The Ocean Health and Carbon Sequestration Monitoring System is a collaborative research initiative between the National Research Council Canada (NRC) and the University of Victoria designed to assess ocean ecosystem health and measure carbon sequestration capacity. The system combines advanced sensor technology, remotely operated vehicles (ROV), and machine learning to continuously monitor marine conditions in Canadian waters.
The system uses a transformer-based machine learning model trained on publicly available historical data to predict chlorophyll concentrations, a key indicator of marine ecosystem productivity and carbon uptake potential. This technology helps researchers understand how oceans respond to environmental changes and their role in carbon cycling. The system is currently in development and is used by Government of Canada employees and researchers to support ocean conservation and climate science research.
The project does not involve the collection or processing of personal information. A cybersecurity component has been integrated to assess and protect the sensor network's vulnerabilities, ensuring the integrity and privacy of research data collected during monitoring operations.
