthic habitats impacted by sediment plumes

Overview: This Zenodo item contains example output derived from coastal application 1.1.2 (See FOCCUS D8.1), as proof of prototype development. The figure is an example output expected from the final coastal application, wheras the dataset contains the information in the figure. The need to map the far field impact of off-shore sand extraction activities is motivated in the chapter:Van Lancker, V. et al, (2024) "Changes in seafloor integrity and hydrographic conditions, towards a spatio-temporal assessment at BPNS scale" , Chapter in: Degrendele K., M. Roche and F. Barette (Editor) ''Gold in the North Sea: the importance of marinesand and innovations in terms of monitoring and research'', conference proceedings, Ostend, Belgium, October 18, 2024 https://economie.fgov.be/sites/default/files/Files/Entreprises/Sand/Seminar-2024-gold-north-sea-Monitoring-report-2021-2024.pdf Figure description: The figure ( ) represents the cumulative impact of all the sand plumes re-suspended by off-shore sand extraction activities in the Belgian Part of the North Sea for the year 2019. The bold dashed contours represents the regions of sand extraction activities and the shaded contours represents the gravel bed habitat zones corresponding to biodiversity hotspots, that need to be protected. All results shown are preliminary and no rights should be attributed to them. Dataset description: The dataset, (extraction_draghead_sand.nc, extraction_overflow_sand.nc) represents the daily extra pressure exerted on the seabed by the sediment plumes from the dredging vessels, for the year 2019. The plumes are subdevided into two different components, namely the 'near bed extraction draghead plume' and 'near surface extraction overflow plume'.