Instruments

The Lambda 35 is a double beam UV/Vis spectrophotometer from Perkin Elmer, packing pre-aligned Tungsten and Deuterium Lamps. It has a wavelength range of 190-1100nm and a variable bandwidth range of 0.5 to 4nm.

An instrument that measures the hydrogen ion activity in solutions.

The overall concentration of hydrogen ions is inversely related to its pH.  The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14 and indicates whether acidic (more H+) or basic (less H+). 

An instrument containing a photoelectric cell and a series of electrodes, used to detect and amplify the light from very faint sources.

A PAR sensor measures photosynthetically available (or active) radiation. The sensor measures photon flux density (photons per second per square meter) within the visible wavelength range (typically 400 to 700 nanometers). PAR gives an indication of the total energy available to plants for photosynthesis. This instrument name is used when specific type, make and model are not known.

The G2201-i Isotopic Analyzer measures d13C for CH4 and CO2. See: https://www.picarro.com/products/g2201i_isotopic_analyzer

A portable analyser designed for laboratories or field based isotope analysis. It uses Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS) to measure the spectral signature of the molecule of interest. The instrument includes a closed-loop temperature and pressure control. The L2130-i can be used in all aspects of the water cycle: water vapor, liquid water, or water trapped in solids. It has a typical precision of 0.25 per mil for d18O and 1.20 per mil for dD in solid samples. Corresponding typical values for liquid samples are 0.011 per mil for d18O and 0.038 per mil for dD.

A Plankton Net is a generic term for a sampling net that is used to collect plankton. It is used only when detailed instrument documentation is not available.

Plate readers (also known as microplate readers) are laboratory instruments designed to detect biological, chemical or physical events of samples in microtiter plates. They are widely used in research, drug discovery, bioassay validation, quality control and manufacturing processes in the pharmaceutical and biotechnological industry and academic organizations. Sample reactions can be assayed in 6-1536 well format microtiter plates. The most common microplate format used in academic research laboratories or clinical diagnostic laboratories is 96-well (8 by 12 matrix) with a typical reaction volume between 100 and 200 uL per well. Higher density microplates (384- or 1536-well microplates) are typically used for screening applications, when throughput (number of samples per day processed) and assay cost per sample become critical parameters, with a typical assay volume between 5 and 50 µL per well. Common detection modes for microplate assays are absorbance, fluorescence intensity, luminescence, time-resolved fluorescence, and fluorescence polarization. From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_reader, 2014-09-0-23.

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.

measures rain or snow precipitation

This radiometer measures sun and sky irradiance in the range of wavelengths 0.285 to 2.8 microns, including most of the solar spectrum. The PSP is intended to weight the energy flux in all wavelengths equally. It is a "hemispheric receiver" intended to approximate the
cosine response for oblique rays. The Eppley Precision Spectral Pyranometer (PSP) is primarily used where high accuracy is required or where it is used to calibrate other pyranometers. The PSP outputs a low level voltage ranging from 0 to a maximum of about 12mV depending on sensor calibration and radiation level. An instruction manual provided by Eppley contains the sensor calibration constant and serial number. The Precision Spectral Pyranometer is a World Meteorological Organization First Class Radiometer and comes with a calibration certificate traceable to the World Radiation Reference and a temperature compensation curve. More information is available from Eppley Labs.

A pressure sensor is a device used to measure absolute, differential, or gauge pressures. It is used only when detailed instrument documentation is not available.

The Pierce Micro BCA Protein Assay Kit is a three-component version of our BCA reagents, optimized to measure total protein concentration of dilute protein solutions (0.5 to 20 μg/mL).

The 'Pump-underway ship intake' system indicates that samples are from the ship's clean water intake pump. This is essentially a surface water sample from a source of uncontaminated near-surface (commonly 3 to 7 m) seawater that can be pumped continuously to shipboard laboratories on research vessels. There is typically a temperature sensor near the intake (known as the hull temperature) to provide measurements that are as close as possible to the ambient water temperature. The flow from the supply is typically directed through continuously logged sensors such as a thermosalinograph and a fluorometer. Water samples are often collected from the underway supply that may also be referred to as the non-toxic supply. Ideally the data contributor has specified the depth in the ship's hull at which the pump is mounted.

A source of uncontaminated near-surface seawater pumped onto the deck of the research vessel that can be sampled and analyzed. This pumped seawater supply is from an over-the-side pumping system, and is therefore different from the vessel underway seawater system.

Capable of being performed in numerous environments, push coring is just as it sounds. Push coring is simply pushing the core barrel (often an aluminum or polycarbonate tube) into the sediment by hand. A push core is useful in that it causes very little disturbance to the more delicate upper layers of a sub-aqueous sediment.

Description obtained from: http://web.whoi.edu/coastal-group/about/how-we-work/field-methods/coring/

An instrument for quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), also known as real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-Time PCR).

A piece of apparatus that consists of an ion source, a mass-to-charge analyser, a detector and a vacuum system and is used to measure mass spectra. The detector is a quadrupole mass-to-charge analyser, which holds the ions in a stable orbit by an electric field generated by four parallel electrodes.

