Measurements of sediment properties (including organic and carbonate content), radionuclides (210Pb, 137Cs, 241Am) and elements (including mercury, nickel, copper, zinc, and lead) in lake sediment successions. Radionuclide dating provides a reliable chronology of sediment ages from the mid-19th century (sometimes only 20th century) to the present (2016). The dataset comprises a standardised matrix of multiple measured sediment variables (element values per mass) against stratigraphic depth for 8 lakes.

This data set consists of the tabulated results of bird surveys on Peak District farms and moorlands. Bird abundance and distribution on Peak District farms and moorlands, 2007-2008 The study is part of the NERC Rural Economy and Land Use (RELU) programme. The project used the Peak District National Park as a case study to examine the impact of hill farming practices on upland biodiversity (using birds as an indicator group); how hill farms were responding to ongoing and future changes to policies and prices; what this would in turn imply for upland biodiversity; what the public wanted from upland ecosystems and how policies could be designed better to deliver public goods from hill farms. To answer these questions, the project team conducted ecological and economic surveys on hill farms; used survey results to parameterise ecological and economic models of this farming system; developed new ways to integrate these into coupled ecological and economic models and paid particular attention to interactions across farm boundaries; used the models to evaluate the performance of existing policies and to test designs that could lead to more effective policies; and conducted a range of choice experiments with different cross-sections of the general public to evaluate their preferences for upland landscapes. Choice experiment, socio-economic survey and model data from this study are available at the UK Data Archive under study number 6363 (see online resources). Further documentation for this study may be found through the RELU Knowledge Portal and the project's ESRC funding award web page (see online resources).

The dataset contains carbon dioxide and methane emissions, as well as resorufin production (as a proxy for microbial metabolic activity) and dissolved oxygen concentrations, resulting from laboratory incubation experiments of streambed sediments. The sediments were collected from the upper 10 centimetres of the streambed in the River Tern and the River Lambourn in September 2015, with three samples collected from each river. These samples were collected from three areas: silt-dominated sediment underneath vegetation (fine), sand-dominated sediment from unvegetated zones (medium) and gravel-dominated sediment from unvegetated zones (coarse). The sediment was used in laboratory incubation experiments to determine the effect of temperature, organic matter content, substrate type and geological origin on streambed microbial metabolic activity, and carbon dioxide and methane production. The work was carried out as part of a Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) funded PhD (NERC award number 1602135). The work was also part funded through the Seventh Framework Programme (EU grant number 607150).

The database of chemical composition of Central Asian forage plants contains just under 1000 desert and steppe species with information such as Latin and Russian names and family and related records of chemical composition from various sources including percentages by weight of protein, ash, cellulose and fat. Where available, it also includes data on digestible protein content, metabolisable energy and Soviet Feed Units (SFU). Records also include information on the country, location, season or month and phenological phase at time of collection of each sample. As one of the original uses of the database was for modelling food and energy intake by the saiga antelope, it also includes information identifying saiga food plant species along with sources of this information. Data on the edibility of many species for livestock in different seasons are also available. See the detailed documentation available here for more information on the data types, definitions and sources. NB The database is in text format and must be imported e.g. into relational database software, as Unicode (UTF-8) in order to convert the Cyrillic characters in Russian names.

Continuous measurements of conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature and water level from the Frome Piddle; Pang Lambourn and Tern catchments, recorded between 2002 and 2007. YSI sondes were installed at 16 sites in these catchments to record continuous measurements of conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH and temperature. Druck pressure transducers were installed at the same sites to measure continuous water level values. The instruments were installed as part of the NERC funded Lowland Catchment Research (LOCAR) Programme to provide comparable baseline river water chemistry data across the LOCAR catchments. Data were collected continuously at 15-minutes intervals for periods of variable length, depending on site.

This dataset consists of stock (length) data for linear features across Great Britain in 2007 in a vector format. The data are national estimates generated by analysing the sample data from 591 1km squares surveyed for the Countryside Survey long term monitoring project, then scaling up to a national level. The data are presented as mean lengths per 1km square for seven different feature categories within 45 different Land Class types, based on the ITE Land Classification. The Countryside Survey is a unique study or 'audit' of the natural resources of the UK's countryside, carried out by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. The sample sites are chosen from a stratified random sample, based on a 15 by 15 km grid of GB. Surveys have been carried out in 1978, 1984, 1990, 1998 and 2007 with repeated visits to the majority of squares. The countryside is sampled and surveyed using rigorous scientific methods, allowing us to compare new results with those from previous surveys. In this way we can detect the gradual and subtle changes that occur in the UK's countryside over time. In addition to linear features, habitat areas, species plot, soil plot, freshwater habitat and satellite map data are also produced by Countryside Survey.

