I am responsible for the UK Polar Data Centre which is the focal point for Arctic and Antarctic environmental data management in the UK. The data centre comprises a team of data managers that manage biological, marine, physical and geophysical data  collected in polar regions and supports UK researchers in complying with national and international data legislation and policy. I am the UK representative on the SCAR Standing Committee on Antarctic Data Management.

I have over 20 years experience using Oracle RDBMS, SQL, Oracle form and report tools, and more recently Application Express to design web front ends to Oracle databases both for data entry and data retrieval. Some of the databases and interfaces I have developed include:

• The Antarctic Plant Database – a database of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic plant specimens;
• Krillbase – a database of krill abundances and length frequencies;
• Higher Predator Monitoring data – a database of long-term higher predator monitoring data conducted by the British Antarctic Survey at a variety of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic localities including data on population size, breeding success, diet and weight;
• Rothera Oceanographic and Biological Time Series data – a database of long-term measurements of sea ice, temperature, salinity, chlorophyll, pH and macronutrients (N, P, Si) in the water column at Ryder Bay, Adelaide Island, Antarctic Peninsula.

Employment

2018- present Head of the UK Polar Data Centre, British Antarctic Survey

2004-2018 Senior data manager (band 5), British Antarctic Survey

1993-2004 Data manager (band 6), British Antarctic Survey

1989-1993 Reasearch Assistant, Dept of Biological Sciences, University of York

Education

1989-1992 D. Phil, University of York, Thesis entitled:  Ecological Flora Database of the British Isles

1988-1989 MSc Information Studies, University of Sheffield

1984-1987 BSc Biology, University of York

• Peat, H. (2023). Mapping of the extent of vegetation patches on Leonie and Anchorage Islands in Ryder Bay, Antarctica in 2007 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/8a885e6c-3a27-4cd7-850a-1ac1b9f89576

• Clarke, A., Meredith, M., Venables, H., Hendry, K., Peat, H., ten Hoopen, P., Brandon, M., Henley, S., Annett, A., Leng, M., Arrowsmith, C., Chapman, A., Beaumont, J., Piper, R., Miller, A., Mann, P., Rossetti, H., Massey, A., Souster, T., … Clement, A. (2022). Quasi-weekly, year-round oceanographic and ice measurements at the coastal Western Antarctic Peninsula from 1997 to 2018 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/50acb5b7-5b42-44cd-a98e-790bd367f204

• Clarke, A., Peat, H., Chapman, A., Beaumont, J., Piper, R., Miller, A., & Mann, P. (2021). Feeding activity in shallow water marine benthos at Ryder Bay, Antarctica, 1997-2005 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/159edb0c-15d4-4d2b-ba49-fbd69f2e1a66

• Atkinson, A., Pakhomov, E., Siegel, V., Jessopp, M., Peat, H., Kawaguchi, S., Hill, S., Loeb, V., Hewitt, R., Fielding, S., Tarling, G., Daly, K., Ashjian, C., Chiba, S., Ensor, N., Brewster, C., Watkins, J., Hosie, G., Ichii, T., … ten Hoopen, P. (2020). KRILLBASE-length frequency database, a compilation of scientific net sampling data on length, sex and maturity stage of Euphausia superba around the Southern Ocean, 1926 to 2016 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/dfbcbbf9-8673-4fef-913f-64ea7942d97a

• Peat, H., & Ellis-Evans, J. (2004). Long-term monitoring of Signy Island lakes chemistry by BAS, 1963-2004 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/00063

• Peat, H. (2004). Biologically relevant spectroradiometer data, Rothera Station, from 1997 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/00018

1. ANTARCTICA INSYNC

   ANTARCTICA INSYNC brings together researchers from around the world including British Antarctic Survey to study the continent and the Southern Ocean at the same time.

   Read more of: ANTARCTICA INSYNC

   

2. Evaluating climate change risks to Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish

   This project assesses how climate change affects Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish populations in the South Atlantic. Led by British Antarctic Survey (BAS), it focuses on the UK Overseas Territory of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands.

   Read more of: Evaluating climate change risks to Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish

   

3. Port Lockroy Data Portal

   Port Lockroy is the site of the first permanent British Antarctic base, ‘Base A’.

   Read more of: Port Lockroy Data Portal

   

4. Building data resources for managing the South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area

   This project ensures the protection and conservation of the region’s rich and diverse marine life, whilst allowing sustainable fisheries.

   Read more of: Building data resources for managing the South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area

   

5. KRILLBASE

   KRILLBASE compiles and shares circumpolar data on Antarctic krill and salps. The project supports research, fisheries management, and conservation across the Southern Ocean.

   Read more of: KRILLBASE

   

6. Herbarium Collection

   A collection of dried plant specimens from the Antarctic, sub-Antarctic and surrounding continents.

   Read more of: Herbarium Collection

   

1. Herbarium

   The plant collections held in the British Antarctic Survey’s herbarium consist of over 40,000 plant specimens from Antarctica, the sub-Antarctic Islands and surrounding continents.

   Read more of: Herbarium

   

2. New study reveals what penguins eat

   The longest and most comprehensive study to date of what penguins eat is published this month. The study, published in the journal Marine Biology, examines the diets of gentoo penguins […]

   Read more of: New study reveals what penguins eat