Multi-disciplinary Ocean Sensor for Environmental Analysis Program
As part of a National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) sponsored project, WET Labs is working with partners from the University of California, Santa Barbara, University of Hawaii, and SubChem Systems Inc. to develop and validate next generation bio-optical and chemical sensors for long-term operational deployments. The project is divided into two primary focus areas. WET Labs and SubChem Systems are working to develop operational capabilities in chemical and biological sensors. UCSB and UH researchers are deploying test-bed moorings for validation and testing of novel sensor platforms.
New Sensors and Methods
- New nutrient sensors for long term deployments (Cycle meter)
- New spectral fluorometers and backscatterng sensors (FLNTUS, BB3, FL3)
- New methods of increasing the in-situ operational life of absorption and attenuation meters (ac-9 and ac-s).
Test Beds
The MOSEAN team is testing instruments and systems in operation scenarios for both coastal and open ocean settings using two test bed moorings.
The Hale-Aloha mooring is located at the Hawaii Ocean Time Series (HOTS) site near Hawaii. UCSB and UH partners teamed together to implement this mooring which tests the equipment in oligotrophic waters similar to conditions over most of the ocean. While bio-fouling at Hale Aloha will be much less of a problem than at the CHARM site, the subtle gradients in the biogeochemical parameters of oligotrophic conditions will test the ability of the instruments to sustain high sensitivity over many measurement cycles.
