The drones, which are being developed by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), will be equipped with sensors to measure the concentration of carbon dioxide in the water. They will also be able to collect samples of water and plankton, which can be used to study the biological processes that affect carbon dioxide uptake.
The drones will be deployed in the North Pacific Ocean, where they will collect data over a period of several years. Scientists hope that the data collected by the drones will help them to better understand how the ocean is responding to climate change, and how it can be protected.
The ocean is a major sink for carbon dioxide, and it is estimated that it absorbs about a quarter of the carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere by human activities. However, the ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide is declining, and scientists are concerned that this could lead to an increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and further climate change.
The drones being developed by MBARI will help scientists to better understand the role of the ocean in climate change, and how it can be protected.
