The geomorphology of Ireland’s continental shelf

Abstract

The Irish Shelf Seabed Geomorphological Map (ISSGM) (v2023) presented here, is the fi rst high-resolution geomorphological map of the entire Irish continental shelf. This large-scale mapping exercise took advantage of the vast INFOMAR multibeam echosounder dataset, and used a protocol of semi-automated mapping techniques to accurately and rapidly extract seabed features. All previous mapping e ff orts and existing literature on the Irish shallow shelf geomorphology have also been collated and integrated in the map, critically evaluating the previous interpretations. An internationally standardised classi fi cation scheme was adopted, aligning the ISSGM (v2023) to other international geomorphological work. At a national level, this detailed geomorphological digital map is intended primarily as a resource to better inform multiple o ff shore activities and management of the marine environment. The map also acts as a baseline for future studies in marine geomorphology, as it identi fi es gaps in the knowledge and highlights areas of contentious interpretation that require further work. The map is available online on the Irish Marine Atlas (https://atlas.marine.ie – Geology Theme).