Bay of Biscay Marine Climate Change Observatory

What challenge does it address?

The effects of climate change in the Bay of Biscay—including rising sea temperatures, sea-level rise, shifts in species distribution and changes in seasonal biological cycles—make decision-making increasingly challenging for sectors that depend on the marine environment. Without high-quality data and long-term observation systems, effective planning and adaptation are not possible.

What do we do and how do we do it?

The Bay of Biscay Marine Climate Change Observatory, developed by AZTI, provides:

• Monitoring of key environmental variables, including sea temperature, salinity, pH, wave conditions, coastal erosion, sea level, phytoplankton biomass, benthic community composition and seagrass meadows.
• Analysis of long-term environmental time series dating back to the mid-twentieth century.
• Modelling of future scenarios, including changes in sea temperature, wave height, extreme events and species distribution.
• Advanced marine observation systems, including coastal videometry, coastal impact sensors, early warning systems and high-resolution pH sensors.
• Transfer of scientific knowledge to public authorities, scientific advisory committees and climate adaptation plans.

Key benefits

• Continuous assessment of climate change impacts on key marine and coastal sectors.
• A robust scientific basis for medium- and long-term climate adaptation planning.
• Improved coastal risk management.
• A pioneering infrastructure for marine climate monitoring in the European Atlantic.
• Alignment with international, national and regional climate strategies, including the Spanish National Climate Change Adaptation Plan (PNACC) and the Basque Climate Change Strategy 2050.