We will be helping collect data going across the Atlantic for the Secchi Disk Foundation. This is an organisation that measures the amount of phytoplankton in the water, this being at the top of the oceans food chain. Today, these tiny, sea surface, plant-like algae that start the marine food chain are altering in their abundance and distribution due to climate change. This is measured by lowering a 30cm wide weighted white disk in to the water until you cannot see it anymore which gives the Secchi depth. The name Secchi is named after the inventor, Pietro Angelo Secchi who was the Pope’s astronomer in 1865, who wanted something to measure the clarity of sea water. More information on this can be found here – www.secchidisk.org