This directory provides information about sensors and instruments developed and used by the ocean carbon research community. We try to list hardware that is available "off the shelf". Occasionally we decide to list instruments / sensors that are not yet commercially available but underwent substantial tests and can be obtained from developers. Information provided by developers and commercial partners might sporadically become out-dated. Please contact us with suggestions for updates. IOCCP does not, in any way, "endorse" hardware listed below. To add a sensor or instrument to this directory, please contact the IOCCP Office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
| Brief Description: |
The Versatile INstrument for the Determination of Total inorganic carbon and titration Alkalinity (VINDTA) combines the alkalinity titration concept with a simplified extraction unit for coulometric DIC measurements; 3 samples / hour.
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| Platforms: |
discrete sampling
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| More information and contact | VINDTA 3C; Dr. Ludger Mintrop (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) |
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| Brief Description |
In principle the VINDTA 3D is a DIC part of the VINDTA 3C. DIC by coulometric titration; 4 samples / hour. Precision typically +/- 1 μmol kg-1 in open ocean water. |
| Platforms: |
discrete sampling, underway systems |
| More information and contact | VINDTA 3D; Dr. Ludger Mintrop (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) |
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| Brief Description: |
The Automated Infra Red Inorganic Carbon Analyzer (AIRICA) is based on the IR-detection of CO2 purged from acidified sample ; 6-10 samples/hour, sample volume < 10 ml.
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| Platforms: |
discrete sampling
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| More information and contact | AIRICA; Dr. Ludger Mintrop (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) |
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| Brief Description: |
LI7000 based. Uses small sample volume (< 1 ml) and takes 6 minutes per analysis. Advantageous for analysis of coastal waters, sediment porewaters and time series incubation water samples.
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| Platforms: |
discrete sampling
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| More information and contact | DIC Analyzer AS-C3 ; email Amy Chen: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
References:
| Brief Description: |
Coulometer for DIC analyses (does not include sample handling or gas extraction); Repeatability of ±0.019% (152.30 ± 0.03 μg C; n=58) was attained when successively analyzing the ~30cm3 of 1% CO2 in air (at T / K =293.15 and P / hPa =1013.25). Repeatability of ±0.6 μmol kg-1 was estimated from 188 pairs of replicate analyses on board R/V Mirai during its WHP P21 cruise conducted in 2009.
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| Platforms: |
discrete sampling
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| More information and contact | It's a rather small company with no website but their instruments are widely used and recommended by Japanese colleagues. Individual request procedure is preferred by NIHON. As of September 2014 please direct your communication simultaneously to: Dr Masao Ishii at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , Mr Akihiro Kudo at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and Mrs Corazon Abe at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
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| Brief Description |
Total Alkalinity by open cell potentiometric (Gran) titration Small sample volume (12-25 ml), 8 minutes per titration
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| Platforms: |
discrete sampling
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| More information and contact | AS-ALK2 Titrator; email Amy Chen: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
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| Brief Description: |
Alkalinity by open cell potentiometric titration 3-4 samples / hour.
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| Platforms: |
discrete sampling
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| More information and contact | VINDTA 3S; Dr. Ludger Mintrop (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) |
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| Brief Description: |
A defined amount of seawater is acidified using diluted hydrochloric acid (HCI). After acidification the generated CO2 in the sample is removed resulting in a so called open-cell titration. The subsequent pH determination is carried out by means of an indicator dye and VIS absorption spectrometry. Together with salinity and temperature the resulting pH is directly used for the calculation of TA.
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| Platforms: |
discrete sampling
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| More information and contact | More info: HydroFIA TA; Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For general enquires click HERE. |
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| Brief Description: |
This titration system implements a modified version of a published potentiometric titration method (Dickson et al., 2003) that has been detailed in SOP 3b of the Guide to Best Practices for Ocean CO2 Measurements (Dickson et al. (2007)). A known amount of sample is acidified to a pH of ~3.6, the evolved CO2 is removed, and the titration continued to a pH of ~3. The equivalence point corresponding to the total alkalinity is evaluated from titration points in the pH region 3.0 – 3.5 using a non-linear least-squares procedure that corrects for the reactions with sulfate and fluoride ions that are present in the seawater.
