The key aspect is temperature, with rising sea temperatures harming the fragile ocean reefs and also frustrating attempts to investigate. Well, a volunteer group of activists – called CoolCoral Project – has been experimenting how to possibly begin to help, with the aid of Raspberry Pi technology.
Note that we are talking about coral samples, here, for oceanographic research experiments, not whole reefs in situ (!)…
Anyway, thanks to the Raspberry Pi team for highlighting this one, which was highlighted in the May issue (#141) of The MagPi.
Basically, the UK team are prototyping a system that could help concentrate cooler water towards coral samples to help alleviate warming effects. Water cooling for coral, is the analogy made.
With solar-power for energy, it will be running the Raspberry Pi Pico for data readings and collection. The plastic box holds the electronics in the picture above.
The team highlight, for example, the Pico’s ability to run two threads simultaneously allows them to host a small website (updated wirelessly, of course, courtesy of the Pico W) and also run the pumps and mechanics.
Underneath, seawards, the pumps take in seawater that then runs through a refrigeration unit. And then the cooled seawater runs through another pipe steered towards the seabed.
It seems the final device will require ballast to keep it lower in the water, but most of the electrical and mechanical system work has been completed. And we wish them well!
“There’s already interest being shown towards utilising this device for experimenting with substrate microbes, and that interest isn’t even concerning the coral-cooling part of it,” explains team member Iestyn Jones. “A floating device that has the potential to store masses of energy is, frankly, unheard of in ocean sciences. Most ocean-based experiments running today require boats and diesel engines to run. Our machine uses solar panels!”
You can read more details on the CoolCoral Project instagram page.
See also: Raspberry Pi gets Hailo AI co-processor accelerator
