Technology used
Ocean acidification is sometimes called ‘the other CO2 problem’, with impacts on marine ecosystems. New instruments are needed to make the measurements that will deepen our knowledge of this threat to the oceans. Currently, we rely heavily on measurements from ships.
Sensors under development will be able to make measurements within the oceans, independent of ships, of the partial pressure of CO2, the total alkalinity, and the pH.
In contrast to the long-term threat from ocean acidification, oil spills can pose an immediate threat that needs instant information on the environment to aid decisions. Deployment by aircraft is the fastest way to get an instrument into an offshore oil spill. We are working on ideas for a miniature air-deployable robot submarine that, as one task, could relay back information on oil within the sea.
