Two years ago, a group of Canadian marine scientists reported that the phytoplankton in the oceans had declined globally by 40% since the 1950s due to climate change. Their study provoked controversy among marine scientists, however, especially among those who thought they saw contrary results. Part of the controversy stems from a lack of data about the marine phytoplankton due to the fact that the oceans are vast and there aren't that many scientists to cover them.
Because of the important role played by the phytoplankton in underpinning the whole marine food chain, scientists need to know if, how and why they are changing, and this is where citizen science can help. Dr. Richard Kirby, a Marine Research Institute Fellow at Plymouth University in the UK, is spearheading this public outreach effort in an attempt to get regular boaters like you and me to assist with this global study.
Dr Kirby. Photo from Smithsonian Magazine, originally provided by Dr Kirby.
The study uses the Secchi app, a new smartphone app named after the Secchi Disk, an implement that has been used to test water quality since the 1800s. And the process is very simple. You download the app, and then make your own Secchi Disk (instructions can be found in the app), which involves a white circle of metal, wood or plastic, a tape measure and a weight.
Secchi Disk. Photo from Smithsonian Magazine; originally provided by Dr Kirby.
Essentially, you lower the contraption until it disappears from sight. You then measure the depth (with the tape measure the disk is suspended on) and enter the information into the Secchi app. The data, along with your GPS coordinates, are sent off to Dr Kirby and other researchers.
Want to read more about this fascinating study? Here's a great article from the Smithsonian Magazine, and another news article from the BBC.
Want to participate in this neat study? Just go to the Secchi app website to download the app and get started. Let us know what you find!
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