Instruments

A refractometer is a laboratory or field device for the measurement of an index of refraction (refractometry). The index of refraction is calculated from Snell's law and can be calculated from the composition of the material using the Gladstone-Dale relation.

In optics the refractive index (or index of refraction) n of a substance (optical medium) is a dimensionless number that describes how light, or any other radiation, propagates through that medium.

The RINKO III is a fast-response optical dissolved oxygen (DO) and temperature sensor. The DO sensor is coated with photostimulable phosphor (PSP) on the outside of the pressure-resistant acrylic optical window, measuring phosphorescence quenching phase shift. The excitation blue LED pulse generates a red phosphorescence pulse, which in turn has an inverse correlation with the oxygen partial pressure in the water. It is an analogue output version. It has a response time of less than 1 second in air, enabling dissolved oxygen measurements with continuous profiling at high speeds. The dissolved oxygen sensor has a non-linear accuracy of +/-2% of full scale (at 1atm, 25 deg C) and the temperature sensor +/-0.02 deg C. It has a pressure rating of 7000 m. This device is made by JFE Advantech Co. Ltd.

Rolling tanks, which keep particles in suspension, thus simulating aggregate formation in situ.

Marine snow experiments are conducted in roller tanks, which turn continuously, keeping marine snow in suspension. It is important for marine snow not to touch surfaces. The rolling tanks, which keep particles in suspension, thus simulate aggregate formation in situ. Marine snow formation due to different types of oil was tested. Some treatments are easily identifiable as containing oil by their color (middle). UCSB, CA 2012.

The Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Jason is operated by the Deep Submergence Laboratory (DSL) at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). WHOI engineers and scientists designed and built the ROV Jason to give scientists access to the seafloor that didn't require them leaving the deck of the ship. Jason is a two-body ROV system. A 10-kilometer (6-mile) fiber-optic cable delivers electrical power and commands from the ship through Medea and down to Jason, which then returns data and live video imagery. Medea serves as a shock absorber, buffering Jason from the movements of the ship, while providing lighting and a bird’s eye view of the ROV during seafloor operations. During each dive (deployment of the ROV), Jason pilots and scientists work from a control room on the ship to monitor Jason’s instruments and video while maneuvering the vehicle and optionally performing a variety of sampling activities. Jason is equipped with sonar imagers, water samplers, video and still cameras, and lighting gear. Jason’s manipulator arms collect samples of rock, sediment, or marine life and place them in the vehicle’s basket or on "elevator" platforms that float heavier loads to the surface. More information is available from the operator site at URL.

Category of instrument that simultaneously measures electrical conductivity and temperature in the water column to provide temperature and salinity data.

The salinometer is an instrument for measuring the salinity of a water sample.

The Satlantic FIRe (Fluorescence Induction and Relaxation) System is a bio-optical technology used to measure variable chlorophyll fluorescence in photosynthetic organisms. Based on the Fast Repetition Rate Fluorometry (FRRF) technique, the FIRe was developed in collaboration with Dr. Maxim Gorbunov and Dr. Paul Falkowski from Rutgers University. 

More information on FIRe (PDF).

The SBE 16plus V2 is a high accuracy conductivity and temperature recorder (pressure optional) with RS232 or RS485 interfaces. It is designed for moorings and other long-duration, fixed-site deployments. It has 6 amplified A/D input channels and conditioned power of 500 ma is available for auxiliary sensors, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, fluorescence, PAR etc. Compared to the previous 16plus, the V2 incorporates an electronics upgrade and additional features, with six differentially amplified A/D input channels, one RS-232 data input channel, and 64 MB FLASH memory. Data can be output in XML as well as ASCII and HEX formats. Firmware upgrades can be downloaded through the communications port, without opening the instrument.

The SBE 27 pH and O.R.P. (Redox) sensor combines a pressure-balanced, glass-electrode, Ag/AgCl reference probe and platinum O.R.P. electrode to provide in-situ measurements at depths to 1200 m. The replaceable pH probe is permanently sealed and is supplied with a soaker bottle attachment that prevents the reference electrode from drying out during storage. The SBE 27 is intended for use as an add-on auxiliary sensor for profiling CTDs (SBE 9plus; SBE 19, 19plus, and 19plus V2 SeaCAT; and SBE 25 and 25plus Sealogger).