The DURRIDGE RAD7 is a radon and thoron detector. The RAD7 is a computer-driven electronic detector, with pre-programmed set-ups for common tasks. It's built to withstand everyday use in the field. A rugged case encloses the detector, which is self-contained and self-sufficient. The RAD7 comes with a built-in air pump, rechargeable batteries, and a wireless infrared printer. (https://durridge.com/products/rad7-radon-detector/)

Vaisala RS80-GPS radiosondes carried aloft by helium balloons measure atmospheric temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction. The GPS receiver of the GPS-radiosonde measures a shift in Doppler frequencies using a codeless detection and measurement technique. The measured Doppler shifts are a combination of satellite and radiosonde motion and contain the pertinent information for wind speed and
direction computation. Doppler frequency measurements of up to 8 satellites are sent to the ground equipment using a low bandwidth (1200 baud) digital link. New independent GPS Doppler measurements from the GPS-sonde are provided every 0.5 seconds for up to 8 channels with 24-bit resolution. The ground equipment computes the wind
speed and direction using the differential GPS concept. For more information see www.hobeco.net/pdf/RS80_GPS.pdf.

The raised footrope whiting (or hake) trawl is a trawl with a specially designed spiny dogfish excluder grate within the extension of a silver hake (whiting) trawl net.

The Raman microscope is a laser-based microscopic device used to perform Raman spectroscopy. The Raman microscope begins with a standard optical microscope, and adds an excitation laser, laser rejection filters, a spectrometer or monochromator, and an optical sensitive detector such as a charge-coupled device (CCD), or photomultiplier tube, (PMT). One example is the XploRA confocal Raman microscope (information from the manufacturer).

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.

A device that measures the rate of respiration by a living organism or organic system by measuring its rate of exchange of oxygen and/or carbon dioxide.

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) Doc Ricketts is operated by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). ROV Doc Ricketts is capable of diving to 4000 meters (about 2.5 miles). The R/V Western Flyer is the support vessel for Doc Ricketts and was designed with a center well whose floor can be opened to allow Doc Ricketts to be launched from within the ship into the water below. For a complete description, see: https://www.mbari.org/at-sea/vehicles/remotely-operated-vehicles/rov-doc-ricketts/

ROV Hercules is operated via E/V Nautilus. Hercules is outfitted with features that allow it to perform intricate tasks, including two manipulator arms, a variety of sensors and samplers, a high-definition video camera, several LED lights, and high-resolution mapping tools. The submersible receives power from the surface through a fiber-optic cable, which also transmits data and video, to allow pilots located in the shipboard control van to "fly" the ROV in any direction through the use of its six thrusters. Other sensors located on Hercules measure pressure, depth, water temperature, oxygen concentration, and salinity to accommodate requests from scientists both onboard and onshore. Hercules is equipped with multiple cameras, including the high-definition video camera that allows for real-time telepresence.

The ROV is built to withstand pressures at a depth of 4,000 meters with more than 6,000 pound-force per square inch (psi) for up to three days. See more: https://nautiluslive.org/tech/rov-hercules

The UH remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Lu'ukai is a small work-class ROV that can be operated from the R/V Kilo Moana to conduct investigations in waters up to 6,000 meters deep. After beginning operations in early 2018, the Lu'ukai has supported a study of deep-sea biodiversity and ecological processes in the western Clarion-Clipperton Zone, an area where numerous manganese nodule mining exploration claims are located; has maintained and upgraded sensors at the ALOHA Cabled Observatory, the world's deepest operating ocean observatory; and has recovered a failed telecommunications cable used to support acoustic research in local waters.

ROV Ventana is operated by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). ROV Ventana comes with two manipulators as standard equipment: a Schilling T4, seven-function spatially correspondent arm, and a seven-function Schilling/Oceaneering Atlas Hybrid (rate and spacially correspondent.) Both manipulators can use a variety of end effectors. The ROV has forward-looking camera systems mounted on pan-and-tilt units. The vehicle also has a hydraulic swing arm that deploys from the port side.

Ventana is equipped with a Sea-Bird 19plus V2 CTD package which includes a dissolved oxygen sensor and a transmissometer. Three spatial lasers are mounted on the main camera for quantitative calculations.

For a full description, see https://www.mbari.org/at-sea/vehicles/remotely-operated-vehicles/rov-ventana/.

An automated DNA size selection instrument, with pulsed-field electrophoresis for resolving and collecting high molecular weight DNA. The instrument is used to automatically extract DNA fragments of a user selected size for downstream technologies such as miRNA isolation, DNA sequencing, RNA-seq, genotyping, DNA sequencing, ChIP-seq, and Long-read sequencing. The instrument uses electrophoresis along with laser detection or other imaging technology to determine when to start collecting DNA based on size ranges entered by the user. Once the DNA is no longer in the desired size range, collection ceases. The instrument has electrophoresis voltage options: 25V, 100V or 150V constant, or 100V pulsed field. The optical detection wavelength is 470 nm excitation, and 525 nm emission. The instrument can run up to 5 samples/gel cassettes at a time, with no possibility of cross contamination.