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| Platforms: |
discrete sampling
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| More information and contact |
For more information please see the
Contact: Professor Andrew G. Dickson; email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego
Alkalinity reference materials, and calibrated titration acid available from: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. |
References:
Dickson, A.G., Afghan, J.D. and Anderson, G.C., 2003. Reference materials for oceanic CO2 analysis: a method for the certification of total alkalinity. Marine Chemistry, 80(2), pp.185-197.
| Brief Description |
Measures both surface air and aqueous pCO2 concentrations (LiCor NDIR based). Precision is <1ppm. Daily data transmission via Iridium satellite. Sampling frequency is every 3 hours over 400 days without maintenance; frequency is fully adjustable and can be modified remotely via satellite. Zero and span gas calibrations with every sample. Demonstrated capability of more than 12 months of autonomous operation. Modular design allows buoy platform flexibility. Can interface with up to three additional sensors. Designed by MBARI ; Enhanced by NOAA ; Manufactured and Commercialized by Battelle.
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| Platforms: |
underway systems, moorings, drifters
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| More information and contact | pCO2 Monitoring System Mark Davis (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) |
References:
Sutton, A. J., Sabine, C. L., Maenner-Jones, S., Lawrence-Slavas, N., Meinig, C., Feely, R. A., Mathis, J. T., Musielewicz, S., Bott, R., McLain, P. D., Fought, H. J., and Kozyr, A.: A high-frequency atmospheric and seawater pCO2 data set from 14 open-ocean sites using a moored autonomous system, Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 6, 353-366, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-6-353-2014, 2014.
| Brief Description: |
Measures pCO2 concentration by IR detection and features an automatic zero point compensation to maintain long-term stability with minimal signal drift. The sensor equilibrates a gas headspace with surrounding water using a patented supported tubular water-pumped interface that minimizes biofouling.
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| Platforms: |
underway systems, moorings
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| More information and contact | CO2-PRO; Mark Barry (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) |
References:
Jiang, Z.-P., Hydes, D. J., Tyrrell, T., Hartman, S. E., Hartman, M. C., Campbell, J. M., Johnson, B. D., Schofield, B., Turk, D., Wallace, D., Burt, W., Thomas, H., Cosca, C., and Feely, R.: Application and assessment of a membrane-based pCO2 sensor under field and laboratory conditions. Limnology and Oceanography Methods, 12, 264-280, 2014.
| Brief Description: |
Compact version of the CO2-PRO with same accuracy and stability. Compared to the CO2-Pro, it is smaller, lower cost, and has optional depth capability to 4000 meters. |
| Platforms: |
moorings, profiling platforms, underway systems |
| More information and contact | CO2-PRO CV; Mark Barry (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) |
References:
| Brief Description: |
Measures pCO2 concentration of both surface water and overlying air by IR detection and features an automatic zero point compensation to maintain long-term stability with minimal signal drift. The sensor combines the CO2-Pro with an air-side intake for measurement of air pCO2 to determine air-sea fluxes of CO2. Options for mounting to surface drifters and gliders are also available. |
| Platforms: |
buoys, underway systems, surface gliders |
| More information and contact | CO2-PRO Atmosphere; Mark Barry (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) |
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| Brief Description: |
A versatile pCO2 sensor with reduced accuracy and stability. Ideal for educational applications and general monitoring. The Mini CO2 sensor can be used as a standalone handheld probe for spot measurements, or integrated into larger platforms. |
| Platforms: |
gliders, AUVs, handheld probe |
| More information and contact | Mini CO2; Mark Barry (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) |
References:
| Brief Description: |
pCO2 by LICOR IR detection. Designed for longterm installation and unattended use on research vessels or VOS ships
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| Platforms: |
underway systems
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| More information and contact | http://www.generaloceanics.com, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. See also: Craig Neill, University of Bergen |
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| Brief Description: |
The Apollo SciTech's Underway pCO2 system, model AS-P2 has been developed and tested for underway measurements (i.e., real-time while the vessel is sailing) of the partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) and dissolved oxygen (DO) in surface water, atmospheric CO2 as well as water salinity, temperature and position. Water sample is forced into the equilibrator by a shipboard pump. Equilibrated air is drawn from the equilibrator and dried with an electronic cooling system. It is then quantified with an infrared CO2 analyzer (LI7000) before sending back to the equilibrator. The shower-head equilibrator is effective (response time 2 min). The equilibrator is completely sealed from the outside room air. It has been tested in both high (up to 4000 µatm) and low (less than 100 µatm) pCO2 environments.
