Citizens and scientists collect comparable oceanographic data: measurements of ocean transparency from the Secchi Disk study and science programmes

Citizens and scientists collect comparable oceanographic data: measurements of ocean transparency from the Secchi Disk study and science programmes

Abstract Marine phytoplankton accounts for approximately 50% of all photosynthesis on Earth, underpins the marine food chain and plays a central role in the Earth’s biogeochemical cycles and climate. In situ measurements of ocean transparency can be used to estimate phytoplankton biomass. The scale...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Richard R. Kirby, Gregory Beaugrand, Loick Kleparski, Susie Goodall, Samantha Lavender
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2021-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-95029-z
id doaj-a28ea4d4bc1940dfa81d38954be54fac
record_format Article
spelling doaj-a28ea4d4bc1940dfa81d38954be54fac2021-08-01T11:23:20ZengNature Publishing GroupScientific Reports2045-23222021-07-0111111010.1038/s41598-021-95029-zCitizens and scientists collect comparable oceanographic data: measurements of ocean transparency from the Secchi Disk study and science programmesRichard R. Kirby0Gregory Beaugrand1Loick Kleparski2Susie Goodall3Samantha Lavender4The Secchi Disk Foundation, Kiln Cottage, GnatonUMR 8187 - LOG - Laboratoire d’Océanologie et de Géosciences, CNRS, Univ. Lille, Univ. Littoral Côte d’OpaleUMR 8187 - LOG - Laboratoire d’Océanologie et de Géosciences, CNRS, Univ. Lille, Univ. Littoral Côte d’Opale14 Osprey ClosePixalytics Ltd, Plymouth Science ParkAbstract Marine phytoplankton accounts for approximately 50% of all photosynthesis on Earth, underpins the marine food chain and plays a central role in the Earth’s biogeochemical cycles and climate. In situ measurements of ocean transparency can be used to estimate phytoplankton biomass. The scale and challenging conditions of the ocean make it a difficult environment for in situ studies, however. Here, we show that citizen scientists (seafarers) using a simple white Secchi Disk can collect ocean transparency data to complement formal scientific efforts using similar equipment. Citizen scientist data can therefore help understand current climate-driven changes in phytoplankton biomass at a global scale.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-95029-z
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Richard R. Kirby
Gregory Beaugrand
Loick Kleparski
Susie Goodall
Samantha Lavender
spellingShingle Richard R. Kirby
Gregory Beaugrand
Loick Kleparski
Susie Goodall
Samantha Lavender
Citizens and scientists collect comparable oceanographic data: measurements of ocean transparency from the Secchi Disk study and science programmes
Scientific Reports
author_facet Richard R. Kirby
Gregory Beaugrand
Loick Kleparski
Susie Goodall
Samantha Lavender
author_sort Richard R. Kirby
title Citizens and scientists collect comparable oceanographic data: measurements of ocean transparency from the Secchi Disk study and science programmes
title_short Citizens and scientists collect comparable oceanographic data: measurements of ocean transparency from the Secchi Disk study and science programmes
title_full Citizens and scientists collect comparable oceanographic data: measurements of ocean transparency from the Secchi Disk study and science programmes
title_fullStr Citizens and scientists collect comparable oceanographic data: measurements of ocean transparency from the Secchi Disk study and science programmes
title_full_unstemmed Citizens and scientists collect comparable oceanographic data: measurements of ocean transparency from the Secchi Disk study and science programmes
title_sort citizens and scientists collect comparable oceanographic data: measurements of ocean transparency from the secchi disk study and science programmes
publisher Nature Publishing Group
series Scientific Reports
issn 2045-2322
publishDate 2021-07-01
description Abstract Marine phytoplankton accounts for approximately 50% of all photosynthesis on Earth, underpins the marine food chain and plays a central role in the Earth’s biogeochemical cycles and climate. In situ measurements of ocean transparency can be used to estimate phytoplankton biomass. The scale and challenging conditions of the ocean make it a difficult environment for in situ studies, however. Here, we show that citizen scientists (seafarers) using a simple white Secchi Disk can collect ocean transparency data to complement formal scientific efforts using similar equipment. Citizen scientist data can therefore help understand current climate-driven changes in phytoplankton biomass at a global scale.
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-95029-z
work_keys_str_mv AT richardrkirby citizensandscientistscollectcomparableoceanographicdatameasurementsofoceantransparencyfromthesecchidiskstudyandscienceprogrammes
AT gregorybeaugrand citizensandscientistscollectcomparableoceanographicdatameasurementsofoceantransparencyfromthesecchidiskstudyandscienceprogrammes
AT loickkleparski citizensandscientistscollectcomparableoceanographicdatameasurementsofoceantransparencyfromthesecchidiskstudyandscienceprogrammes
AT susiegoodall citizensandscientistscollectcomparableoceanographicdatameasurementsofoceantransparencyfromthesecchidiskstudyandscienceprogrammes
AT samanthalavender citizensandscientistscollectcomparableoceanographicdatameasurementsofoceantransparencyfromthesecchidiskstudyandscienceprogrammes
_version_ 1721246128535502848

Similar Items