Scientists across the globe are increasingly turning to ocean monitoring tools to measure the impacts of climate change.
A breakthrough in this field comes from researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), who, in collaboration with industry partners, have significantly advanced the technology used to measure carbon dioxide (CO2) in the ocean.
Their innovative sensor design, detailed in the journal Ocean Science, is now available for use by the broader scientific community.
Over the past six years, a team from the UAF International Arctic Research Center (IARC) and private companies developed a method to equip an unmanned underwater vehicle, the Seaglider, with a sensor capable of monitoring CO2 levels.
This sensor, which communicates via satellite, provides high spatial and temporal resolution data continuously for weeks. It enables scientists to gather a detailed understanding of ocean chemistry and its changes over time.
One of the challenges in making this sensor fit the Seaglider was its larger size and higher power requirements compared to other sensors.
The team, with the help of industry partners Advanced Offshore Operations and 4H JENA Engineering, managed to make the Contros HydroC sensor lighter and more compact.
Adjustments, such as using weights and 3D-printed materials, were also made to ensure the Seaglider maintained proper buoyancy.
New sensors help track climate change effects by measuring oceanic greenhouse gases.The ability to monitor CO2 in the ocean is crucial for developing climate change adaptation plans, as it directly impacts ocean acidification.
When CO2 dissolves into the ocean, it lowers the pH, affecting marine life, particularly organisms that rely on shells. The UAF team’s next step is to monitor methane, another powerful greenhouse gas, using the same technology.
Methane, though shorter-lived in the atmosphere than CO2, traps more heat and is primarily produced by human activities.
The UAF team has equipped a Seaglider with a methane sensor, currently in the testing phase.
This addition is essential for understanding how rising ocean temperatures may destabilize methane hydrates, releasing methane into the water and potentially triggering further ocean acidification.
The UAF team also aims to improve the Seaglider’s performance in Alaska’s extreme coastal conditions, seeking to develop a more durable autonomous underwater vehicle for use in remote, harsh environments.
This research is critical in enhancing our understanding of oceanic chemical processes and their role in global climate change.