SAFER Lab joins ocean acidification monitoring network

The SAFER lab has recently received a comprehensive kit for the monitoring of seawater carbonate chemistry to track ocean acidification in situ. The kit includes everything required to conduct long term chemical monitoring of seawater by sample analysis and also includes a prototype iSAMI pH sensor by Sunburst Sensors (as shown in the picture) to monitor pH over short and long timescales. The first monitoring effort using the kit will be at offshore and inshore sites in Algoa Bay.

The kit was granted to a SAFER student, Carla Edworthy, who was subsequently trained by global experts in the field of ocean acidification on the correct methods of carbonate chemistry measurement, analysis and data reporting. The kit was supplied courtesy of The Ocean Foundation, The Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON) and The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and is a valuable asset to the SAFER research group for its planned ocean acidification studies.