Scope and benefits of a "Coastal Carbon Observing Network"

Coasts are vast, ever-changing environments, with no two areas completely the same in their physical, chemical, or biological conditions. Over the years, sparse datasets have made it difficult for oceanographers to get a holistic picture of how coastal ecosystems impact things like the carbon cycle—the primary force behind climate change. To bridge this information gab, WHOI scientists are working with commercial fishing communities toward a “coastal carbon observing network” made up of fishing vessels outfitted with the latest ocean sensor technologies. (Illustration by Natalie Renier, © Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)