This dataset consists of phyto- and zooplankton counts, chlorophyll concentration and fish catch data from the Cumbrian Lakes (Blelham Tarn, Esthwaite Water, Windermere north and south basins). The data span the years 1940 to 2013 but time series vary in length among different species and sites, and fish data are only available from Windermere. The original data were initially collected by the Freshwater Biological Association (FBA) but have been collected by CEH and its predecessor Institute of Freshwater Ecology (IFE) since 1989.

This dataset contains daily micro-meteorological data from the experimental plots at the Climoor field site in Clocaenog forest, North East Wales. The data contain air temperature, (degrees celsius) soil temperature (degrees celsius) at 2 depths (5 and 20 centimetres) and soil moisture as metre cubed per metre cubed. The data run from 01/07/2015 until 31/08/2016. Data were recorded in minute intervals. Up to January 2016 the data were then averaged hourly, after January 2016 data were averaged half hourly. Data are then to averaged to daily values, which are reported here. The dataset has been quality checked, and incorrect or missing values removed, data has not been infilled. Climoor is a climate change manipulation experiment that utilises automated roof technology to produce drought and warming experimental treatments that reflect climate change predictions for the next 20 to 30 years. The reported plot level temperature and soil moisture data are important to evaluate the effect of the imposed climatic treatments on ecosystem processes and functioning. Data were not collected between 9th October 2015 and 3rd November 2015 due to problems with the sensors. Data collection, processing and quality checking were carried out by CEH Bangor staff members.

This dataset comprises of derived annual statistics for measures of rainfall, streamflow, temperature and stream acidity (pH) for a stream, draining a small, approximately 1.2 square kilometres, upland conifer catchment. The stream, Nant Trawsnant, drains into the Llyn Brianne reservoir, Powys, United Kingdom. The data are for a 31 year period covering 1st April 1982 to 1st April 2012. The streamflow and acidity data are derived from 15 minute resolution observations throughout the calendar year 2013 from associated stream gauging and water quality stations on the Nant Trawsnant. The monthly rainfall measures presented, were derived from local rain gauges. The monthly temperature measures presented were derived from observations at a weather station near Talgarth, Powys. Routines within the Lancaster University Computer-Aided Program for Time-series Analysis and Identification of Noisy Systems (CAPTAIN) Toolbox for Matlab were used to develop a dynamic model of these data. These models were then used to simulate the 31-year record for which monthly statistics were derived. The statistics were derived to develop greater understanding of the controls on the long-term dynamics of aquatic biodiversity observed by other researchers in this stream. The work was part of the Diversity in Upland River Ecosystem Service Sustainability (DURESS) project, NERC grant NE/J014826/1. Members of staff from the Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University installed, maintained and downloaded the stream gauging and water quality stations and also carried out statistical analysis of the data.

Mean daily flow and water chemistry data collected from the Tarland Burn, recorded between 2000-2010. Water chemistry determinands measured include: total dissolved phosphorus (TDP), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), total phosphorous (TP), particulate phosphorus (PP), nitrate (NO3-N), ammonium (NH4-N) and suspended sediments (SS); water chemistry measurements are in units of mg l-1 for all determinands. Sampling for water chemistry took place at a weekly frequency between 2000 and the end of 2003, with some daily sampling during rainfall events. Daily samples were then collected between February 2004 and June 2005. After June 2005, infrequent irregular sampling took place, with fewer determinands. Mean daily flow, in m3s-1, was also recorded. The Tarland Burn is a tributary of the River Dee (northeast Scotland). The samples were collected at Coull (WGS84 57.111, -2.810; OSGB 351050, 802540).

This dataset contains nitrate and ammonium concentrations, nitrification and mineralisation rates, particle size and microbial biomass data from soils taken from an experiment based at Winklebury Hill, UK. The experiment used seeds and plug plants to create different plant communities on the bare chalk on Winklebury Hill and tested the resulting carbon and nutrient cycling rates and compared these to the characteristics of different plant functional groups. The experiment ran from 2013 to 2016 and this dataset contains data from 2013 only. This experiment was part of the Wessex BESS project, a six-year (2011-2017) project aimed at understanding how biodiversity underpins the ecosystem functions and services that landscapes provide.

