Helen Peat
Head of Polar Data Centre
Team
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Helen Peat
Head of Polar Data Centre
Biography
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:Â Ecological Flora Database of the British Isles
1988-1989 MSc Information Studies, University of Sheffield
1984-1987 BSc Biology, University of York
Research interests
Collaborations
Publications from NERC Open Research Archive
2024
Blair, Gordon S. ORCID record for Gordon S. Blair, Baker, Garry, Bee, Emma, Bowie, Jo, Byrne, James ORCID record for James Byrne, Darroch, Louise, Fremand, Alice ORCID record for Alice Fremand, Garland, Wendy, Harrison, Kathryn, Heaven, Rachel, Ten Hoopen, Petra ORCID record for Petra Ten Hoopen, Juckes, Martin, Kingdon, Andy ORCID record for Andy Kingdon, Kingston, Richard, Kokkinaki, Alexandra, Lewis, Edd ORCID record for Edd Lewis, MacRae, Molly, Mobbs, Stephen, Moncoiffe, Gwenaelle, Pascoe, Charlotte, Passmore, James, Peat, Helen ORCID record for Helen Peat, Pepler, Sam, Shepherd, Andy, Siddorn, John ORCID record for John Siddorn, Snaith, Helen, Tate, Alex ORCID record for Alex Tate, Townsend, Poppy, Walsh, Colm, Watkins, John ORCID record for John Watkins. (2024) Contributions to the development of the next-generation NERC Environmental Data Service: Building Interoperability – a NERC Data Commons RoadMap. , UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, 123 pp. (.)
2023
Venables, Hugh ORCID record for Hugh Venables, Meredith, Michael P. ORCID record for Michael P. Meredith, Hendry, Katharine R. ORCID record for Katharine R. Hendry, ten Hoopen, Petra ORCID record for Petra ten Hoopen, Peat, Helen ORCID record for Helen Peat, Chapman, Alice, Beaumont, Jennifer, Piper, Rayner, Miller, Andrew J., Mann, Paul, Rossetti, Helen, Massey, Ali, Souster, Terri ORCID record for Terri Souster, Reeves, Simon, Fenton, Mairi, Heiser, Sabrina, Pountney, Sam, Reed, Sarah, Waring, Zoë, Clark, Marlon, Bolton, Emma, Mathews, Ryan ORCID record for Ryan Mathews, London, Hollie, Clement, Alice, Stuart, Emma, Reichardt, Aurelia, Brandon, Mark, Leng, Melanie ORCID record for Melanie Leng, Arrowsmith, Carol, Annett, Amber, Henley, Sian F., Clarke, Andrew ORCID record for Andrew Clarke. (2023) Sustained, year-round oceanographic measurements from Rothera Research Station, Antarctica, 1997-2017. Scientific Data, 10 (). pp. 10.1038/s41597-023-02172-5
2022
ten Hoopen, Petra ORCID record for Petra ten Hoopen, Peat, Helen J. ORCID record for Helen J. Peat, Ward, Peter, Tarling, Geraint A. ORCID record for Geraint A. Tarling. (2022) Polar biodiversity data: from a national marine platform to a global data portal. Patterns, 3 (). 8 pp. 10.1016/j.patter.2022.100566
Frémand, Alice C. ORCID record for Alice C. Frémand, Bodart, Julien A. ORCID record for Julien A. Bodart, Jordan, Tom A. ORCID record for Tom A. Jordan, Ferraccioli, Fausto ORCID record for Fausto Ferraccioli, Robinson, Carl ORCID record for Carl Robinson, Corr, Hugh F.J., Peat, Helen J. ORCID record for Helen J. Peat, Bingham, Robert G., Vaughan, David G. ORCID record for David G. Vaughan. (2022) British Antarctic Survey’s aerogeophysical data: releasing 25 years of airborne gravity, magnetic, and radar datasets over Antarctica. Earth System Science Data, 14 (). pp. 10.5194/essd-14-3379-2022
Clarke, Andrew ORCID record for Andrew Clarke, Peat, Helen J. ORCID record for Helen J. Peat. (2022) Seasonal and interannual variability of feeding in Antarctic benthos. Limnology and Oceanography, 67 (). pp. 10.1002/lno.12048
2017
Atkinson, Angus, Hill, Simeon L. ORCID record for Simeon L. Hill, Pakhomov, Evgeny A., Siegel, Volker, Anadon, Ricardo, Chiba, Sanae, Daly, Kendra L., Downie, Rod, Fielding, Sophie ORCID record for Sophie Fielding, Fretwell, Peter ORCID record for Peter Fretwell, Gerrish, Laura ORCID record for Laura Gerrish, Hosie, Graham W., Jessopp, Mark J., Kawaguchi, So, Krafft, Bjørn A., Loeb, Valerie, Nishikawa, Jun, Peat, Helen J. ORCID record for Helen J. Peat, Reiss, Christian S., Ross, Robin M., Quetin, Langdon B., Schmidt, Katrin, Steinberg, Deborah K., Subramaniam, Roshni C., Tarling, Geraint A. ORCID record for Geraint A. Tarling, Ward, Peter. (2017) KRILLBASE: a circumpolar database of Antarctic krill and salp numerical densities, 1926–2016. Earth System Science Data, 9 (). pp. doi:10.5194/essd-9-193-2017