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| Platforms: |
underway systems
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| More information and contact | http://www.apolloscitech.com/PCO2.htm Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
References:
| Brief Description: |
Autonomous indicator-based sensors for measurement of the partial pressure of CO2 of seawater. Temperature is also measured. Low power for long-term (>1 year) deployments. Accomodates up to 3 additional sensors such as PAR, O2 optodes, beam-c transmissometers, and chl-a fluorometers. Optional anti-fouling configuration for extreme fouling environments. Underway and in situ configurations available.
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| Platforms: |
underway systems, moorings, drifters
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| More information and contact | SAMI-CO2; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
References:
DeGrandpre, M.D., Baehr, M.M. and T.R. Hammar. (1999). Calibration-free optical chemical sensors. Anal. Chem., 71, 1152-1159. DeGrandpre, M.D., Hammar, T.R., Smith, S.P., and F.L. Sayles. (1995). In situ measurements of seawater pCO2. Limnol. Oceanog., 40, 969-975.
| Brief Description: |
The Shipboard Underway pCO2 Environmental Recorder (SuperCO2) is designed for automated shipboard analysis of seawater and atmospheric CO2. Built around LI-COR 840A, analyzes CO2 levels every 2 seconds. The system periodically runs 3-4 standard gases to calibrate NDIR system. Can support a Seabird thermosalinograph and other analog output sensors by special order.
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| Platforms: |
underway systems
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| More information and contact | SuperCO2 System; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
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| Brief Description: |
Based on the same technology as the SAMI-CO2, packaged to be plumbed into a line on a research vessel. Runs autonomously with own data logging interface or can be connected to a PC if real-time data is required. Uses colorimetric reagent method with traceable accuracy of +/- 3 µatm.
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| Platforms: |
underway systems, moorings, drifters
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| More information and contact | AFT-CO2; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
References:
| Brief Description: |
NDIR-based; continuous flow-through system wtih tandem type gas-liquied equilibrator
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| Platforms: |
underway systems
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| More information and contact | Air -Ocean Carbon Dioxide Monitor; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
References:
Chierici, M.; Fransson, A. and Nojiri, Y., (2006), Biogeochemical processes as drivers of surface fCO2 in contrasting provinces in the subarctic North Pacific Ocean, Global Biogeochem. Cycles 20 GB1009 doi:10.1029/2004GB002356. Murphy, P.P.; Nojiri, Y.; Fujinuma, Y.; Wong, C.S.; Zeng, J.; Kimoto, T. and Kimoto, H., (2001), Measurements of Surface Seawater fCO2 from Volunteer Commercial Ships: Techniques and Experiences from Skaugran, J. Atmos. Ocn. Tech. 18 1719-1734. Nakaoka, S., Nojiri, Y. Miyazaki, C. Tsumori, H. and Mukai, H., (2009) Variations of oceanic pCO2 and air-sea CO2 flux in the North Pacific Ocean since 1995, Proceeding of 8th International Carbon Dioxide Conference, T2-059, Jena, Germany.
| Brief Description: |
Lightweight, low power consumption with high precision, two-point calibrated measurements |
| Platforms: |
underway systems |
| More information and contact | Portable Carbon Dioxide Analyzer; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
References:
| Brief Description: |
Optical, headspace-based underwater sensor for the measurement of the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2). Within the HydroC a headspace is realized in the form of an equilibrated gas stream in which the CO2 concentration is measured optically by means of non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) absorption spectrometry. Latest developments using an external pump have decreased response time to 60s. The HydroC has an internal zeroing procedure, is pressure resistant to 6.000m water depth and available with an internal data logger, as flow-through model and arctic version.