This dataset contains fire emissions from Equatorial Asia for the years 2004, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2014 and 2015. The data is based on the Fire Inventory from National Center for Atmospheric Research with the addition of emissions from Indonesian peat fires, which contribute substantially to fire emissions in the region. The files for each year contain daily information on the area burned and emissions of several species, including CO, CO2 and PM2.5. Data is given for individual fires at 1km resolution. Fire emissions are provided for each year both for fires as measured, and under a scenario where degraded peatland in the region has been partially restored, reducing fire emissions.

This dataset consists of flower density values of common British plant species. The data were collected during field surveys taking place from February to October in 2011 and 2012. The majority of field sites were located in the south of England. The data were collected under a project named 'Agriland' ( Linking agriculture and land use change to pollinator populations) based at the University of Bristol, as part of the UK Insect Pollinators Initiative. The Insect Pollinators Initiative (IPI) was funded by Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Scottish Government and the Wellcome Trust, under the auspices of the Living With Environmental Change (LWEC) partnership.

This dataset contains information on the location of the count, some environmental variables, and the number of insects of each type counted for the Flower-Insect Timed Count survey as part of the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme (PoMS). It covers the years 2017 to 2021 (note that 2017 was a pilot year and has less data than subsequent years). The “public” FIT Count asks volunteer citizen scientists to count the number of insects, identified into broad taxon groups, seen landing on the flowers of a particular target plant within a 50 cm × 50 cm quadrat during a period of ten minutes. The “1 km square” FIT Count uses the same methodology but is carried out by PoMS volunteers and staff as part of the PoMS 1 km square survey, which takes place within a randomly allocated set of 1 km squares across the UK, and also gathers data on pan-trapped insects (see separate dataset). In 2017-2020 the 1 km square survey took place in England, Scotland and Wales only; from 2021 the survey has full UK coverage, but with limited data from Northern Ireland in 2021 which was a pilot year for that country. UK PoMS is coordinated by UKCEH, with involvement from the following partners: Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Butterfly Conservation, British Trust for Ornithology, Buglife, Hymettus, Natural History Museum, the University of Reading and University of Leeds, and working with recording schemes and societies. UKPoMS is advised and supported by a Steering Group, involving UKCEH, JNCC, DAERA, Defra, NatureScot, Welsh Government, All-Ireland Pollinators Plan, and SASA.

This dataset consists of freshwater pond quality data for sites across Great Britain in 2007. Data include macrophyte species records, chemistry and water quality, and environmental variables such as pollution, grazing and management, from ponds surveyed within a set of 591 1km squares across Great Britain (note - not all squares contained ponds). The survey was part of Countryside Survey, a unique study or 'audit' of the natural resources of the UK's countryside, and was carried out by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and Pond Conservation. The sample sites are chosen from a stratified random sample, based on a 15 by 15 km grid of GB. The countryside is sampled and surveyed using rigorous scientific methods, allowing us to compare new results with those from previous surveys. In this way we can detect the gradual and subtle changes that occur in the UK's countryside over time. In addition to freshwater habitat data, habitat areas, vegetation species data, soil data and linear habitat data are also gathered by Countryside Survey.

The dataset details the grain size distributions of 459 subsamples from 18 soil cores collected from across 14 UK saltmarshes between 2018 and 2021. The work was carried out under the NERC programme - Carbon Storage in Intertidal Environment (C-SIDE), NERC grant reference NE/R010846/1

The data are the habitat association (phi coefficient of association) of ground beetles (Carabidae) in Great Britain. The analysis used all 100 m carabid records from the NBN Atlas website for the analysis. The habitats are those from the CEH Land Cover Map 2015 (LCM2015) and for each beetle species each habitat has a score between 1 and -1 representing association through to disassociation and a p-value giving significance of the association score. The recommended output shows habitat weighted analysis using an absence threshold of fourteen other species. Five other versions are also provided, with thresholds of seven and 28 and the unweighted versions of the analysis, to allow the user to ascertain for themselves confidence in the association of a habitat to a species.

This dataset comprises linear and areal habitat information and vegetation species recorded during an ecological survey of stratified random 1km square sites across England in 1992 and 1993. The survey was carried out by the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology (which later became part of the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH)) and was commissioned in order to carry out survey work into habitats which were perceived to be under threat or which represented areas of concern to the Department for the Environment (named as 'Key Habitats'). The habitats (or landscape types) in question were: Lowland heaths, chalk and limestone grasslands, coasts and uplands. The survey was designed to complement CEH's national ecological survey, the 'Countryside Survey'.

