NEWS On three different occasions, the art of measuring conductivity, temperature, and depth in seawater in a high-quality way has been discussed. Participants from several universities have gathered for training and knowledge exchange. Åsa Hallberg, Umeå Marine Sciences Centre at Umeå University was one of the participants.
Measurements of conductivity, temperature and depth from the research vessel R/V Svea. The participants in the workshop series exchange experiences on how this can be done with great precision.
ImageÅsa Hallberg"It has been both instructive and interesting to compare how we work on the different research vessels. We have a lot to learn from each other.", says Åsa Hallberg, laboratory engineer at Umeå Marine Research Centre. On a daily basis, she works with measurements and chemical analyses for the Swedish environmental monitoring. The field sampling is then carried out in the Gulf of Bothnia, mostly on board the Coast Guard's vessel KBV 181.
During the workshop series, participants have been able to apply their knowledge in terms of performing measurements in the field, analyse data together with experts from SMHI, and discuss the importance of data analysis for marine research and monitoring. The last occasion ended with the research vessels R/V Svea and R/V Skagerak laying side by side in the Dana Fjord outside Gothenburg, so that a cross-calibration could be carried out.
The research vessels R/V Svea and R/V Skagerak, two of the six vessels that are part of the SWERVE consortium, during a cross-calibration of measurement data in the Dana Fjord outside Gothenburg. The calibration was done as part of the workshop series.
ImageFilip StedtThe workshop series was arranged by SWERVE, the Swedish Research Vessel Infrastructure for Marine Research. The participants agreed that this type of knowledge exchange is needed, and that it is something where the marine infrastructure SWERVE can play an important role in the future.
Björn Lindell, ship coordinator at SLU, is one of the people responsible for the workshop series. He sees the opportunity to develop one’s skills and meet people with similar tasks at other organizations as the two most important reasons why SWERVE holds these workshops. He is seeking views from marine field personnel on the content of upcoming workshop series.
"I look forward to getting started with additional workshops in 2025," he says.
