The
Secchi Disk study has reached a key achievement with the publication of the first scientific paper entitled:
Seafarer citizen scientist ocean transparency data as a resource for phytoplankton and climate research
The paper is published in the journal The Public Library of Science ONE or PLOS ONE, and it can be accessed for free
HERE
As you will see, YOU, the seafarers taking part in the Secchi Disk study are the first authors as it is very much a result of seafarer citizen science.
The key findings of this first publication are
1) Sailors acting as citizen scientists can collect useful scientific data using a simple
DIY piece of
equipment matched to a Smartphone application,
2) The sailors' data is vital to help us better understand the ocean’s phytoplankton. While satellites now
survey the sea surface from space to determine phytoplankton by measuring ocean colour, the Secchi Disk data collected from the sea is important to help interpret the
satellite data,
3) Using sailors as citizen scientists it is possible to obtain measurements from far more places than scientists could achieve alone,
4) In years to come, as the sailors' data continues to accumulate, the data will help us better understand the long-term changes in the phytoplankton.
I hope you find this first publication interesting and hopefully, it will be the first of many more.
Why not take part in the
Secchi Disk study if you are not doing so already ?
The publication is Open Access, which means it is free to download and distribute, so please share with
family and friends and perhaps send a copy to your yacht club or marina office.
Best wishes to everyone.