CLASS is a NERC National Capability programme delivered by partner organisations NOC, PML, SAMS, MBA and SMRU.
CLASS capitalises on current and past National Capability and strategic programme outcomes to address four key knowledge gaps related to ocean variability, biodiversity and resultant functional capacity of the Atlantic.
Prof. Penny Holliday
April 2018 – March 2024
NERC – National Capability
Aim
CLASS aimed to deliver the knowledge and understanding of the Atlantic Ocean system that society needs to make evidence-based decisions regarding ocean management. We aimed to address key knowledge gaps in our understanding of ocean variability, climate regulation and ocean services, and to assess how the ocean will evolve as a result of climate change and intensified human exploitation.
CLASS was be delivered through an Atlantic focused science programme, building on sustained ocean observation, world class model development and state of the art technology, delivered through Marine National Capability underpinning activities.
Publications
Some recent publications for the CLASS project
Wolfe, Morgan T. 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-3108-4143; Clare, Michael A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1448-3878; Sumner, Esther J.; Huvenne, Veerle A.I. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7135-6360; Hall, Rob A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3665-6322; Kane, Ian A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0371-4223.
2026
Seasonal diversity & behaviour of internal tidal bores revealed by year-long direct monitoring within a submarine canyon: Implications for particulate transport.
Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 678, 119835.
1, pp.
10.1016/j.epsl.2026.119835
2026
Article
Allcock, A. Louise ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4806-0040; Amon, Diva J.; Bridges, Amelia E.H.; Colaço, Ana; Escobar-Briones, Elva; Hilário, Ana; Howell, Kerry L.; Mestre, Nélia C.; Muller-Karger, Frank E.; Priede, Imants G.; Snelgrove, Paul V.R.; Sealey, Kathleen Sullivan; Xavier, Joana R.; Addamo, Anna M.; Amaro, Teresa; Bandara, Gayathra; Bax, Narissa; Braga-Henriques, Andreia; Brandt, Angelika; Brix, Saskia; Cambronero-Solano, Sergio; Cedeño – Posso, Cristina; Copley, Jonathan T.; Cordes, Erik; Cortés, Jorge; Croquer, Aldo; Cuvelier, Daphne; Davies, Jaime S.; Durden, Jennifer M.; Esquete, Patricia; Foster, Nicola L.; Frutos, Inmaculada; Gasbarro, Ryan; Gates, Andrew R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2798-5044; Gomes, Marta; Goodwin, Lucy V.M.; Horton, Tammy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4250-1068; Hourigan, Thomas; Hoving, Henk-Jan; Jones, Daniel O.B. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5218-1649; Joshi, Siddhi; Kingon, Kelly C.; Lörz, Anne-Nina; Martins, Ana; Merten, Véronique; Metaxas, Anna; Milligan, Rosanna J.; Molodtsova, Tina N.; Morato, Telmo; Morrissey, Declan; Naranjo-Elizondo, Beatriz; Narayanaswamy, Bhavani E.; Olafsdottir, Steinunn H.; Parimbelli, Alexa; Peña, Marian; Piechaud, Nils; Ragnarsson, Stefan; Ramalho, Sofia P.; Rodrigues, Clara F.; Ross, Rebecca E.; Saeedi, Hanieh; Santos, Régis; Schwing, Patrick T.; Serpa, Tiago; Shantharam, Arvind K.; Stevenson, Angela; Yánez-Suárez, Ana Belén; Sutton, Tracey T.; Svavarsson, Jörundur; Taylor, Michelle L.; van der Grient, Jesse; Zwerschke, Nadescha.
2025
Deep-sea ecosystems of the North Atlantic Ocean: discovery, status, function and future challenges.
Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 226, 104580.
1, pp.
10.1016/j.dsr.2025.104580
2025
Article
Alrefaey, Ahmed I. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3191-3545; McQuillan, Jonathan S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9725-3378; Schaap, Allison ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5391-0516; Siracusa, Fabrizio; Cardwell, Christopher L. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1305-4174; Walk, John; Rogers, Daniel ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8340-874X; Forrester, Reuben ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0016-7420; Mowlem, Matthew C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7613-6121; Robidart, Julie C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9805-3570.
2025
A lab-on-a-chip system integrating DNA purification and loop-mediated isothermal amplification for the quantification of the toxic diatom Pseudo-nitzschia multistriata.
Sensors & Diagnostics, 5 (1).
63-75.
10.1039/d5sd00135h
2025
Article