Benefits of Chemical Reference Materials to Ocean Science

BENEFITS OF CHEMICAL REFERENCE MATERIALS TO OCEAN SCIENCE 

It is impossible to have a discussion of the quality of chemical analyses made in the support of ocean science without a clear recognition that, in large part, this depends on the skills and dedication of the individuals involved. Indeed, almost all the scientific progress made to date in the ocean sciences has been achieved without the benefit of reference mated- 

The recent Future of Ocean Chemistry in the U.S. (FOCUS) report (NSF, 2000) identified eight key themes for future chemical oceanographic research (Box 1.2). Clearly, oceanographic analyses over the coming decades will involve a wide variety of dissolved and particulate constituents from coastal ocean, open ocean, and seafloor settings, and thus a variety of reference materials will be required to represent these key sample matrices. 

These eight research initiatives will require new strategies to ensure uniform analytical quality and comparability, and each of these areas could benefit to a greater or lesser extent from the availability of appropriate reference materials. Discussions at the Workshop (Islamorada, Florida in September 2001) held as part of this process helped the committee to clarify the ocean science community s perspectives on this, and 

Key Research Areas in Chemical Oceanography (Based on FOCUS report NSF, 2000) 

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