WATER QUALITY INTRODUCTION

Covering over 70% of the Earth's surface, our oceans have a two-way relationship with weather and climate. Oceans influence weathers both locally and globally, while climate change has a direct impact on our oceans. When this carefully constructed process changes it has lasting effects on both the marine and terrestrial environments and are disproportionally effecting marginalised groups. For example, ocean temperatures rising can create stronger storms in the tropical regions, these regions of the world are predominantly lower economic countries.

Although oceans help to reduce climate change by storing large amounts of carbon dioxide, too much dissolved carbon is changing the chemistry of seawater and increasing the oceans acidity These changes are effecting certain organisms, such as corals and crustaceans skeletal structures, which in turn effects the sustainability of the ecosystem.

These changes occur over a long period of time, and can take decades if not centuries for the ecosystem to correct this chemical change and restore balance between ocean, climate and weather.

Objectives

By using a standardised ocean water quality testing procedures we are able to track changes in the oceans chemistry variables over time. This contributes to the global tracking of ocean acidification to contribute to climate change research and the effects of land based pollution and run off.

This data is also used in the analysis of our BRUV and survey data as abiotic factors which could effect fish population sizes, coral density, and environmental events such as bleaching.

Methodology

During a survey or BRUV deployment, the research team collect ocean water samples using a covered bottle at depth. The full sample is divided into smaller samples to conduct each test individually by adding the reagent and recording the results.

Different parameters are tested and recorded. O2 test is conducted directly after sampling on the boat using an O2 sensor probe, while Ph, salinity, NO#, PO4, and K tests are conducted using testing kits back at the facility. Temperature and current conditions are recorded at the survey site.