This dataset consists of the 1km raster, dominant target class version of the Land Cover Map 1990 (LCM1990) for Northern Ireland. The 1km dominant coverage product is based on the 1km percentage product and reports the habitat class with the highest percentage cover for each 1km pixel. The 21 target classes are based on the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) Broad Habitats, which encompass the entire range of UK habitats. This dataset is derived from the vector version of the Land Cover Map, which contains individual parcels of land cover and is the highest available spatial resolution. LCM1990 is a land cover map of the UK which was produced at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology by classifying satellite images (mainly from 1989 and 1990) into 21 Broad Habitat-based classes. It is the first in a series of land cover maps for the UK, which also includes maps for 2000, 2007, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019. LCM1990 consists of a range of raster and vector products and users should familiarise themselves with the full range (see related records, the UKCEH web site and the LCM1990 Dataset documentation) to select the product most suited to their needs. This work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council award number NE/R016429/1 as part of the UK-SCAPE programme delivering National Capability.

This dataset consists of stock (area) data for landscape features across Great Britain in 2007. Data are presented as areas of Broad (or Priority) Habitats, with associated landscape attributes (such as plant species and land use), within a set of 591 1km squares across Great Britain. The Countryside Survey is a unique study or 'audit' of the natural resources of the UK's countryside. The sample sites are chosen from a stratified random sample, based on a 15 by 15 km grid of GB. Surveys have been carried out in 1978, 1984, 1990, 1998 and 2007 by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, with repeated visits to the majority of squares. The countryside is sampled and surveyed using rigorous scientific methods, allowing us to compare new results with those from previous surveys. In this way we can detect the gradual and subtle changes that occur in the UK's countryside over time. In addition to habitat areas, vegetation species data, soil data, linear habitat data, and freshwater habitat data are also gathered by Countryside Survey.

Data are presented showing litterfall ant species and abundance from a plot based fertilisation experiment. The experiment was carried out at the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project (BDFFP) approximately 100 km north of Manaus. Data were collected in October 2018 and September 2019 by Santos-Neto. Sampling was carried out using a Wrinkler extractor. The data were collected to investigate the possible effects of different fertiliser applications on litterfall ant species and abundance. The work was carried out as part of the Amazon Fertilization Experiment (AFEX), funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Award reference NE/L007223/1, by the Brazilian government (Researcher scholarship) and the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project (BDFFP - logistical support and camps maintenance).

This dataset includes measurements of methane fluxes from two lowland floodplain fen sites in East Anglia, UK under conservation management (Sutton and Strumpshaw Fens). The data were collected on seven monthly to bimonthly visits during 2013 and comprise methane ebullition fluxes measured using inverted funnels, and methane fluxes measured using static chambers. The tall, static chambers captured methane transported by diffusion, plant-mediated transport and steady ebullition, whereas the inverted funnels captured methane transported by steady and episodic ebullition. The dataset also includes measurements of water level and meteorological variables (net radiation, soil temperature, air pressure) along with an allometric measure of plant biomass (Vascular Green Area).

This dataset contains methane fluxes from peatland plateaus and thawing peatland plateaus and from burnt and unburnt forests from permafrost in subarctic Canada. Methane fluxes were monitored during summer in 2013 and 2014 in Yukon and Northwest Territories. Monitored sites included peatland plateaus and thawing features of peatland plateaus.

This dataset presents estimates of mean values within selected habitats and parent material characteristics made using Countryside Survey (CS) data from 1978, 1998 and 2007 using a mixed model approach (see Scott, 2008 for further details of similar statistical analysis - http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/5202/1/CS_UK_2007_TR4%5B1%5D.pdf ). Countryside Survey topsoil carbon data is representative of 0-15 cm soil depth and includes Loss-on-ignition (%), Carbon concentration (g kg-1) and Carbon density (t ha-1). A total of 2614 cores from 591 1km x 1km squares across Great Britain were collected and analysed in 2007 (see Emmett et al. 2010 for further details of sampling and methods http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/5201/1/CS_UK_2007_TR3%5B1%5D.pdf ). Loss-on-ignition (LOI) was determined by combustion of 10g dry soil at 375 deg C for 16 hours; carbon concentration was estimated by multiplying LOI by a factor of 0.55, and carbon density was estimated by combining carbon concentration with bulk density estimates. The estimated means of habitat/parent material combinations using 2007 data are modelled on dominant habitat and parent material characteristics derived from the Land Cover Map 2007 and Parent Material Model 2009, respectively. The parent material characteristic used was that which minimised AIC in each model (see Supporting Information). Areas, such as urban and littoral rock, are not sampled by CS and therefore have no associated data. Also, in some circumstances sample sizes for particular habitat/parent material combinations were insufficient to estimate mean values. The Countryside Survey looks at a range of physical, chemical and biological properties of the topsoil from a representative sample of habitats across the UK.

