The democratization of ocean observation has the potential to add millions of observations every day. Though not a solution for all ocean monitoring needs, citizen scientists offer compelling examples showcasing their ability to augment and enhance traditional research and monitoring. Information they are providing is increasing the spatial and temporal frequency and duration of sampling, reducing time and labor costs for academic and government monitoring programs, providing hands-on STEM learning related to real-world issues and increasing public awareness and support for the scientific process. Examples provided here demonstrate the wide range of people who are already dramatically reducing gaps in our global observing network while at the same time providing unique opportunities to meaningfully engage in ocean observing and the research and conservation it supports. While there are still challenges to overcome before widespread inclusion in projects requiring scientific rigor, the growing organization of international citizen science associations is helping to reduce barriers. The case studies described support the idea that citizen scientists should be part of an effective global strategy for a sustained, multidisciplinary and integrated observing system.
Farfan, G. A.; Cordes, E. E.; Waller, R. G.; DeCarlo, T. M.; Hansel, C. M.;
Published Date:
2018
Source:
Front. Mar. Sci., 10 December 2018
Description:
In an ocean with rapidly changing chemistry, studies have assessed coral skeletal health under projected ocean acidification (OA) scenarios by characterizing morphological distortions in skeletal architecture and measuring bulk properties, such as ne...
Amon, Diva J.; Gobin, Judith; Van Dover, Cindy L.; Levin, Lisa A.; Marsh, Leigh; Raineault, Nicole A.;
Published Date:
2017
Source:
Front. Mar. Sci., 30 October 2017
Description:
Exploration of the deep ocean (>200 m) is taking on added importance as human development encroaches. Despite increasing oil and natural gas exploration and exploitation, the deep ocean of Trinidad and Tobago is almost entirely unknown. The only scie...
Metaxas, Anna; Lacharite, Myriam; de Mendonca, Sarah N.;
Published Date:
2019
Source:
Front. Mar. Sci., 29 March 2019
Description:
Deep-water corals are significant ecosystem engineers that provide habitat complexity in the deep sea. They are indicator species of vulnerable marine ecosystems because of their slow growth and longevity, characteristics that can prolong recovery fr...
Davies, S. W.; Ries, J. B.; Marchetti, A.; Castillo, K. D.;
Published Date:
2018
Source:
Front. Mar. Sci., 30 April 2018
Description:
Coral bleaching events are increasing in frequency, demanding examination of the physiological and molecular responses of scleractinian corals and their algal symbionts (Symbiodinium sp.) to stressors associated with bleaching. Here, we quantify the ...
Halder, Subhadeep; Dirmeyer, Paul A.; Marx, Lawrence; Kinter, James L.;
Published Date:
2018
Source:
Front. Environ. Sci., 04 January 2018
Description:
The impact of initial land-surface states on monthly to seasonal prediction skill of the Indian summer monsoon (June–September) is investigated using a suite of hindcasts made with the Climate Forecast System version 2 (CFSv2) operational forecast ...
Canopy-forming kelps create underwater forests that are among the most productive marine ecosystems. On the Pacific coast of North America, two canopy-forming kelps with contrasting life histories co-occur; Macrocystis pyrifera, a perennial species, ...
Wijayanti, D. P.; Indrayanti, E.; Wirasatriya, A.; Haryanto, A.; Haryanti, D.; Sembiring, A.; Fajrianzah, T. A.; Bhagooli, R.;
Published Date:
2019
Source:
Front. Mar. Sci., 18 April 2019
Description:
Equatorial corals were previously thought not to spawn synchronously at the assemblage level. However, recent studies have reported multi-specific coral spawning events in equatorial regions. Here, we report the reproductive activity of 21 Acropora s...
Kovar, Rachel N.; Brown-Giammanoco, Tanya M.; Lombardo, Franklin T.;
Published Date:
2018
Source:
Front. Built Environ., 30 October 2018
Description:
Garage doors or roll-up doors on residential and commercial structures are vulnerable components that are often damaged in windstorms. Failures of these large openings can lead to internal pressurization, which can cause additional structural damage ...
Tommasi, Desiree; Stock, Charles A.; Alexander, Michael A.; Yang, Xiaosong; Rosati, Anthony; Vecchi, Gabriel A.;
Published Date:
2017
Source:
Front. Mar. Sci., 30 June 2017
Description:
Decisions made by fishers and fisheries managers are informed by climate and fisheries observations that now often span more than 50 years. Multi-annual climate forecasts could further inform such decisions if they were skillful in predicting future ...
Reisinger, Anthony; Gibeaut, James C.; Tissot, Phillippe E.;
Published Date:
2017
Source:
Front. Mar. Sci., 20 December 2017
Description:
Suspended sediment dynamics of Corpus Christi Bay, Texas, USA, a shallow-water wind-driven estuary, were investigated by combining field and satellite measurements of total suspended solids (TSS). An algorithm was developed to transform 500-m Moderat...
Bittig, H. C.; Steinhoff, T.; Claustre, H.; Fiedler, B.; Williams, N. L.; Sauzede, R.; Kortzinger, A.; Gattuso, J. P.;
Published Date:
2018
Source:
Front. Mar. Sci., 20 September 2018
Description:
This work presents two new methods to estimate oceanic alkalinity (A(T)), dissolved inorganic carbon (C-T), pH, and pCO(2) from temperature, salinity, oxygen, and geolocation data. "CANYON-B" is a Bayesian neural network mapping that accurately repro...
Page, Heather N.; Courtney, Travis A.; Collins, Andrew; de Carlo, Eric H.; Andersson, Andreas J.;
Published Date:
2017
Source:
Front. Mar. Sci., 30 May 2017
Description:
Coral cover and reef health have been declining globally as reefs face local and global stressors including higher temperature and ocean acidification (OA). Ocean warming and acidification will alter rates of benthic reef metabolism (i.e., primary pr...
Davies, S. W.; Ries, J. B.; Marchetti, A.; Castillo, K. D.;
Published Date:
2016
Source:
Front. Mar. Sci., 30 June 2016
Description:
The oceans are becoming warmer and more acidic as a result of rising atmospheric pCO2. Transcriptome plasticity may facilitate marine organisms' acclimation to thermal and acidification stress by tailoring gene expression to mitigate the impacts of t...
Sidler, Hans Jorg; Duvenage, Jacob; Anderson, Eric J.; Ng, Joanna; Hageman, Daniel J.; Knothe Tate, Melissa L.;
Published Date:
2018
Source:
Front. Med., 13 December 2018
Description:
Natural materials exhibit smart properties including gradients in biophysical properties that engender higher order functions, as well as stimuli-responsive properties which integrate sensor and/or actuator capacities. Elucidation of mechanisms under...