The ocean carbon cycle is undergoing unprecedented changes and, therefore, carbonate system parameters have been ranked by the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) as the highest impact biogeochemical Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs). Accurate carbonate chemistry characterization is required to understand the oceanic carbon cycle and monitor ocean acidification and its consequences on marine organisms. Although efforts have been made to increase the availability of high-resolution carbonate chemistry measurements in the ocean, the lack of automated high-performance low-cost carbonate sensors continues to hinder continuous and spatially extensive observations using autonomous platforms. Developing sensors capable of fulfilling future observing goals is therefore key for deciphering knowledge gaps and uncertainties in our understanding of the global ocean carbon cycle and optimisation of global models of ocean acidification and its impacts. The capability of Lab-On-a-Chip (LOC)-based sensors has been demonstrated on moving and fixed observing platforms around the globe from surface to the deep ocean (6000 m). LOC technology enables miniaturization and automation of high-performance reagent-based analytical techniques offering high-quality autonomous observations even on small autonomous platforms. Here we present recent developments in autonomous LOC-based sensors for measurements of seawater pH, Total Alkalinity (TA) and Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC), highlighting some recent applications and successes and finishing with a glimpse of future carbon observing capabilities.

Primary Presenter: Socratis Loucaides, National Oceanography Centre (s.loucaides@noc.ac.uk)

Authors:

Emily Hammermeister,   ()

Stathys Papadimitriou,   ()

Allison Schaap,   ()

Martin Arundell,   ()

Matt Mowlem,   ()

Sara Fowell,   ()

Daisy Pickup,   ()

Sarah Cryer,   ()