HANDS-ON POST-CALIBRATION OF IN VIVO FLUORESCENCE USING OPEN ACCESS DATA – A GUIDED JOURNEY FROM FLUORESCENCE TO PHYTOPLANKTON BIOMASS

Oceanographic data, hailing from ship-based sensors, observing platforms, and satellites, are being collected at increasingly high resolutions and require processing to make them accessible to a broad range of users adhering to rigorous scientific standards. Processing raw sensor-based data is essential for a multitude of reasons, including noise reduction, unit conversion, parameter derivation, and calibration. Consequently, data management skills are crucial for handling these increasingly large volumes of data. Therefore, to promote these skills in the next generation of aquatic scientists and introduce them to the principles of Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) data, we have developed an activity that guides undergraduate students through the post-calibration of underway Chl-a fluorescence data from six NorthEast US Shelf Long-Term Ecological Research cruises. Building on a successful summer internship, this activity develops students' skills in data acquisition, processing, visualization, and management. Working with real-world datasets equips future aquatic scientists with the tools to synthesize complex datasets, interpret ecosystem changes, and apply aquatic science in practical contexts.

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Primary Presenter: Amanda Herbst, University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography (amandaeherbst@gmail.com)

Authors:

Amanda Herbst, University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography  (amandaeherbst@gmail.com)

Pierre Marrec, University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography  (pmarrec@uri.edu)

Stace Beaulieu, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution  (sbeaulieu@whoi.edu)

Susanne Menden-Deuer, University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography  (smenden@uri.edu)