Evaluating the Sensor-Equipped Autonomous Surface Vehicle C-Worker 4 as a Tool for Identifying Coastal Ocean Acidification and Changes in Carbonate Chemistry
The interface between land and sea is a key environment for biogeochemical carbon cycling, yet these dynamic environments are traditionally under sampled. Logistical limitations have historically precluded a comprehensive understanding of coastal zone processes, including ocean acidification. Using...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/8/11/939 |
| _version_ | 1797547445655175168 |
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| author | Sarah Cryer Filipa Carvalho Terry Wood James Asa Strong Peter Brown Socratis Loucaides Arlene Young Richard Sanders Claire Evans |
| author_facet | Sarah Cryer Filipa Carvalho Terry Wood James Asa Strong Peter Brown Socratis Loucaides Arlene Young Richard Sanders Claire Evans |
| author_sort | Sarah Cryer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The interface between land and sea is a key environment for biogeochemical carbon cycling, yet these dynamic environments are traditionally under sampled. Logistical limitations have historically precluded a comprehensive understanding of coastal zone processes, including ocean acidification. Using sensors on autonomous platforms is a promising approach to enhance data collection in these environments. Here, we evaluate the use of an autonomous surface vehicle (ASV), the C-Worker 4 (CW4), equipped with pH and pCO<sub>2</sub> sensors and with the capacity to mount additional sensors for up to 10 other parameters, for the collection of high-resolution data in shallow coastal environments. We deployed the CW4 on two occasions in Belizean coastal waters for 2.5 and 4 days, demonstrating its capability for high-resolution spatial mapping of surface coastal biogeochemistry. This enabled the characterisation of small-scale variability and the identification of sources of low pH/high pCO<sub>2</sub> waters as well as identifying potential controls on coastal pH. We demonstrated the capabilities of the CW4 in both pre-planned “autonomous” mission mode and remote “manually” operated mode. After documenting platform behaviour, we provide recommendations for further usage, such as the ideal mode of operation for better quality pH data, e.g., using constant speed. The CW4 has a high power supply capacity, which permits the deployment of multiple sensors sampling concurrently, a shallow draught, and is highly controllable and manoeuvrable. This makes it a highly suitable tool for observing and characterising the carbonate system alongside identifying potential drivers and controls in shallow coastal regions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:44:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c79709e9244c4f11a846b37f94460474 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1312 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:44:14Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-c79709e9244c4f11a846b37f944604742023-11-20T21:31:37ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122020-11-0181193910.3390/jmse8110939Evaluating the Sensor-Equipped Autonomous Surface Vehicle C-Worker 4 as a Tool for Identifying Coastal Ocean Acidification and Changes in Carbonate ChemistrySarah Cryer0Filipa Carvalho1Terry Wood2James Asa Strong3Peter Brown4Socratis Loucaides5Arlene Young6Richard Sanders7Claire Evans8University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UKNational Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UKNational Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UKNational Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UKNational Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UKNational Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UKCoastal Zone Management Authority and Institute, Coastal Zone Multi-Complex Building, Princess Margaret Drive P.O. Box 1884, Belize City, BelizeNational Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UKNational Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UKThe interface between land and sea is a key environment for biogeochemical carbon cycling, yet these dynamic environments are traditionally under sampled. Logistical limitations have historically precluded a comprehensive understanding of coastal zone processes, including ocean acidification. Using sensors on autonomous platforms is a promising approach to enhance data collection in these environments. Here, we evaluate the use of an autonomous surface vehicle (ASV), the C-Worker 4 (CW4), equipped with pH and pCO<sub>2</sub> sensors and with the capacity to mount additional sensors for up to 10 other parameters, for the collection of high-resolution data in shallow coastal environments. We deployed the CW4 on two occasions in Belizean coastal waters for 2.5 and 4 days, demonstrating its capability for high-resolution spatial mapping of surface coastal biogeochemistry. This enabled the characterisation of small-scale variability and the identification of sources of low pH/high pCO<sub>2</sub> waters as well as identifying potential controls on coastal pH. We demonstrated the capabilities of the CW4 in both pre-planned “autonomous” mission mode and remote “manually” operated mode. After documenting platform behaviour, we provide recommendations for further usage, such as the ideal mode of operation for better quality pH data, e.g., using constant speed. The CW4 has a high power supply capacity, which permits the deployment of multiple sensors sampling concurrently, a shallow draught, and is highly controllable and manoeuvrable. This makes it a highly suitable tool for observing and characterising the carbonate system alongside identifying potential drivers and controls in shallow coastal regions.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/8/11/939ocean acidificationcoastalautonomousASVbiogeochemistrysensors |
| spellingShingle | Sarah Cryer Filipa Carvalho Terry Wood James Asa Strong Peter Brown Socratis Loucaides Arlene Young Richard Sanders Claire Evans Evaluating the Sensor-Equipped Autonomous Surface Vehicle C-Worker 4 as a Tool for Identifying Coastal Ocean Acidification and Changes in Carbonate Chemistry Journal of Marine Science and Engineering ocean acidification coastal autonomous ASV biogeochemistry sensors |
| title | Evaluating the Sensor-Equipped Autonomous Surface Vehicle C-Worker 4 as a Tool for Identifying Coastal Ocean Acidification and Changes in Carbonate Chemistry |
| title_full | Evaluating the Sensor-Equipped Autonomous Surface Vehicle C-Worker 4 as a Tool for Identifying Coastal Ocean Acidification and Changes in Carbonate Chemistry |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating the Sensor-Equipped Autonomous Surface Vehicle C-Worker 4 as a Tool for Identifying Coastal Ocean Acidification and Changes in Carbonate Chemistry |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating the Sensor-Equipped Autonomous Surface Vehicle C-Worker 4 as a Tool for Identifying Coastal Ocean Acidification and Changes in Carbonate Chemistry |
| title_short | Evaluating the Sensor-Equipped Autonomous Surface Vehicle C-Worker 4 as a Tool for Identifying Coastal Ocean Acidification and Changes in Carbonate Chemistry |
| title_sort | evaluating the sensor equipped autonomous surface vehicle c worker 4 as a tool for identifying coastal ocean acidification and changes in carbonate chemistry |
| topic | ocean acidification coastal autonomous ASV biogeochemistry sensors |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/8/11/939 |
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