DAERA has launched the first stage of an on-line Lough Neagh data
viewer as part of ongoing initiatives to tackle blue green algae
blooms on the Lough.
The viewer will provide near real time high frequency data to
enhance public knowledge and support ongoing research.
Welcoming the development DAERA Minister Muir said: “This
viewer release is an important intervention in providing
scientific data to help better understand water quality situation
in the Lough. Making this data accessible greatly improves
transparency, supports more effective decision making and
improves the public's understanding as we work together to
address the water quality crisis at Lough Neagh.”
This initial data viewer release will display data from nine
monitoring sites in the Lough and its main tributaries.
Three multiparameter in-lough probes, located in the northeast,
northwest and southwest of the Lough will transmit information
every 30 minutes on temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity,
specific conductivity and phycocyanin fluorescence.
(Phycocayanin flouresence provides a means to understanding blue
green algal levels in the Lough and distinguish blue green algae
from other non- toxic species.)
A further six river probes, located at the foot of each of the
major tributaries, measure temperature and dissolved oxygen
only. This data is updated on a monthly basis.
Users will be able to view recent probe data using interactive
graphs. Data can also be downloaded to assist more in-depth
analysis over multiple years.
Development of the viewer is a multistage process and NIEA are
already collecting data for enhancements to the data viewer,
including nutrient levels and algal types. These enhancements
will be available in the coming months.
The viewer is available at the following link: https://daerani.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/19194a16844f499681d741c41441e68c
Notes to editors:
- The Lough Neagh Science Platform is a key commitment under
the Lough Neagh Science Platform.
- This project confirms DAERA's focus to provide open data,
which included the recently launched DAERA bathing waters
application.
- The Viewer includes helpful GIS data sets and information
links, including water quality monitoring stations to assist
information requests and free to use satellite imagery to enable
visualisation of algal growth and movements.
- Scoping has commenced for stage 2 of the data viewer.
Further enhancements are planned in 2026 and 2027.
