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Although oceans cover most of the Earth, much of the marine world remains unknown. To understand how these ecosystems are changing and how they influence the climate, scientists rely on marine sensors that can observe the ocean continuously and in places that are difficult to access.
Around 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by water, and the oceans contain 96.5% of the planet's total water, as well as absorbing around 90% of the excess heat generated by greenhouse gases. However, despite centuries of study, it is estimated that around 95% of the marine world remains unexplored.
The oceans play a fundamental role in regulating the climate, conserving biodiversity and sustaining numerous economic activities linked to the sea. Protecting these environments requires a better understanding of how they are changing, which is achieved by measuring physical, chemical and biological variables using advanced observation technologies such as real-time telemetry, remote observation, acoustic and electromagnetic sensors, environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques, autonomous platforms and marine robotics.
Sensors make it possible to monitor ocean health and climate change using parameters such as temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen and marine currents. These devices provide reliable data even in hard-to-reach places, facilitating continuous observation of the ocean. In addition to supporting scientific research, sensors contribute to the sustainable management of marine resources, the protection of coastal ecosystems, and the detection of extreme phenomena such as tsunamis, abnormal tides, and the spread of pollutants. They are also important for maritime safety and navigation, supporting bathymetric studies and underwater mapping.
When designing sensors for underwater life, it is important to consider factors such as adverse environmental conditions, biofouling, long-term stability and accessibility for maintenance.
The systematic study of the oceans began with expeditions such as the HMS Challenger expedition, which between 1872 and 1876 collected data on temperature, water chemistry, currents, marine life and ocean floor geology through sampling at different depths. Later, during the Cold War, military needs drove the development of sensors to measure temperature, salinity, pressure and currents, leading to instruments such as the CTD (Conductivity-Temperature-Depth), which are still widely used today.
Since the 1990s, awareness of climate change has transformed marine research, shifting from simply studying the ocean to monitoring its condition and its role in the climate. Since then, automatic sensors have been installed on buoys, satellites, underwater vehicles and marine observatories. A notable example is the Argo project, which since 2000 has maintained thousands of autonomous floats measuring temperature and salinity in all oceans.
Society's awareness of climate change in the 1990s led to a change in perspective. The aim was no longer just to study the ocean, but also to monitor climate change and the health of marine ecosystems. This led to the installation of automatic sensors on buoys, satellites, underwater vehicles and marine observatories. One example of this is the Argo project (https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/es/argo/), which since 2000 has maintained thousands of autonomous floats measuring temperature and salinity in all oceans.
At European level, initiatives such as the COMMON SENSE Project have demonstrated the potential of autonomous marine sensors capable of operating with reduced maintenance, measuring parameters such as pH, nutrients, heavy metals, microplastics and underwater noise. These systems are integrated into modular platforms and are compatible with international initiatives such as the Global Ocean Observing System and the Global Earth Observation System of Systems. Other projects, such as NeXOS, focused on the development of low-cost, compact and multifunctional sensors to improve the coverage and quality of marine observations. OCEANSensor developed a set of in situ biogeochemical sensors for coastal and ocean waters, including pH, pCO2, O2, nitrate, phosphate and silicate, as well as benthic flux quantification systems for applications such as carbon capture and CO2 leak monitoring. Projects such as NAUTILOS and TechOceanS have explored new technologies for measuring physical, chemical and biological variables, microplastics, environmental DNA and RNA, nutrients, pollutants and toxins, contributing to continuous real-time ocean observation.
Marine sensors combine several key components: a detection element that measures environmental parameters, processing systems that convert signals into usable data, a power source, and storage and transmission systems that enable information to be sent to analysis stations.
In this context, FURIOUS is developing a new generation of biodegradable underwater biosensors, designed as a monitoring tool integrated into underwater robotics systems. These devices, along with other systems under development, are designed from the outset with bio-based, biocompatible and biodegradable materials, manufactured using 3D printing, thus helping to address one of the major challenges facing the oceans: pollution from fossil-based microplastics.