OCLE: An updated of the European high-resolution database for assessing marine ecological systems under present conditions and climate change scenarios

Abstract

Understanding the impacts of climate change on coastal marine species requires high- resolution environmental datasets that integrate physical, chemical, and biological variables. However, existing databases often lack key environmental parameters necessary for accurately assessing species distribution. The OCLE database (https://ocle.ihcantabria.com/), originally introduced in 2018, has now been significantly updated and expanded to address these limitations and meet current research needs in European littoral ecosystems. This new version of OCLE includes a wide range of 16 environmental variables: wave height, wind speed, currents, bottom current speed, sea level, tidal range, bottom shear stress, sea and air temperature and salinity, alongside physicochemical parameters like light, nutrients, pH, turbidity, and extreme event metrics such as marine heatwaves and cold spells. These data are provided at fine-scale spatial resolution (0.05°, approximately 5 km from the coastline up to 20 km offshore; and 0.1°, approximately 10 km beyond this distance to 70 Km) and temporal resolution (yearly from 2000 to 2023), ensuring an accurate representation of local and regional oceanographic processes. In addition, the database incorporates biological records of 22 macroalgae taxa, enhancing its applicability in species distribution models. To support climate impact assessments, OCLE integrates projections from the latest IPCC AR6 scenarios (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5) for the horizon years 2050 and 2100, allowing researchers to explore potential future shifts in marine ecosystems. By offering freely accessible, spatially homogeneous, and high-resolution environmental data, OCLE represents a major advancement for ecological research, conservation planning, and climate change adaptation strategies. Its integration into ecological forecasting tools provides a valuable resource for assessing the effects of changing environmental conditions on European coastal biodiversity.