SCUBA divers as oceanographic samplers: The potential of dive computers to augment aquatic temperature monitoring

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Wright, Serena, Hull, Tom, Sivyer, David B., Pearce, David, Pinnegar, John K. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5061-9520, Sayer, Martin D. J., Mogg, Andrew O. M., Azzopardi, Elaine, Gontarek, Steve and Hyder, Kieran ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1428-5679 (2016) SCUBA divers as oceanographic samplers: The potential of dive computers to augment aquatic temperature monitoring. Scientific Reports, 6. ISSN 2045-2322

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Abstract

Monitoring temperature of aquatic waters is of great importance, with modelled, satellite and in-situ data providing invaluable insights into long-term environmental change. However, there is often a lack of depth-resolved temperature measurements. Recreational dive computers routinely record temperature and depth, so could provide an alternate and highly novel source of oceanographic information to fill this data gap. In this study, a citizen science approach was used to obtain over 7,000 scuba diver temperature profiles. The accuracy, offset and lag of temperature records was assessed by comparing dive computers with scientific conductivity-temperature-depth instruments and existing surface temperature data. Our results show that, with processing, dive computers can provide a useful and novel tool with which to augment existing monitoring systems all over the globe, but especially in under-sampled or highly changeable coastal environments.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in the credit line; if the material is not included under the Creative Commons license, users will need to obtain permission from the license holder to reproduce the material. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Collaborative Centre for Sustainable Use of the Seas
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Depositing User: Pure Connector
Date Deposited: 24 Sep 2016 00:12
Last Modified: 22 Oct 2022 01:23
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/59907
DOI: 10.1038/srep30164

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