A salinometer is a device designed to measure the salinity, or dissolved salt content, of a solution.

The Satlantic Hyperspectral Surface Acquisition System (HyperSAS) radiometer is an above-water optical sensing system designed to provide continuous ocean color measurements over the spectral range 350-800 nm. The HyperSAS can be mounted on ships and fixed platforms, or on aircrafts for remote sensing surveys. The standard configuration of the system includes one irradiance sensor to measure downwelling irradiance, and two hyperspectral radiance sensors to capture the sea surface signal. The irradiance sensor response is proportional to the cosine of the angle of incidence of the incoming radiation, while each radiance sensor has a 3 deg field of view (FOV). The orientation precision, geo-referencing and time-stamp accuracy may be improved by mounting an optional GPS unit with Satlantic tilt and heading sensor. Moreover, a radiation pyrometer may also be added to measure land or sea surface temperature.

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.

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

A scanning electron microscope (SEM) scans a focused electron beam over a surface to create an image. The electrons in the beam interact with the sample, producing various signals that can be used to obtain information about the surface topography and composition.

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).

The GPCTD is a modular instrument for autonomous gliders.  For more information see: http://www.seabird.com/glider-payload-ctd

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 Sea-Bird Electronics SBE 26 SEAGAUGE is a wave level and tide recorder with a pressure sensor, accurate clock, precision thermometer and optional SBE 4M conductivity sensor. Pressure data are integrated to give sea level or are burst recorded at rates up to 4 Hz to characterize waves. The standard pressure sensor is a 20 meter (45 psia) Quartzonix, with a temperature-compensated quartz element. Optionally, the SBE 26 can be configured with a Paroscientific Digiquartz pressure sensor with a temperature-compensated quartz element in 13 ranges, from 1 to 6800 meters (15 to 10,000 psia). more information from Sea-Bird Electronics

The rack-mountable SBE 33 provides power and real-time data acquisition and control for an SBE 32 Carousel Water Sampler that has the SBE 33 interface option installed in its pylon. The SBE 33 is compatible with all Carousel sizes - full size, compact, and sub-compact. When powered and controlled by the SBE 33, the Carousel can be used:

- with an SBE 19, 19plus, 19plus V2, 25, 25plus, or 49 CTD
- without a CTD
- with a Neil Brown Mk III CTD (requires optional interface for both SBE 32 and 33)

The SBE 33 can also provide power and real-time data acquisition and control for the smaller SBE 55 ECO Water Sampler used with an SBE 19, 19plus, 19plus V2, 25, 25plus, or 49 CTD, or no CTD.

See http://www.seabird.com/sbe33-deck-unit for further details.

A high-accuracy temperature recorder (pressure optional) with internal battery and non-volatile memory for deployment at depths up to 10500 meters. It is intended for moorings or other long-term, fixed-site applications, as well as shorter-term deployments on nets, towed vehicles, or ROVs. Calibration coefficients stored in EEPROM allow the SBE 39 to transmit data in engineering units. Typical drift is less than 0.002C per year. The SBE 39 communicates directly with a computer via a standard RA-232 interface. For more information see http://www.bodc.ac.uk/data/documents/nodb/108627/

The Sea-Bird SBE 43 dissolved oxygen sensor is a redesign of the Clark polarographic membrane type of dissolved oxygen sensors. more information from Sea-Bird Electronics

The SBE 48 is a high-accuracy temperature recorder with non-volatile memory, designed for shipboard determination of sea surface temperature. Installed with magnets just below the water line, the SBE 48's temperature sensor is in contact with the inside of the ship's hull. For more information, see the SBE48 Manual.

This is a small (30 cm by 2.54 cm diameter) high-accuracy, battery-powered temperature and time logger capable of sampling intervals from 0.5 seconds to 9 hours. Temperature is measured by a pressure-protected (1500m depth) thermistor. Initial accuracy is 0.002C and drift is typically less than 0.002C per year.

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 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.

The Seaglider is an autonomous underwater vehicle developed through a collaboration between The Applied Physics Laboratory -University of Washington and the University of Washington School of Oceanography. These small, free-swimming vehicles can gather conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) data from the ocean for months at a time and transmit it to shore in near-real time via satellite data telemetry. Seagliders make oceanographic measurements traditionally collected by research vessels or moored instruments. They can survey along a transect, profile at a fixed location, and can be commanded to alter their sampling strategies throughout a mission.

The SeapHOx and SeaFET are autonomous sensors originally designed and developed by the Todd Martz Lab at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The SeaFET was designed to measure pH and temperature. The SeapHOx, designed later, combined the SeaFET with additional integrated sensors for dissolved oxygen and conductivity. Refer to Martz et al. 2010 (doi:10.4319/lom.2010.8.172).

The SeapHOx package is now produced by Sea-Bird Scientific and allows for integrated data collection of pH, temperature, salinity, and oxygen. Refer to Sea-Bird for specific model information.