Sea-Bird SBE 38 Remote Digital Immersion Thermometer is a seawater temperature sensor in a 10,500 meter (34,400 ft) titanium pressure housing. Real-time temperature data is transmitted in ASCII characters (degrees C or raw counts) via an RS-232 or optional RS-485 serial interface for display or logging by PC or data logger. The SBE 38's measurement range is -5 to +35 C; absolute accuracy is better than 0.001 C (1 mK) and resolution is approximately 0.00025 C (0.25 mK).

A small externally powered, high-accuracy instrument, designed for shipboard determination of sea surface (pumped-water) conductivity and temperature. It is constructed of plastic and titanium to ensure long life with minimum maintenance. It may optionally be interfaced to an external SBE 38 hull temperature sensor.

Sea Bird SBE 45 MicroTSG (Thermosalinograph)

Dissolved oxygen sensor with either a Beckmann (SBE 13B) or YSI polarographic element (SBE 13Y limited to 2000m depth). Designed to interface with the SBE 9 and 9plus CTD underwater units. An optional plenum to connect into the pumped plumbing system was available but usage with the membrane exposed was possible. Replaced by the SBE 43 in 2001.

The Sea-Bird SBE-4 conductivity sensor is a modular, self-contained instrument that measures conductivity from 0 to 7 Siemens/meter. The sensors (Version 2; S/N 2000 and higher) have electrically isolated power circuits and optically coupled outputs to eliminate any possibility of noise and corrosion caused by ground loops. The sensing element is a cylindrical, flow-through, borosilicate glass cell with three internal platinum electrodes. Because the outer electrodes are connected together, electric fields are confined inside the cell, making the measured resistance (and instrument calibration) independent of calibration bath size or proximity to protective cages or other objects.

The SBE 49 FastCAT is a CTD sensor for use in autonomous platforms. It contains a SBE 3P temperature sensor, a SBE 4C conductivity sensor and a strain-gauge pressure sensor as standard. It can operate in autonomus (16 Hz per sec) or polled mode (transmits each sample). The sensor is depth-rated to 350 m (plastic housing) or 7000 m (titanium housing). Accuracy: +/- 0.002 deg C (temperature), +/- 0.0003 S/m (conductivity), 0.1% of full scale range (pressure).

The SBE 50 digital oceanographic pressure sensor is a high-accuracy, high-resolution (16 Hz sampling) pressure sensor, intended for towed vehicle, ROV, AUV, or other autonomous profiling applications. It has titanium housing rated for depths to 7000 meters. It is offered in seven full-scale ranges from 0 to 20/100/350/1000/2000/3500/7000 meters. Its initial accuracy 0.1% of full-scale range, it has a typical Stability 0.004% of full-scale range per month, and a resolution 0.002% of full-scale range.

An instrument used to measure weight or mass.

An electronic device that generates a digital representation of an image for data input to a computer.
OR a receiver designed to search for a signal within a specified frequency range. [Definition Source: NCI]

The Self-Contained Underwater Fluorescence Apparatus (SCUFA)
is a type of Submersible Fluorometer available from Turner Designs that can be deployed in either moored or profiling mode (SCUFA brochure).

The Sea Tech chlorophyll-a fluorometer has internally selectable settings to adjust for different ranges of chlorophyll concentration, and is designed to measure chlorophyll-a fluorescence in situ. The instrument is stable with time and temperature and uses specially selected optical filters enabling accurate measurements of chlorophyll a. It can be deployed in moored or profiling mode. This instrument designation is used when specific make and model are not known. The Sea Tech Fluorometer was manufactured by Sea Tech, Inc. (Corvalis, OR, USA).

Self contained self powered CTD profiler. Measures conductivity, temperature and pressure in both profiling (samples at 4 scans/sec) and moored (sample rates of once every 5 seconds to once every 9 hours) mode. Available in plastic or titanium housing with depth ranges of 600m and 7000m respectively. Minature submersible pump provides water to conductivity cell.

A platinum-electrode conductivity sensor and a thermistor mounted in a corrosion-resistant plastic and titanium housing designed to be continuously plumbed into a vessel's pumped seawater supply. The instrument may be interfaced to a remote SBE 38 temperature sensor mounted either on the hull or in the seawater inlet. Data are both stored in internal memory and output to a serial port for external logging.  Conductivity is measured in the range 0-7 S/m with an accuracy of 0.001 S/m and a resolution  of 0.0001 S/m. Housing temperature is measured in the range -5-35C with an accuracy of 0.01 C and a resolution  of 0.001 C. Remote temperature is measured in the range -5-35C  with an accuracy of 0.001 C and a resolution  of 0.0003 C. More information at http://www.seabird.com/products/spec_sheets/21data.htm.