This dataset contains potential yields of Miscanthus and changes to soil carbon storage resulting from Miscanthus cultivation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare diverse modelling techniques for evaluating the potential of bioenergy crops to mitigate climate change. Three different types of gridded global models were used: a land surface model, JULES (the Joint UK Land Environment Simulator); a bioenergy crop model, MiscanFor; and an integrated assessment model, IMAGE (Integrated Model to Assess the Global Environment). The simulated scenario uses land use and climatology from RCP (Representative Concentration Pathway) 2.6 and focuses on two study areas: the tropics during 2040-49, and Europe during 2090-99. These data were generated as part of the NERC programme Feasibility of Afforestation and Biomass energy with carbon capture storage for Greenhouse Gas Removal (FAB GGR) (Grant NE/P019951/1).

Water quality modelled outputs for daily channel discharge and depth, nitrate-N, ammonium-N, suspended sediment concentration, total phosphorus, and soluble reactive phosphorus for the Mekong River basin. Baseline models for P and N were calibrated over 1998 to 2017. Predictions spanning 2018 to 2098 were modelled based on eight scenarios (2 climate x 2 socioeconomic x 2 population). Please see Whitehead et al (2019) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.315 for details.

This dataset consists of a vector layer (based on 1 by 1degree grid), of modelled ozone flux (POD1IAM, mmol m-2), The values per grid cell are Phytotoxic Ozone Dose above a threshold of y (y=1 nmol m−2 sec−1 in this case) for use in large-scale Integrated Assessment Modelling (IAM). The accumulated flux value per 90-day grassland growing season (mid-April to mid-July) is provided per grid cell, for the year 2018, across the UK and USA.

The dataset contains a key to species and locations of moss samples and water samples collected along with relative water contents for moss samples. The stable carbon (13C/12C) and oxygen (18O/17O) composition of cellulose is presented, along with the stable oxygen (18O/17O) and hydrogen (2H/1H) isotope compositions of fresh water and water samples distilled from moss tissue.

This dataset is from the Northern Ireland (NI) ALPHA® Ammonia Monitoring network, and consists of monthly concentrations of atmospheric ammonia (NH3) gas measured with the UKCEH ALPHA® method at 25 sites across NI for the years 2019 to 2020. NH3 data were also collected with a monthly measurement frequency with the UKCEH DELTA® method at a further 4 sites, as part of the NI DELTA® Gas and Aerosol Monitoring Network. At one site, ALPHA® and DELTA® methods were co-located to inter-compare NH3 concentrations. Monthly NH3 data (2019 – 2020) from the NI DELTA® network are reported separately in a companion submission. The network is operated jointly by Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), and funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), Northern Ireland.

This dataset contains a national-scale geodatabase of stream network and river catchment characteristics in the Philippines. It presents detailed information on 128 medium- to large-sized catchments (catchment area > 250 km2). The quantitative descriptions provide context for enabling geomorphologically-informed sustainable river management. The geodatabase provides a baseline understanding of fundamental topographic characteristics in support of varied geomorphological, hydrological and geohazard susceptibility applications. Data sets include: 1) GIS shapefiles with river catchment properties; 2) GIS shapefiles with stream network properties; 3) spreadsheets containing morphometric and topographic characteristics (n = 91); 4) example MATLAB code and topographic data to replicate the analysis for a selected catchment. The work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) – Newton Fund grant NE/S003312/1.

This dataset contains time series observations of land surface-atmosphere net ecosystem carbon dioxide exchange (NEE) and supporting micrometeorological observations collected at 13 peatland eddy covariance (EC) flux observation sites located across Wales, Scotland and England. Sites were active at different timescales between 2008 and 2020. The dataset represents a subset of the variables measured at each site. The full range of variables monitored at each location can be accessed via EIDC records and/or by contacting the authors. This work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council award number NE/R016429/1 as part of the UK-SCAPE programme delivering National Capability.

This dataset contains operational taxonomic units for epilithon (water samples): Approximate location of sampling sites was determined from maps to provide good spatial coverage of the Wold River through to the Tamar River. Exact sites were determined in the field, considering accessibility and other logistics. The exact location of each sample site was determined using a Garmin GPS12. Three stones were taken from each of the 20 locations and epilithon removed from a defined area. Samples were kept in the cold and removed to the laboratory for analyses. DNA was extracted from all soil and epilithon samples using the MOBIO Powersoil 96 well DNA extraction kit. DNA was quality checked for purity and yield prior to submission for 454 pyrosequencing to assess both bacterial and eukaryotic biodiversity within each sample. Following bioinformatic sequence processing, sequencing were clustered into operational taxonomic units (OTU) and the data tables display the percentage of each OTU within each sample.