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| Platforms: |
AUVs, ROVs, Gliders, Moorings
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| More information and contact | More info: HydroC CO2; Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For general enquires click HERE. |
References:
- Fietzek, P. and Körtzinger, A. (2009) Optimization of a Membrane-Based NDIR Sensor for Dissolved Carbon Dioxide In: Proceedings of OceanObs'09: Sustained Ocean Observations and Information for Society, 21.-25.09.2009, Venice, Italy.
- Fietzek, P., B. Fiedler, T. Steinhoff, and A. Körtzinger (2014). In situ accuracy assessment of a novel underwater pCO2 sensor based on membrane equilibration and NDIR spectrometry. J. Atm. Ocean. Techn. 31, 181-196.
- Fiedler, B., P. Fietzek, N. Vieira, P. Silva, H.C. Bittig, and A. Körtzinger (2013). In situ CO2 and O2 measurements on a profiling float. J. Atm. Ocean. Techn. 30, 112-126, DOI: 10.1175/JTECH-D-12-00043.1.
| Brief Description: |
Water is pumped through the flow head of the HydroC CO2 FT sensor. Dissolved gases diffuse through a specialized thin film composite membrane into the internal gas circuit leading to a detector chamber, where the partial pressure of CO2 is determined by means of IR absorption spectrometry. Concentration dependent IR light intensities are converted into the output signal, which is either transmitted by cable or saved on an internal data logger.
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| Platforms: |
underway systems
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| More information and contact | More info: HydroC CO2 FT; Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For general enquires click HERE. |
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| Brief Description: |
Flow through pCO2 system for underway measurements with high performance dual beam NDIR detector behind a silicon membrane. Resolution < 1 uatm; accuracy +/- 3uatm, time response 1 minute.
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| Platforms: |
Underway
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| More information and contact | http://subctech.eu; email Stefan Marx (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) |
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| Brief Description: |
The Picarro G1200 CO2/H2O Analyzer is a real time, trace gas monitor capable of measuring these gases parts-per-billion (ppbv) sensitivity. The analyzer is based on Picarro’s unique Wavelength-Scanned Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy (WS-CRDS), a time-based measurement utilizing a near-infrared laser to measure a spectral signature of the molecule.
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| Platforms: |
underway, surface mooring
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| More information and contact | http://www.picarro.com/gas_analyzers/carbon_dioxide; email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
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| Brief Description |
The Surface UNderway carbon Dioxide prtial pressure ANalySer (SUNDANS) measures pCO2 by LICOR IR detection (sea surface + atmosphere), barometric pressure, position (GPS); Designed for temporary use on resaerch vessels (not VOS), where minimum service is possible; small size and weight for easy transport and installation on small vessels. Prototype / under tests at sea; commercial system for late 2008. |
| Platforms: |
underway systems on research vessels |
| More information and contact | SUNDANS; Dr. Ludger Mintrop (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) |
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| Brief Description |
C-sense™ probes are compact, lightweight sensors for measurement of the partial pressure of gas in liquids. Designed for applications involving immersion in water, oil, or water and oil mixtures, the sensors combine an oil-resistant interface with a compact, temperature-compensated non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) detector. Designed for integration, C-sense™ enables pCO2 monitoring at a significantly lower price than traditional pCO2 sensors. |
| Platforms: |
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| More information and contact: | C-sense™ in situ pCO2 Sensor; Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
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| Brief Description: |
Instrument measuring xCO2 in seawater and overlying atmosphere; detection is NDIR-based and seawater xCO2 determined by equilibration. Additionally, temperature, salinity and oxygen, are measured in seawater.