Waluda, Claire M. ORCID record for Claire M. Waluda, Hill, Simeon L. ORCID record for Simeon L. Hill, Peat, Helen J. ORCID record for Helen J. Peat, Trathan, Philip N. ORCID record for Philip N. Trathan. (2017) Long term variability in the diet and reproductive performance of penguins at Bird Island, South Georgia. Marine Biology, 164 (). pp. 10.1007/s00227-016-3067-8
2016
Tarling, G.A. ORCID record for G.A. Tarling, Hill, S. ORCID record for S. Hill, Peat, H. ORCID record for H. Peat, Fielding, S. ORCID record for S. Fielding, Reiss, C., Atkinson, A.. (2016) Growth and shrinkage in Antarctic krill Euphausia superba is sex-dependent. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 547 (). pp. 10.3354/meps11634
2015
Afanasyev, Vsevolod, Buldyrev, S.V., Dunn, Michael ORCID record for Michael Dunn, Robst, Jeremy, Preston, Mark, Bremner, Steven, Briggs, Dirk, Brown, Ruth, Adlard, Stacey, Peat, Helen ORCID record for Helen Peat. (2015) Increasing accuracy: a new design and algorithm for automatically measuring weights, travel direction and radio frequency identification (RFID) of penguins.. PLoS One, 10 (). pp. 10.1371/journal.pone.0126292
2014
Horswill, Catharine ORCID record for Catharine Horswill, Matthiopoulos, Jason, Green, Jonathan A., Meredith, Michael P. ORCID record for Michael P. Meredith, Forcada, Jaume ORCID record for Jaume Forcada, Peat, Helen ORCID record for Helen Peat, Preston, Mark, Trathan, Phil N. ORCID record for Phil N. Trathan, Ratcliffe, Norman ORCID record for Norman Ratcliffe. (2014) Survival in macaroni penguins and the relative importance of different drivers: individual traits, predation pressure and environmental variability. Journal of Animal Ecology, 83 (). pp. 10.1111/1365-2656.12229
2013
Purvis, O.W., Convey, P. ORCID record for P. Convey, Flowerdew, M.J., Peat, H.J. ORCID record for H.J. Peat, Najorka, J., Kearsley, A.. (2013) Iron localization in Acarospora colonizing schist on Signy Island. Antarctic Science, 25 (). pp. doi:10.1017/S0954102012000582
2012
Terauds, Aleks, Chown, Steven L., Morgan, Fraser, Peat, Helen J. ORCID record for Helen J. Peat, Watts, David J., Keys, Harry, Convey, Peter ORCID record for Peter Convey, Bergstrom, Dana M.. (2012) Conservation biogeography of the Antarctic. Diversity and Distributions, 18 (). pp. 10.1111/j.1472-4642.2012.00925.x
Waluda, Claire M. ORCID record for Claire M. Waluda, Hill, Simeon L. ORCID record for Simeon L. Hill, Peat, Helen J. ORCID record for Helen J. Peat, Trathan, Philip N. ORCID record for Philip N. Trathan. (2012) Diet variability and reproductive performance of macaroni penguins Eudyptes chrysolophus at Bird Island, South Georgia. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 466 (). pp. 10.3354/meps09930
2011
Fretwell, Peter T. ORCID record for Peter T. Fretwell, Convey, Peter ORCID record for Peter Convey, Fleming, Andrew H. ORCID record for Andrew H. Fleming, Peat, Helen J. ORCID record for Helen J. Peat, Hughes, Kevin A. ORCID record for Kevin A. Hughes. (2011) Detecting and mapping vegetation distribution on the Antarctic Peninsula from remote sensing data. Polar Biology, 34 (). pp. 10.1007/s00300-010-0880-2
2007
Peat, Helen J. ORCID record for Helen J. Peat, Clarke, Andrew ORCID record for Andrew Clarke, Convey, Peter ORCID record for Peter Convey. (2007) Diversity and biogeography of the Antarctic flora. Journal of Biogeography, 34 (). pp. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2699.2006.01565.x
2006
Trathan, P.N. ORCID record for P.N. Trathan, Green, C., Tanton, J., Peat, H. ORCID record for H. Peat, Poncet, J., Morton, A.. (2006) Foraging dynamics of macaroni penguins Eudyptes chrysolophus at South Georgia during brood-guard. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 323 (). pp. doi:10.3354/meps3232339
2005
Newsham, K.K. ORCID record for K.K. Newsham, Geissler, P.A., Nicolson, M.J., Peat, H.J. ORCID record for H.J. Peat, Lewis-Smith, R.I.. (2005) Sequential reduction of UV-B radiation in the field alters the pigmentation of an Antarctic leafy liverwort. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 54 (). pp. doi:10.1016/j.envexpbot.2004.05.006
2003
Quayle, Wendy C., Convey, Peter ORCID record for Peter Convey, Peck, Lloyd S. ORCID record for Lloyd S. Peck, Ellis-Evans, Cynan J., Butler, Helen G., Peat, Helen J. ORCID record for Helen J. Peat. (2003) Ecological responses of maritime Antarctic lakes to regional climate change. Antarctic Research Series, 79 (). pp.