A fully automated Segmented Flow Analysis (SFA) system, ideal for water and seawater analysis. It comprises a modular system which integrates an autosampler, peristaltic pump, chemistry manifold and detector. The sample and reagents are pumped continuously through the chemistry manifold, and air bubbles are introduced at regular intervals forming reaction segments which are mixed using glass coils. The AA3 uses segmented flow analysis principles to reduce inter-sample dispersion, and can analyse up to 100 samples per hour using stable LED light sources.

The Seapoint Turbidity Meter detects light scattered by particles suspended in water, generating an output voltage proportional to turbidity or suspended solids.

The Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS), a polar satellite rotating around the Earth 14 times per day, is operated and maintained by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to provide quantitative data on global ocean bio-optical properties. The NASA/DAAC at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) produces binned data and images as the final SeaWiFS data products. For more information refer to SeaWiFS Project Homepage.

Floating sediment traps are specially designed sampling devices deployed to float in the water column (as opposed to being secured to a mooring at a fixed depth) for periods of time to collect particles from the water column that are falling toward the sea floor. In general a sediment trap has a container at the bottom to collect the sample and a broad funnel-shaped opening at the top with baffles to keep out very large objects and help prevent the funnel from clogging. The 'Sediment Trap -Floating' designation is used for a floating type of sediment trap about which no other design details are known.

A Particle Interceptor Trap is a prototype sediment trap designed in the mid 1990s to segregate 'swimmers' from sinking particulate material sampled from the water column. The prototype trap used 'segregation plates' to deflect and segregate 'swimmers' while a series of funnels collected sinking particles in a chamber (see Dennis A. Hansell and Jan A. Newton. September 1994. Design and Evaluation of a "Swimmer"-Segregating Particle Interceptor Trap, Limnology and Oceanography, Vol. 39, No. 6, pp. 1487-1495).

The Deep-Sea Current Meter and Larval Trap Mooring is a seafloor anchored mooring equipped to collect sediment/invertebrate larva, and record deep-sea ocean current and acoustical data.

Instruments on the mooring have included sediment traps and a Falmouth Scientific Inc. Acoustic Current Meter with vector-averaged current speed and direction.

A self-contained unit which measures the scattering of LASER light at a number of angles. This primary measurement is mathematically inverted to give a grain size distribution, and also scaled to obtain the volume scattering function. The size distribution is presented as concentration in each of the grain-size class bins. Optical transmission, water depth and temperature are recorded as supporting measurements.

The Sequoia LISST 100-X series instruments are available in two range sizes: 1.25-250 microns (Type B) and 2.5-500 microns (Type C).

A Shimadzu TOC-V Analyzer measures DOC by high temperature combustion method.

A split-beam scientific echosounder primarily designed for fisheries research. It can operate seven frequencies simultaneously ranging from 18 to 710 kHz. Real time echo integration and target strength analysis in an unlimited number of layers is provided as well as storage of raw data for replay or analysis in one of several post-processing software packages such as Simrad's BI60.

The SLOWDROP Optical Profiler is a free-falling instrument package that "has a Sea-Bird 911+ CTD, two multiwavelength absorption meters (WetLabs ac-9), and a multiexcitation spectrofluorometer (WetLabs SAFIRE) as its basic configuration. The package is deployed on a loose data tether, with sufficient buoyancy on the package to obtain descent rates of 15-20 cm/s. These slow descent rates allow data acquisition on centimeter spatial scales and result in multiparameter characterization of small-scale features." (Cowles, et al.,1998)

References: Cowles, T.J., et al., 1998. Small-scale Planktonic Structure: Persistence and Trophic Consequences. Oceanography, Vol. 11(1), pp. 4-9.

A high-precision instrument for measuring single-cell mass, volume, and density using one or two resonators connected by a serpentine fluidic channel. During operation of the dual SMR, a dilute cell population suspended in cell media, Fluid 1, is delivered to the sample bypass via pressure-driven flow (Figure 2A, Supplementary Figure 1), and single cells flow into the first SMR (SMR1) for the first buoyant mass measurement. The cells then travel through a microchannel to a cross-junction, where a second fluid of different density is introduced. After the cross-junction, cells continue through a long serpentine channel, which facilitates mixing of the two fluids. The cells next enter a second cantilever (SMR2) for a buoyant mass measurement in the mixed fluid, Fluid 2. As cells flow through each cantilever, a change in resonance frequency is recorded (Figure 2B), which is determined by each cell's buoyant mass in each cantilever's corresponding fluid.

