PacIOOS Water Quality Sensor Partnership Program 002: Kephara, Pohnpei, FSM

The nearshore sensors are part of the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) and are designed to measure a variety of ocean parameters at fixed point locations. The PacIOOS Water Quality Sensor Partnership Program (WQSPP) supports scientists and natural resource managers to collect water quality data in order to inform research, conservation, planning, and resource management projects in the U.S. Insular Pacific region. Comprised of a network of "roving" water quality nearshore sensors, the WQSPP provides participating partners with sensors, data management, and technical capacity-building to allow for robust data collection. nss_wqspp_002 was located approximately 1 km north of Kephara Island and 75 meters offshore of the barrier reef along the southwest shore of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). The sensor package was mounted to the sea floor at approximately 40 meters depth. Data were recorded hourly. Dr. Kevin Rhodes of the Micronesia Islands Nature Alliance (MINA) deployed this nearshore sensor within the Kephara Marine Sanctuary near Kephara Island and Black Coral Island to examine environmental parameters in association with grouper (Epinephelidae) spawning aggregations. Water temperature measurements collected by the sensor also served to monitor and reveal triggers for coral bleaching events.