Temperature

Temperature is a critical environmental parameter in all marine environments. The temperature of our oceans impacts climate, storm intensity coming onshore, the health of marine organisms and even water-born diseases. In the Salish Sea and adjacent waters, ocean temperature is important to the health of local aquaculture industries. Indeed, changes in temperature impacts many aspects of community life adjacent to coastal waters and far inland. Because this single parameter is so important, we have developed a low cost temperature sensor that may be installed in shallow water systems including lakes, streams, and near coastal environments, as well as on land (e.g. gardens).  

This microprocessor-based instrument is an ideal platform for K20 students, educators and the public to build and use with applications for experiential learning, applied sciences, research and citizen science. The instrument houses an internal temperature sensor and can be built to host numerous water-proof temperature sensor arrays for measurements of gradients with depth or laterally. The Python-based code is an ideal platform for students to gain computer skills and to interact directly with their sensors either remotely or directly.  Data may be uploaded automatically or manually - ALL data are publically available, allowing for exploration in numerous settings.

In class exercises allow for the development of hypotheses and the design of experiments to test the hypotheses, learning to visually display and describe the temperaure data, sensor calibration, statistics and interpretation with critical evaluation.