Wi-Fi enabled CTDs in citizen science

Monitoring the vast expanse of oceans presents a daunting challenge: how to take sufficient high-quality measurements with a relatively small group of specialized scientists and limited resources. Despite advances in remote sensing and autonomous technology, the oceans remain under-explored and under-sampled. One solution for addressing this challenge is to rely on citizen scientists, people outside of the scientific community, to collect oceanographic data. This paper describes how through three unique successful citizen science programs, oceanographers have increased temporal and spatial coverage of high-quality CTD profiles using a Wi-Fi enabled CTD and an easy to use mobile device app. The three programs include the Shelf Research Fleet: a group of fishermen partnered with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, the Pacific Salmon Foundation: a partnership between the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Ocean Networks Canada, and the Coastal Community Ocean Observers program: a network of citizen scientists distributed along remote Alaskan coasts.