A sophisticated ocean chemistry-monitoring instrument installed last year has given researchers some preliminary results—and cause for concern.
Newswise — The “Burke-o-Lator,” set up at the Hog Island Oyster Company’s hatchery on Humboldt Bay, examines ways seawater chemistry is being affected by ocean acidification. Unlike other oceanographic sensors that measure only acidity (pH), the Burke-o-Lator also collects information on seawater’s carbonate saturation state, which shows how difficult it is to build and maintain shell—directly related to the growth and development of shellfish. That data is made publicly available and streamed live at the Central and Northern California Ocean Observing System (CeNCOOS) website.
You can read more about the Burke-o-Lator here.
The installation of the Burke-o-Lator is part of a larger project that is being conducted by a research team that includes Humboldt State University professors Jeffrey Abell, Frank Shaughnessy, and Paul Bourdeau. They are being assisted by of host of HSU graduate and undergrad students who are gaining firsthand experience in this exciting research and the use of this state-of-the-art instrument…
Recent Comments