Seafarer citizen scientist ocean transparency data as a resource for phytoplankton and climate research.

ABSTRACT: The oceans' phytoplankton that underpin the marine food chain appear to be changing in abundance due to global climate change. Here, we compare the first four years of data from a citizen science ocean transparency study, conducted by seafarers using home-made Secchi Disks and a free Smartphone application called Secchi, with contemporaneous satellite ocean colour measurements. Our results show seafarers collect useful Secchi Disk measurements of ocean transparency that could help future assessments of climate-induced changes in the phytoplankton when used to extend historical Secchi Disk data.

SUBMITTER: Seafarers SD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5718423 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature