INFOMAR unveils unprecedented detail in Irish Blue Scale coastal maps
INFOMAR has presented the Blue Scale Map Series: a compilation of 18 meticulously crafted, high-resolution bathymetric maps showcasing the coastal waters of Ireland. Conceived and developed by a dedicated team of hydrographers, data processors and cartographers, these maps intricately reveal the coastal topography in an unprecedented level of detail.
Established in 2006, the Integrated Mapping for the Sustainable Development of Ireland’s Marine Resource (INFOMAR) programme stands today as a highly extensive and pioneering seabed mapping initiative. Generously funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, this collaborative endeavour between the Marine Institute and Geological Survey Ireland strives to comprehensively map Ireland’s seabed, thereby providing an essential baseline bathymetry dataset to underpin the future management of the country’s marine resources.
Stretching over a length of 3,171km, Ireland’s coastline boasts a collection of Europe’s most distinctive and dynamic environments. The newly introduced Blue Scale Map Series marks the culmination of over a decade’s worth of effort, brilliantly illuminating the intricate landscapes that lie beneath the waves. Every map within this series has been meticulously composed to incorporate the latest high-resolution INFOMAR bathymetry data.
Series of fresh maps
Throughout the remainder of 2023, INFOMAR is set to release a series of fresh maps, each focusing on a different segment of the Irish coastline. Just like all INFOMAR data, these high-resolution maps are accessible for everyone to download without cost. The inaugural piece in this series is the breathtaking bluescale bathymetric map of Galway Bay.
Galway Bay (Cuan na Gallimhe), positioned along Ireland’s western shores between the counties of Galway to the north and Clare to the south, extends approximately 50km from Galway City in the northeast to the Aran Islands at the bay's western entrance. Adorned with numerous small islands, those in the inner bay have a glacial origin, while low-lying granite formations grace Connemara to the northwest. Serving as the bay's southern border are the karst limestone hills of the Burren. Notably, the coastal areas of Galway Bay have been designated as a Special Area of Conservation, a recognition attributed to the diverse range of critical habitat types present. These encompass intertidal mud and sandflats, various littoral habitats, coastal lagoons, saltmarshes, turloughs, vegetated cliffs, calcareous grassland and limestone pavements. Moreover, Galway Bay plays a vital role as a habitat for common seals and otters, while also standing as a crucial ornithological site for a plethora of seabirds, waders, and waterfowl.
INFOMAR is a two-decade effort to comprehensively map Ireland's seabed, spanning its physical, chemical and biological aspects. Funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), and orchestrated by collaborative leaders Geological Survey Ireland and the Marine Institute, this programme has thrust Ireland into a prominent role as a global marine steward, revered for its expertise in seabed mapping and sustainable marine resource development.