This dataset describes the concentrations of photosynthetic pigments (Chlorophylls, carotenoids and phycocyanin) measured by HPLC and spectrophotometry in water samples of 20 lochs in Scotland. Data were collected between May and June 2022.

This dataset includes stream and rainfall hydrochemistry of the Plynlimon research catchments in Mid Wales. The data cover the period from March 2016 to March 2019. Sampling was carried out fortnightly from March 2016 to July 2017. From August 2017 to November 2018 stream samples were collected every four weeks and the rain sample every two weeks. From December 2018 onwards all samples were collected every four weeks. Data are presented for major anions and cations, pH, conductivity, alkalinity, in-situ measurements of water temperature and stream flow for the six stream locations, and air temperature and volume for the rainfall sites. Stream samples were taken using a grab technique and filtered in the field. Rain samples were collected using bulk precipitation collectors. Fieldwork was carried out by CEH members of staff trained in the fieldwork techniques required. Chemical analysis was carried out by qualified CEH chemists at laboratories at CEH Lancaster and CEH Bangor. The Plynlimon research catchments lie within the headwaters of the River Severn and the River Wye in the uplands of mid-Wales. Intensive and long-term monitoring within the catchments underpins a wealth of hydrological and hydro-chemical research. Monitoring is funded by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, and is ongoing since 1968.

Gridded potential evapotranspiration calculated from HadUK-Grid gridded observed meteorological data at 1 km resolution over the United Kingdom for the years 1969-2021. This dataset contains two potential evapotranspiration variables: daily total potential evapotranspiration (PET; kg m-2 d-1) and daily total potential evapotranspiration with interception correction (PETI; kg m-2 d-1). The units kg m-2 d-1 are equivalent to mm d-1. The data are provided in gridded netCDF files. There is one file for each variable, for each calendar month. These data were generated as part of NERC grant NE/S017380/1 (Hydro-JULES: Next generation land surface and hydrological prediction.)

The data consist of soil physicochemical and biological data for three soil depths (0-15, 15-30 and 30-60 cm) from a three-cut silage plot trial located at three grassland sites within the UK collected between April 2016 and October 2016. The sites were Rothamsted Research at North Wyke in Devon, Bangor University at Henfaes Research Station in North Wales, and Easter Bush in Scotland. At each site measurements were taken from sixteen plots, organised within a randomised complete block design: four (control) plots did not receive fertilizer, four plots received urea only, four plots received urea and urea-inhibitors, and four plots received ammonium-nitrate (Nitram). Fertiliser was applied three times and three cuts were performed. All parameters were measured following fertiliser application. Samples were taken before fertilizer additions at peak growth and before the last silage cut. Soil physical parameters were: aggregate size distribution, aggregate stability, texture (sand/silt/clay) and soil moisture. Soil chemical parameters were: soil nitrate and ammonium, dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen, amino acids and peptides, soil organic matter content as loss-on-ignition, pH, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, permanganate oxdisable carbon, citric acid extractable phosphorous, Olsen-P and total carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. Soil biological measures were: microbial biomass, carbon and nitrogen. Microbial community composition and nitrogen genes were measured on the same soil samples and are presented in a separate dataset (https://doi.org/10.5285/59f81d41-a789-4c5c-8ab8-36baa7ac2c55) Measurements were undertaken by members of staff from the Centre of Ecology & Hydrology (Bangor, Edinburgh, Lancaster, Wallingford), Bangor University, School of Environment, Natural Resources & Geography and Rothamsted Research, Sustainable Agricultural Sciences, North Wyke. Data was collected for the Newton Fund project 'UK-China Virtual Joint Centre for Improved Nitrogen Agronomy'. Funded by Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and NERC - Ref BB/N013468/1

General soil chemical, physical and microbial properties are presented for soil samples at six depths collected from a field experiment in the Conwy catchment. Samples were collected in May 2015. Core samples were taken along three transects by trained members of staff the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology and Bangor University. General soil chemical, physical and microbial properties were measured at six depths by trained members of staff, using recognised procedures at the laboratories of the School of Environment, Natural Resources and Geography, Bangor University. The samples were taken to provide supporting information for assessing the relationship between soil microbial populations and soil properties. The data were collected for the NERC project 'The Multi-Scale Response of Water quality, Biodiversity and Carbon Sequestration to Coupled Macronutrient Cycling from Source to Sea' (NE/J011991/1). The project is also referred to as Turf2Surf.