Reference: Bryan, A.K. et al. (2015) Measuring single cell mass, volume, and density with dual suspended microchannel resonators. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 108: 10992–10996 doi:10.1073/pnas.1104651108. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3895367/

The Standard Monitoring Unit for the recruitment of Reef Fishes (SMURF) consists of a cylinder of fine mesh plastic grid that contains a folded section of larger mesh plastic grid.

See Ammann, A.J. 2004. SMURFs: standard monitoring units for the recruitment of temperate reef fishes. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 299:135– 154. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2003.08.014

A standard ARGO style float, called the Sounding Oceanographic Lagrangian Explorer (SOLO and SOLO-II).

SOLO floats are drifting instruments and have the ability to change their own buoyancy. After deployment it moves with the ocean currents and can, therefore, travel long distances on their own without the need of a ship or a person to handle them. They are  programmed to come to the ocean surface at regular intervals to transmit their data and position to orbiting satellites. The float then sinks again, continuing the process.

To control the buoyancy of the float, a small amount of oil is contained within the float. When the float is submerged, all of the oil is kept entirely within the hull.  When it is time to rise to the surface, the oil is pumped into an external rubber bladder that expands.  Since the weight of the float does not change but its volume increases when the bladder expands, the float becomes more buoyant and floats to the surface.  Similarly, when the float is on the surface and it is time to submerge, the oil is withdrawn from the bladder into the hull of the float and the buoyancy decreases.

A Sonobuoy is a relatively small (typically 4 inches, or 124 mm, in diameter and 36 inches, or 910 mm, long) expendable sonar system that is dropped/ejected from aircraft or ships conducting anti-submarine warfare or underwater acoustic research.

Mesh-netted bag used for collection of spat (juvenile scallops, oysters, etc.). Access to the bag is by a top opening held shut with a drawstring. Strips or panels of black plastic or cloth material, designed to attract spat, are placed into the fine-meshed bag. Bags are closed and hung underwater for a period of time to allow the spat to settle in the collection material. Further description provided here (PDF).

A spectrometer is an optical instrument used to measure properties of light over a specific portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. The World Precision Instruments (WPI) UltraPath is a high-performance spectral absorbency system developed by WPI under a collaborative agreement with NASA (Stennis Space Center) for the spectroscopic determination of colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in
seawater and fresh water environments. It was designed for use in the laboratory and in the natural environment. (manufacturer site: www.wpiinc.com)

The World Precision Instruments (WPI) Multiple Pathlength Liquid Core Waveguide (MPLCW) system is an instrument package combining a Liquid Waveguide Capillary Cell (LWCC) and a WPI spectrophotometer via fiber optics. The waveguide is a fiber optic cell that combines an increased optical pathlength (50–500cm) with small sample volume (125–1250µL). Ultra-sensitive absorbance measurements can be performed in the ultraviolet (UV), visible (VIS) and near-infrared (NIR) to detect low sample concentrations in a laboratory or process control environment. (www.whpiinc.com)

Measures Doppler near surface vessel speed through the water.

"The split-beam echosounder has a transducer which is divided into four quadrants.The target direction is determined by comparing the signals received by each quadrant... The transmission pulse is applied to the whole transducer but the signals received by each quadrant are processed separately...The target strength is estimated from the transducer sensitivity in the relevant direction, namely the beam pattern and the on-axis sensitivity." From "Fisheries Acoustics: Theory and Practice" by E. John Simmonds, D. N. MacLennan, Wiley-Blackwell; 2 edition.

The SPOT5 is an Argos transmitter manufactured by Wildlife Computers (Redmond, WA) and designed for deployment on marine mammals, fish, or seabirds. SPOT5 devices use the Argos satellite network to transmit locations of animals with an accuracy of +/- 350-meters. See more information from the manufacturer.

The Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) is a passive microwave radiometer that measures atmospheric, oceanic and terrestrial microwave brightness temperatures at 19.35, 22.2, 37.0, and 85.5 GHz, from which ocean surface wind speed, atmospheric water vapour, cloud liquid water and rain rate can be derived. The SSM/I consists of an offset parabolic reflector of dimensions 24 x 26 inches, fed by a corrugated, broad-band, seven-port horn antenna. The reflector and feed are mounted on a drum that contains the radiometers, digital data subsystem, mechanical scanning subsystem, and power subsystem. The reflector-feed-drum assembly is rotated about the axis of the drum by a coaxially mounted bearing and power transfer assembly (BAPTA). All data, commands, timing and telemetry signals, and power pass through the BAPTA on slip ring connectors to the rotating assembly. The absolute brightness temperature of the scene incident upon the antenna is received and spatially filtered by the antenna to produce an effective input signal or antenna temperature at the input of the feed horn antenna. The SSM/I has seven channels, four frequencies, and is orthogonally polarised. It rotates continuously about an axis parallel to the local spacecraft at 31.6 rpm and measures the upwelling scene brightness temperature over an angular range of 102.4 degrees at nadir. The active scene measurements lie +51.2 to -51.2 degrees about the forward (F10, F11) or aft (F8) direction. This results in a swath width of approximately 1400 kilometres. During each 1.9 second scan, 128 discrete uniformly spaced radiometric samples are taken at the two 85 GHz channels and, on alternate scans, 64 discrete samples are taken at the remaining lower frequency channels. The antenna beam intersects the Earth's surface at an incidence angle of 53.1 degrees. Flown on F08, F10, F11, F13, F14, F15, F16, F17, F18 F19. https://nsidc.org/data/docs/daac/ssmi_instrument.gd.html

A Stramin net is specifically designed to sample plankton near the bottom and one such, designed by F.S. Russell in 1928, the 'stramin' net (Diameter: 1.5 m., Mesh: 6 strands/cm.) was equipped with rollers at the lower edge of its frame in order that it could be safely lowered until it touched the bottom. One "oblique" haul was made from the bottom (or from a depth of 200 m.) to the surface at each station. "It was mounted in an Agassiz trawl frame so that it was centered inside the trawl net, which was
also fixed to the frame and cleared the bottom by approximately 17.8 cm. No provisions were made to prevent contamination of the collection during the lowering of the net to the sea floor or the hauling back to the surface."(Wiebe and Benfield, 2003)

References:

Wiebe, Peter H. and Mark C. Benfield, 2003. From the Hensen net toward four-dimensional biological oceanography. Progress in Oceanography, 56, pp. 7-136.

The TRACOR Acoustic Profiling System (TAPS) is custom designed zooplankton sampler developed by V. Holliday of Tracor Inc. It uses a four transducer array operating at frequencies 265 kHz, 420 kHz, 1.1 MHz, and 3 MHz. The transducer array is designed to provide information on the distribution of individual organisms ranging in size from individual copepods to nauplii at distances of 2-3 m.

Time depth recorders (TDR's) manufactured by Wildlife Computers, Redmond WA) are designed for studies of seals, penguins, fish, and marine mammals. Standard TDR's are mounted externally on the animal's body, where they record temperature and depth. See more information from the manufacturer.

A thermal cycler or "thermocycler" is a general term for a type of laboratory apparatus, commonly used for performing polymerase chain reaction (PCR), that is capable of repeatedly altering and maintaining specific temperatures for defined periods of time. The device has a thermal block with holes where tubes with the PCR reaction mixtures can be inserted. The cycler then raises and lowers the temperature of the block in discrete, pre-programmed steps. They can also be used to facilitate other temperature-sensitive reactions, including restriction enzyme digestion or rapid diagnostics.

(adapted from http://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/research_methods/genomics/pcr.html)

A Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometer (TIMS) is an instrument that measures isotopic ratios after electrical excitation of a sample causes ionization of the isotopes.

A unit that accurately determines the nitrogen concentrations of organic compounds typically by detecting and measuring its combustion product (NO). See description document at: http://bcodata.whoi.edu/LaurentianGreatLakes_Chemistry/totalnit.pdf

The Shimadzu Total Organic Carbon Analyzer TOC-VCPH is a PC-controlled, total organic carbon analyzer (high-sensitivity model), designed to measure total carbon (TC), inorganic carbon (IC), total organic carbon (TOC), and non-purgeable organic carbon (NPOC); an optional accessory enables the measurement of particulate organic carbon (POC) and total nitrogen (TN) as well. The instrument uses the 680 degrees Celsius combustion catalytic oxidation method to analyze aqueous samples, and optionally solid and gas samples.