Nessletter - No 104 - 1991

Magazine Overview

This document is a newsletter from the HESS INFORMATION SERVICE, specifically NESSLETTER 104, dated April 1991 with a note indicating an update in October 1991. It features an article detailing the launch of 'Project Urquhart', a significant scientific endeavor focused on the ecological and hydrographic study of Loch Ness.

Project Urquhart: A Comprehensive Ecological Study of Loch Ness

The main article, presented as a press release from Thursday, July 18th, 1991, announces the initiation of 'Project Urquhart'. This project is described as the first complete ecological study of Loch Ness, Britain's largest freshwater body. The initiative is a long-term effort to understand the loch authoritatively and definitively, covering its complete ecology, biology, and hydrography.

Funding and Support

Project Urquhart is to be funded by commercial sponsorship and is supported by a consortium of major UK scientific institutions. These include the Freshwater Biological Association (FBA) in Windermere and The Natural History Museum in London. The project also has the formal support of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, the National Museums of Scotland in Edinburgh, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise in Inverness.

Key Personnel and Objectives

Dr. Neil Chambers, Director of The Natural History Museum, highlighted the lack of knowledge about Loch Ness despite its status as a precious freshwater habitat, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive scientific survey. Professor Gwynfryn Jones, Director of the FBA and a member of Project Urquhart's Council of Management, described the challenge and potential for new information. The primary objectives include establishing the species inhabiting the loch and their behavior, conducting a comprehensive hydrographic survey using sonar to map underwater contours and depth, and investigating the loch's environment, including its biology, chemistry, algae, plankton, and fish population.

Scientific Approach and Technology

Scientists from the FBA and The Natural History Museum will play central roles in the fieldwork. The project will utilize advanced sonar technology, collaborating with companies like Oceanscan and Simrad, to monitor underwater movements and map the loch's features. The approach is intended to be serious, scientific, patient, painstaking, and authoritative, aiming to remove the stigma associated with Loch Ness research and focus on scientific discovery rather than sensationalism. Nicholas Witchell, a broadcaster and co-founder, stressed that the project is for scientists, not publicity-seekers, and that they approach the loch with open minds, not assuming the existence of a 'monster' but investigating all phenomena.

Project Scope and Philosophy

Project Urquhart intends to begin work in the summer of 1992 with a three-to-four-year research program, expecting funding to exceed £2 million. It has been established as a private company limited by guarantee, with no intention of individual financial gain. The project aims to attract commercial sponsors interested in scientific discovery. The philosophy emphasizes that the best way to understand Loch Ness is to explore its ecology as an integral environment. The project also seeks to leverage the loch's fame to secure funding and facilitate research.

Background and Challenges

A background document notes that the last comprehensive survey of Loch Ness was conducted in the early 20th century using rudimentary equipment. The loch's ecosystem is described as old and primitive, yet potentially impacted by pollution. Its depth is debated, with estimates ranging from 754 to over 975 feet. The water is often opaque due to peat particles, making exploration difficult. The loch is oligotrophic, meaning it has low nutrients and productivity, making studies of such deep, oligotrophic lakes rare.

The project acknowledges the 'enigma' of Loch Ness and the need for scientific investigation. It aims to address the question of the loch's biology and ecology objectively. The project's purpose is explicitly not to gain financial reward for individuals, and it is seeking charitable status.

Objectives Detailed

The objectives are categorized into Research and Exploration, Youth Education and Training, Protection, Commercial Exploitation, and Marketing.

• Research and Exploration: To identify species, study behavior, survey underwater contours and depth, examine pollution, and analyze biology, physics, and chemistry.
• Youth Education and Training: To publish educational materials like maps, charts, and a Geographic Information System (GIS) on videodisc, and to involve youth and educationalists.
• Protection: To make recommendations for the protection of the loch's ecology and fauna.
• Commercial Exploitation: To recommend how the loch could be developed for minimum-impact tourism and the potential exploitation of Arctic charr.
• Marketing: To market by-products such as publishing rights (newspapers, books), broadcasting rights (television, radio, video), and exhibition rights.

Limnology and Underwater Exploration

Professor Gwyn Jones details the limnological aspects, emphasizing the need for an integrated ecosystem study from physics to animal populations, particularly on deep, oligotrophic water bodies. The study will examine interactions of water physics and chemistry, their impact on algae and zooplankton, fish population dynamics, and decomposition processes. The sediments are noted as holding historical keys, potentially predating glaciations. The Arctic charr is highlighted as a glacial relic deserving examination.

Underwater exploration will heavily rely on sonar. The project plans to use sonar for hydrographic surveys, studying fish populations, and identifying unusual activity. They are collaborating with companies like Oceanscan and Simrad to develop specialized sonar arrays and triggering devices for detailed monitoring of underwater movements.

Comment and Conclusion

A concluding comment from R.R. Hepple expresses confidence in Project Urquhart as a major initiative and wishes them success. The comment acknowledges that answers to the mystery may not come overnight, as the project is prepared for a long, careful examination. It also notes the involvement of Adrian Shine's Loch Ness Project and the importance of his years of work. The project's approach is described as similar to Adrian's, promoting Loch Ness as an ideal location for serious scientific work, without necessarily looking for a 'monster'. The involvement of Marty Klein, a sonar expert, is also welcomed.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes revolve around the scientific exploration of Loch Ness, moving beyond its popular image as a home for a monster to a serious ecological and hydrographic study. There is a strong emphasis on rigorous scientific methodology, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the utilization of advanced technology like sonar. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of this scientific approach, advocating for objective research and the potential for significant discoveries about the loch's ecosystem and its place in broader environmental studies, such as global warming models. The newsletter aims to inform its readers about this important scientific undertaking and its potential impact.