Established in 2019, IAPSO Best Practice Study Groups will address an issue that, when resolved, will assist in the conduct of oceanographic research. Often in carrying out research, a choice must be made between options for measuring data, analysing data, processing software, or modelling a system. The reasons for choosing between competing methods are often not well documented and the relative strengths and weaknesses of these routes not published or well known.
We aim to fund one of these per year, issuing a call for proposals every two years.
New IAPSO Best Practice Study Group SOP for calibrating measurements of total dissolved inorganic carbon in seawater (published October 2026)
Total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) is a fundamental variable for characterising the marine carbonate system and is essential for studies of ocean acidification, ocean carbon storage, air-sea CO₂ fluxes, and marine carbon dioxide removal.
The IAPSO Best Practice Study Group on "Calibrating Measurements of Total Dissolved Inorganic Carbon in Seawater" has developed a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the calibration of DIC measurement systems. The SOP builds on recent inter-laboratory comparison (ILC) results and provides a harmonised calibration framework applicable to different analytical systems.
The recommended approach addresses four key aspects of DIC measurement quality: daily calibration and stability checks, periodic verification of system linearity across the working range, quantification of measurement repeatability, and evaluation of measurement uncertainty. The SOP also provides guidance on the preparation and characterisation of primary standard solutions, density corrections, and uncertainty propagation.
The SOP is now publicly available through the Ocean Best Practices System and can be accessed here: https://doi.org/10.25607/OBP-2069
To promote the study of the oceans and the interactions that take place at its boundaries with the sea floor, coastal environment and atmosphere, through the use of physics, chemistry, mathematics and biogeochemisty.
Values
IAPSO gives importance to involving scientists and students from developing countries in oceanographic activities.
