Instruments

A luminometer is an instrument that measures light and other optical properties of specimens in chemiluminescent and bioluminescent applications.

A scalpel, or lancet, or bistoury, is a small and extremely sharp bladed instrument used for dissection and surgery.

Instrument that makes smoothed measuremeants of the elevation of the sea surface relative to a fixed vertical datum. Also called a tide gauge, various types.

A centrifuge that includes a vacuum chamber within which a centrifuge rotord is rotatably mounted for spinning a plurality of vials containing a solution at high speed while subjecting the solution to a vacuum condition for concentration and evaporation. Alternative names:  sample concentrator; speed vacuum; speed vac.

Clio is an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) created to accomplish the dual goals of global ocean mapping and biochemistry sampling. The ability to sample dissolved and particulate seawater biochemistry across ocean basins while capturing fine-scale biogeochemical processes sets it apart from other AUVs. Clio is designed to efficiently and precisely move vertically through the ocean, drift laterally to observe water masses, and integrate with research vessel operations to map large horizontal scales up to a depth of 6,000 meters. More information is available at https://www2.whoi.edu/site/deepsubmergencelab/clio/

A reusable instrument that always simultaneously measures conductivity and temperature (for salinity) and pressure (for depth).

This term applies to CTDs that are fixed and do not measure by profiling through the water column. For profiling CTDs, see https://www.bco-dmo.org/instrument/417.

All types of photographic equipment that may be deployed underwater including stills, video, film and digital systems.

An unmanned instrumented platform drifting freely in the water column that periodically makes vertical traverses through the water column (e.g. Argo float).

For measuring water level in fresh and salt water including tanks, wells, rivers, and the ocean.

A device that is used for the vacuum-driven processing of multiwell strips or plates, or spin columns.

A high-speed imaging camera is capable of recording rapid phenomena with high-frame rates. After recording, the images stored on the medium can be played back in slow motion. The functionality in a high-speed imaging device results from the frame rate, or the number of individual stills recorded in the period of one second (fps). Common video cameras will typically record about 24 to 40 fps, yet even low-end high-speed cameras will record 1,000 fps.

A long-range current profiler designed for combined current profile and biomass measurements. The Signature100 combines a four-beam current profiler operating at 100 kHz with an optional scientific echosounder. Applications include providing insight into the dynamics of zooplankton, krill or schools of fish; current profiling; providing insight into small-scale physical processes; and upwelling and downwelling studies. The instrument is suitable for buoy mounting with internal attitude and heading reference system (AHRS). Optional centre beam with 70-120 kHz Both the current profiler and the biomass measurements have an effective range of 300-400 m. The echosounder has a velocity resolution of 0.1 cm/s, a maximum sampling rate of 1 Hz (1/2 Hz at max output power), and a standard range of 0-1500 m.

A device used to inject fluids into or withdraw them from something; consists of a hollow barrel fitted with a plunger and a hollow needle.

A submersible instrument that logs PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation), temperature and tilt measurements. Data are recorded on an internal SD card. The sensor is a LI-192 Underwater Quantum Sensor, manufactured by LI-COR. The sensor uses a silicon photodiode and glass optical filters to create a uniform sensitivity to light wavelengths in the 400-700nm range. It measures PAR from all angles in one hemisphere. An anti-fouling wiper is available. The instrument can be configured to record at intervals between 1 and 60 minutes. It is submersible up to 100 metres. PAR measurement accuracy is dependent upon the stability of the sensor pointed towards the water surface.

Particle size analysis, particle size measurement, or simply particle sizing is the collective name of the technical procedures, or laboratory techniques which determines the size range, and/or the average, or mean size of the particles in a powder or liquid sample.

A free-flushing water sample bottle comprising a cylinder (polycarbonate, acrylic or PVC) with a stopper at each end. The bottle is closed by means of a messenger from the surface releasing the tension on a latex band and thus pulling the two stoppers firmly into place. A thermometer can be mounted inside the bottle. One or more bottles can be lowered on a line to allow sampling at a single or multiple depth levels. Van Dorn samplers are suitable for for physical (temperature), chemical and biological sampling in shallow to very deep water. Bottles are typically lowered vertically through the water column although a horizontal version is available for sampling near the seabed or at thermoclines or chemoclines. Because of the lack of metal parts the bottles are suitable for trace metal sampling, although the blue polyurethane seal used in the Alpha version may leach mercury. The Beta version uses white ASA plastic seals that do not leach mercury but are less durable.

An instrument that measures the light intensity emitted from a sample. [Definition Source: NCI]
Photometers are used to measure iIlluminance, irradiance, light absorption, scattering of light, reflection of light, fluorescence, phosphorescence, and luminescence.
[May include luminometers]

The seaFAST is an automated sample introduction system for analysis of seawater and other high matrix samples for analyses by ICPMS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry).

A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor light source that emits light when current flows through it. Electrons in the semiconductor recombine with electron holes, releasing energy in the form of photons.

Passive devices attached to captured organisms to specifically identify them when recaptured after release.

A hydrophone is a microphone designed to be used underwater for recording or listening to underwater sound. Most hydrophones are based on a piezoelectric transducer that generates electricity when subjected to a pressure change.

A gas generator that generates hydrogen gas.

The Chromium Controller by 10x Genomics uses advanced microfluidics to perform single-cell partitioning and barcoding. Powered by Next GEM technology, the Chromium Controller enables integrated analysis of single cells at massive scale. Chromium Single Cell products can capture molecular readouts of cell activity in multiple dimensions, including gene expression, cell surface proteins, immune clonotype, antigen specificity, and chromatin accessibility. (https://www.10xgenomics.com/instruments/chromium-controller).

An enclosed chamber designed to produce heat.

A device mounted on a ship that holds water samples under conditions of controlled temperature or controlled temperature and illumination.

A device that is used to isolate and collect DNA for subsequent molecular analysis.

 a heated chamber for drying

The Paroscientific 410K Pressure Transducer is an absolute pressure transducer with a Digiquartz pressure sensor and precision thermometer. Operates over a temperature range of 0-125 degC and a pressure range of 0-10000 psia with a typical accuracy of 0.01% and a resolution of 0.0001%.

Instrument that applies sound energy to agitate particles in a sample.

Instruments that generate enlarged images of samples using the phenomena of fluorescence and phosphorescence instead of, or in addition to, reflection and absorption of visible light. Includes conventional and inverted instruments.

An immersion transducer is a single element longitudinal wave transducer with a 1/4 wavelength layer acoustically matched to water. Immersion transducers are specifically designed to transmit ultrasound in applications where the test parts are partially or wholly immersed in water, which allows a uniform and fast coupling technique for rapid scanning of parts.