The proposed project will develop specific systems for the measurement of marine pH and atmospheric CO2 on the Costa del Garraf.

The proposed project will develop specific systems for the measurement of marine pH and atmospheric CO2 on the Costa del Garraf.

The increase in CO2 content in the atmosphere due to anthropic activities is causing, through the greenhouse effect and because a large part of the CO2 emitted is being absorbed by the seas and oceans, a progressive acidification of their waters, which has devastating effects on many marine organisms.

The marine pH and atmospheric CO2 measurement systems will be implemented in the OBSEA observatory which, due to its unique characteristics, is especially suitable for taking continuous measurements at high frequencies of the different parameters of interest in an integrated way.

The aim is to optimise the set of observations that are being made along the Catalan coast and which, properly coordinated, can give rise to a solid database useful for climate change studies.

The specific objectives are:

• Creation of a marine observatory for climate change monitoring, located in Colls-Miralpeix, taking the OBSEA underwater observatory as a starting point.
• Study of chemical changes in seawater due to the increase in anthropogenic CO2. It is proposed to develop a pH meter that, together with pCO2 (partial pressure of CO2 in water), are the only variables of the CO2 system in seawater currently measurable with autonomous systems.
• To complement the pH measurements, it is proposed to install a CO2 meter at the surface weather station, integrated within the OBSEA observatory portal.
• Achieve sensor integration protocols and achieve quality management.