Terrestrial habitat, vegetation and soil data from a survey of Shetland, carried out in the summer of 1974 by the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology. Nearly 1000 x 200m2 plots were surveyed from across the islands, selected on the basis of a stratified sampling strategy. Details about plant species, soils, habitat types and major biota present were collected using standardized survey methods. This survey was part of a larger project to assess the status and value of Shetland's plant and animal species and communities.

This dataset contains the percentage of the total pasture area in each country classified as vulnerable to water scarcity (annual run-off is declining and the water shed is defined as water scarce in 2050). Projections of global changes in water scarcity with the current extent of pasture land were combined to identify the potential country level vulnerabilities of pasture land to water scarcity in 2050. The data relate to an analysis of the impact changes in water availability will have on pasture availability in 2050.

This dataset consists of measures of topsoil (0-15cm) physico-chemical properties from soils sampled from 49 x 1km squares across Great Britain in 2020 as part of a rolling soil and vegetation monitoring program of 500 1km squares repeated every 5 years. The properties included are: soil organic matter (loss on ignition (LOI)), derived carbon concentration, total soil organic carbon (SOC), nitrogen, Olsen-phosphorous, pH, electrical conductivity, soil bulk density of fine earth and fine earth volumetric water content. The UKCEH Countryside Survey is a unique study or 'audit' of the natural resources of the UK's countryside. The sample sites are chosen from a stratified random sample, based on a 15 by 15 km grid of GB. Surveys have been carried out in 1978, 1984, 1990, 1998 and 2007 by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and predecessors, with repeated visits to the majority of squares. The countryside is sampled and surveyed using rigorous scientific methods, allowing us to compare new results with those from previous surveys. In this way, we can detect the gradual and subtle changes that occur in the UK's countryside over time. In addition to soil data, vegetation species data are also gathered by the current phase of the Countryside Survey. This work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council award number NE/R016429/1 as part of the UK-SCAPE programme delivering National Capability.

This dataset provides UK maps of baseline prior uncertainty (UQ) in fluxes of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) carbon dioxide, CO2 (2014-15) and methane, CH4 (2015). Spatial maps of these GHG emissions are produced annually in the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) but it is important to quantify uncertainty in these maps. These uncertainty estimates come from sectoral uncertainty data provided by the NAEI. Here, we propagate the uncertainty in the maps for each of the sectors contributing to the emissions using a Monte Carlo method, in order to quantify the uncertainty in the total emissions spatially. The Monte Carlo method employed here uses a novel approach (Nearest Neighbour Gaussian Process) to make calculations computationally affordable. These estimate the influence on the overall uncertainty of unknown errors in the model structure. Further details of the methodology used here can be found in the supporting documentation included with this data. In the near term, this methodology will be used and developed further in the NERC-funded project, DARE-UK (NE/S003614/1), to update UQ in maps of CO2 and CH4 for the UK. For that work and in general, it is useful to have a baseline prior uncertainty quantification against which future UK maps of uncertainty in CO2 and CH4 fluxes can be compared.

Collated indices are a relative measure of butterfly abundance across monitored sites in the UK, calculated from data collected by the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS). Collated indices are calculated annually for each individual butterfly species that has been recorded on five or more sites in that year. Based on this criterion collated indices have been calculated for the entire UKBMS time series from 1976 to the current year for the majority of species. For some rarer species the time series starts in a later year due to lack of data. Collated indices are calculated using a statistical model that accounts for missing data. The number of sites for each species ranges from 5 to several hundred and varies from year to year. Since 2008 more than 1,000 sites have been monitored across the UK each year. Collated indices are calculated so that we can determine how butterfly populations are changing over time across the UK. This data can be used, for example, to determine where to target conservation efforts and to measure the condition of the UK countryside. Butterflies are recognised as important indicators of biodiversity and environmental change (e.g. as official UK Biodiversity Indicators), and have been used in numerous research studies to understand the impacts of changes in climate and the extent and condition of habitats. Although the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and Butterfly Conservation (BC) are responsible for the calculation and interpretation of the Collated indices, the collection of the data used in their creation is ultimately reliant on a large volunteer community. The UKBMS is funded by a consortium of organisations led by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). This dataset is updated annually and more recent versions of the UKBMS collated indices are available.

