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

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.

Over 10 million seawater temperature records for the United Kingdom Continental Shelf between 1880 and 2014 from 17 Cefas (United Kingdom government) marine data systems

“…This paper has made the underlying data readily available (source 1). Other datasets, such as source 10 comprised of temperature and depth records obtained via a citizen science project from recreational scuba divers (see Wright et al, 2016), represent a hitherto largely untapped resource for oceanographic researchers.…”

“…For example for source 10, we referenced Wright et al (2016) who examined whether the temperature data derived from hundreds of recreational scuba divers and many different models of dive computer were consistent with global sea temperature datasets. Similarly, temperature sensors on Cefas SmartBuoys and WaveNet platforms (sources 6 and 7) are calibrated annually at Cefas against certified platinum resistance thermometers.…”

Expanding Aquatic Observations through Recreation

“…Sensor packages for automatic oceanic measurements on sailing boats have been developed 1 and programs established to help realize the potential of using sailing vessels for environmental monitoring 2 . Wright et al (2016) obtained over 7,000 temperature profiles from recreational dive computers worn by SCUBA divers, demonstrating that dive computers can augment existing monitoring systems across the globe, but especially in undersampled or highly variable coastal environments. Boss and Zaneveld (2003) measured the optical properties of a variety of shallow waters in the Bahamas by mounting an optical sampling package to a SCUBA diver, observing significant variations in optical properties related to the bottom substrate and associated biogeochemical processes.…”

“…Furthermore, future support to maintain these monitoring systems remains uncertain (Kintisch, 2015). New forms of innovation are needed urgently to help meet the requirements of systematic and sustained aquatic observations (Smith et al, 2015), one of which could be making use of citizens who regularly frequent the aquatic environment (Brewin et al, 2015;Bresnahan et al, 2016;Hut et al, 2016;Wright et al, 2016).…”

“…Recently, techniques have been developed to attach miniaturized sensors to recreational citizens who immerse themselves in the aquatic environment in order to measure key indicators such as water temperature (e.g., Brewin et al, 2015;Bresnahan et al, 2016;Hut et al, 2016;Wright et al, 2016), akin to attaching sensors to marine mammals (Fedak, 2004). In this paper, we highlight the potential in this approach.…”