The oceans are acidifying, or decreasing in pH, yet pH measurements can be challenging, expensive, and/or require scientific training, leading to large uncertainties in pH within aquatic systems. Wide distribution of accessible, low-cost, and precise instruments is needed to increase pH measurements throughout coastal communities. This study developed a low-cost aquatic pH instrument, the pHyter, which is based on pH indicator chemistry. With similar precision to high-end pH meters, the pHyter costs a fraction of the price, can be used by the general public with minimal training, and can fit in the palm of your hand. Therefore, the pHyter is an ideal instrument for community-based science, education, and to increase public awareness of OA while expanding monitoring with high quality data. Here, we describe the development of the pHyter and the vision for the future as a tool that can be deployed globally and enable communities to sustain measurements of pH within their own waters.

Primary Presenter: Kalina Grabb, NOAA (kalinagrabb@gmail.com)

Authors:

Kalina C. Grabb, NOAA  (kalina.grabb@noaa.gov)

William Pardis, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution  (wpardis@whoi.edu)

Michael DeGrandpre, University of Montana  (michael.degrandpre@mso.umt.edu)

Reggie Spaulding, Sunburst Sensors LLC  (reggie@sunburstsensors.com)

James Beck, Sunburst Sensors  (jim@sunburstsensors.com)

Johnathan Pfeifer, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution  (jonathan.a.pfeifer@gmail.com)

David Long, California Polytechnic State University  (dlong05@calpoly.edu)