Convey, Peter ORCID record for Peter Convey, Block, William, Peat, Helen J. ORCID record for Helen J. Peat. (2003) Soil arthropods as indicators of water stress in Antarctic terrestrial habitats?. Global Change Biology, 9 (). pp. 10.1046/j.1529-8817.2003.00691.x
2002
George, Alison L., Peat, Helen J. ORCID record for Helen J. Peat, Buma, Anita G.J.. (2002) Evaluation of DNA dosimetry to assess ozone-mediated variability of biologically harmful radiation in Antarctica. Photochemistry and Photobiology, 76 (). pp. 10.1562/0031-8655(2002)076<0274:EODDTA>2.0.CO;2
Quayle, Wendy C., Peck, Lloyd S. ORCID record for Lloyd S. Peck, Peat, Helen ORCID record for Helen Peat, Ellis-Evans, J.C., Harrigan, P. Richard. (2002) Extreme responses to climate change in Antarctic lakes. Science, 295 (). pp. 10.1126/science.1064074
Newsham, K.K. ORCID record for K.K. Newsham, Hodgson, D.A. ORCID record for D.A. Hodgson, Murray, A.W.A., Peat, H.J. ORCID record for H.J. Peat, Smith, R.I. Lewis. (2002) Response of two Antarctic bryophytes to stratospheric ozone depletion. Global Change Biology, 8 (). pp. 10.1046/j.1365-2486.2002.00509.x
2001
Rozema, J., Noordijk, A.J., Broekman, R.A., van Beem, A., Meijkamp, B.M., de Bakker, N.V.J., van de Staaij, J.W.M., Stroetenga, M., Bohncke, S.J.P., Konert, M., Kars, S., Peat, Helen ORCID record for Helen Peat, Smith, R.I.L., Convey, Peter ORCID record for Peter Convey. (2001) (Poly)phenolic compounds in pollen and spores of antarctic plants as indicators of solar UV-B: a new proxy for the reconstruction of past solar UV-B?. Plant Ecology, 154 (). pp. doi:10.1023/A:1012913608353
2000
Convey, P. ORCID record for P. Convey, Smith, R.I.L., Peat, H.J. ORCID record for H.J. Peat, Pugh, P.J.A.. (2000) The terrestrial biota of Charcot Island, eastern Bellingshausen Sea, Antarctica: an example of extreme isolation. Antarctic Science, 12 (). pp. doi:10.1017/S095410200000047X
Convey, P. ORCID record for P. Convey, Smith, R.I.L., Hodgson, D.A. ORCID record for D.A. Hodgson, Peat, H.P. ORCID record for H.P. Peat. (2000) The flora of the South Sandwich Islands, with particular reference to the influence of geothermal heating. Journal of Biogeography, 27 (). pp. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2699.2000.00512.x
1998
Peat, Helen J. ORCID record for Helen J. Peat. (1998) The Antarctic Plant Database: a specimen and literature based information system. Taxon, 47 (). pp.
1997
Peat, H.J. ORCID record for H.J. Peat. (1997) Botany, plant ecology and the environment. In: Wyatt, H.V. (eds.). Information sources in the life sciences, London, Bowker Saur, pp.
- Evaluating climate change risks to Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish
- DI4EDS
- Port Lockroy Data Portal
- Building data resources for managing the South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area
- KRILLBASE
- Herbarium Collection
- Botany, plant ecology and the environment