Perspectives from Developers and Users of the GOA-ON in a Box Kit: A Model for Capacity Sharing in Ocean Sciences

Abstract

Providing reliable instrumentation that enables collection of highquality, comparable data is one of the most challenging aspects of establishing ocean acidification monitoring programs. This is especially true for under-resourced countries, where such data are mostly unavailable. In 2016, The Ocean Foundation (TOF) worked with international bodies, including the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre and the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON), and subject matter experts to develop a set of equipment known as the “GOA-ON in a Box” kit (The Ocean Foundation, 2017). This comprehensive kit provides researchers with everything needed—down to specialized rubber bands—to obtain weather-quality carbonate system measurements as defined by GOA-ON (Newton et al., 2015). Data are generated from spectrophotometric measurements of pHT and manual titrations for total alkalinity from discrete samples as well as in situ sensors, the iSAMI-pH and a CTD. The kit’s modular design, composed of nearly 100 unique items, makes it much less expensive thancomparable integrated systems and allows for easier troubleshooting and replacement of supplied spare components To date, TOF has procured and shipped GOA-ON in a Box kits to researchers in 23 countries, where they are used to monitor changing ocean carbonate chemistry conditions related to ocean acidification and to produce data in support of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14.3.1 (SDG 14.3.1; Figure 1). Kit distribution has been conducted through regional campaigns, driven by funder requirements. Note that TOF consistently receives requests for kits inregions that are outside the scope of current funding.