Continuing a collaboration that began back in the earlier stages of CARICOOS, its chemical oceanography team commenced a series of field campaigns focused on documenting the spatial variability of critical chemical and physical properties in Jobos Bay. During earlier efforts, CARICOOS analyzed water chemistry data from all the fixed water quality stations throughout the Jobos Bay Reserve and reported marked differences in pH, dissolved oxygen, as well as other physical water properties.
The current activities will go on for a year, with a series of monthly field campaigns. Now the team looks to better understand the connectivity between the fixed stations throughout Jobos Bay, Mar Negro Mangrove System, and the open ocean. Using a flow-thru system, seawater will be sampled continually onboard, allowing to construct maps of the area which should depict gradients throughout the reserve. At the same time, in-situ sensors will be calibrated using laboratory measurements.
National Estuarine Research Reserve Association