This dataset provides data on the timing of butterfly flight periods for each UK butterfly species across all monitored sites in the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS). Annual data from over 2,500 sites are presented relating to the timing (first appearance, last appearance, date of peak abundance and mean flight date) and the duration (total number of days, standard deviation around the mean flight date) of the flight period for all UK butterfly species from 1976 to the present year. In addition, this data is divided each year for eleven multi-voltine species to provide separate phenology data for distinct flight periods associated with first and subsequent generations. Phenology change is a widely used measure of the biological impacts of climate change because of the close relationship between temperature and the timing of biological events. This dataset provides an invaluable tool for assessing the impacts of climate change both spatially and temporally. The UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme is organized and funded by Butterfly Conservation (BC), the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH), the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). The UKBMS is indebted to all volunteers who contribute data to the scheme. This work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council award number NE/R016429/1 as part of the UK-SCAPE programme delivering National Capability.

This dataset provides the details of all sites which have been monitored as part of the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS). Data includes the location within the UK, the length and width of the line transect on each site, and how long the transect has been monitored. The UKBMS started in 1976 with fewer than 50 sites. The number of sites monitored each year has increased to over a thousand since 2008. There is turnover in sites monitored each year and details of the first and last year in which each site was surveyed are given. The majority of site data is provided by recorders at the time a transect is created. The majority of these recorders are volunteers. The Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) and Butterfly Conservation (BC) collate the data and the UKBMS is funded by a consortium of organisations led by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC).

This dataset provides linear trends, over varying time periods, for the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS) Collated Indices of individual butterfly species across the UK. The main statistical values derived from a linear regression (slope, standard error, P-value) are presented for the entire time series for each species (1976 to 2014), for the last 20 years, and for the last decade. In addition a trend class, based on slope direction and its significance, and a percentage change for that time period are provided to describe the statistical trends. These trend data are provided for 59 UK butterfly species. Trends across different time series allow us to determine the long and short-term trends for individual species. This enables us to focus conservation and research and also to assess species responses to conservation already in place. The Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) and Butterfly Conservation (BC) are responsible for the calculation and interpretation of this trend datasets. The collection of the underlying UKBMS data is reliant on a large volunteer community. The UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme is funded by a consortium of organisations led by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). This dataset is updated annually and a more recent version of the UKBMS species trends (2015) is now available.

This dataset contains tree species and associated measurements from an initial survey of 8 x 1 ha Permanent Sample Plots (PSP) and 2 x 1 ha biomass measurement plots established on the Eastern Plateau of Gorongosa National Park, Sofala, Mozambique, with intention of assessing the long-term impacts of tropical cyclone damage on woodland structure. Methodology used was in accordance with specifications of the Socio Ecological Observatory for Southern African Woodlands (SEOSAW) plot protocol. PSPs were established between 1st August 2019 to 1st October 2019. PSP establishment was undertaken by University of Edinburgh in collaboration with Eduardo Mondlane University and the Mozambique Institute of Agricultural Research (IIAM) with assistance of Gorongosa National Park Scientific Services Department.

This is a spatial dataset containing polygons representing areas of vegetation mapped within the Moor House National Nature Reserve in the northern Pennines, England. The map was created by staff of The Nature Conservancy in the 1960s.

The products represent biomass estimates for four areas of interest in the Corridor Ankeniheny Zahamena (CAZ), Madagascar, generated using very high resolution imagery and based on field-collected plot information. The study extent aims to capture the drivers of deforestation in the Corridor Ankeniheny-Zahamena (CAZ). Multiple variables were incorporated into the sampling design, including elevation, slope, bioclimate zone, length of dry season, soil type, deforestation history (by epoch and elevation), and access. Based on these criteria, four Zones of Interest (ZOIs) were identified and modified in an iterative approach involving preliminary reconnaissance work, information on access provided by partners, and initial analyses of spatial data layers. The products were generated as part of a project, 'Can Paying 4 Global Ecosystem Services reduce poverty?' (P4GES), funded by the Ecosystem Services for Poverty Alleviation (ESPA) programme

The data contains site characteristics (water body type, elevation, catchment area) and water chemistry data (pH, dissolved and particulate organic carbon concentrations (DOC and POC)). The composition of DOM extracted by different methods was analysed by elemental analysis; there are data for carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen content. The dataset result from an experiment to determine the reliability of various methods to extract dissolved organic matter (DOM) from freshwaters in the UK.

This dataset consists of inshore surface water temperature (degrees C) data on Windermere. Data collection began in 1933, but it presented here from 1944 onwards. The data were initially collected by the Freshwater Biological Association (FBA), then by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and its predecessor [the Institute of Freshwater Ecology (IFE)] from 1989 to 2003, and subsequently again by FBA.