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| Platforms: |
underway systems
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| More information and contact | Ute Schuster, University of Exeter, UK, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
References:
Cooper, D.J., A.J. Watson, and R.D. Ling (1998) Variation of pCO2 along a North Atlantic shipping route (U.K. to the Caribbean): A year of automated observations. Marine Chemistry, 60, 147-164. Schuster, U. and A.J. Watson (2007) A variable and decreasing sink for anthropogenic CO2 in the North Atlantic. Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans, vol. 112, C1106, doi: 10.1029/2006JC003941.
| Brief Description |
Autonomous indicator-based sensors for measurement of
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| Platforms: |
underway systems, moorings, drifters
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| More information and contact | http://www.sunburstsensors.com/; Jim Beck (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) |
References:
Seidel, M.P., DeGrandpre, M.D. and A.G. Dickson. (2008). A sensor for in situ indicator-based measurements of seawater pH, Mar. Chem., 109, 18–28. Martz, T.R., Carr, J.J., French, C.R. and M.D. DeGrandpre. (2003). A submersible autonomous sensor for spectrophotometric pH measurements of natural waters. Anal. Chem., 75,1844-1850.
| Brief Description | The SeaFETTM Ocean pH sensor is an ion selective field effect transistor (ISFET) type sensor for accurate long-term pH measurements in salt water. Measurement range 6.5-9.0 pH; Initial accuracy 0.05 (estimated); Typical stability 0.005/month (estimated). |
| Platforms: |
underway systems, moorings, drifters
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| More information and contact | http://satlantic.com/seafet |
References:
- Martz, T., Connery J.G., Johnson, K.S (2010) 
Testing the Honeywell Durafet® for seawater pH applications Limnol. Oceanogr 172-184, doi:10.4319/lom.2010.8.172.
- Bresnahan, P.J., Martz T.R., Takeshita Y., Johnson K.S., LaShomb M.. 2014. Best practices for autonomous measurement of seawater pH with the Honeywell Durafet, Methods in Oceanography 9, 44-60, doi:10.1016/j.mio.2014.08.003
| Brief Description |
Optical (beam attenuation coefficient at 660 nm). Fully autonomous. Response time = 0.1 s.
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| Platforms: |
discrete sampling, underway systems, moorings, drifters, profiling floats
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| More information and contact | http://www.wetlabs.com Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. See also: Jim Bishop |
References:
- Bishop, J.K.B., T.J. Wood, R.E. Davis and J.T. Sherman (2004) Robotic Observations of Enhanced Carbon Biomass and Export at 55S. Science 304, 417-420. See also supplemental online materials.
- Bishop, J.K.B., R.E. Davis and J.T. Sherman (2002) Robotic Observations of Dust Storm Enhancement of Carbon Biomass in the North Pacific. Science 298, 817-821. See also Supplemental Materials.
- Bishop, J. K. B., T.J. Wood (2008) Particulate Matter Chemistry and Dynamics in the Twilight Zone at VERTIGO ALOHA and K2 Sites. Deep-Sea Research I , 55, 1684-1706, doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2008.07.012
- Bishop, J. K. B., T.J. Wood (2009) Year Round Observations of Carbon Biomass and Flux Variability in the Southern Ocean. Global Biogeochemical Cycles , 23, doi:10.1029/2008GB003206
| Brief Description |
Optical, mineral (calcite / aragonite) birefringence at 660 nm. Fully autonomous. Proposal pending to commercialize. Response time = 0.1 s. Available for commerciallization via Technology Transfer.
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| Platforms: |
discrete sampling, underway systems, moorings, drifters, profiling floats
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| More information and contact | http://www.wetlabs.com Contact: Dr. Jim Bishop |
References:
Guay C.K. and J.K.B. Bishop (2002) A rapid birefringence method for measuring suspended CaCO3 concentrations in water, Deep-Sea Research I, 49, 197-210 Bishop, J. K. B. (2009) Autonomous Observations of the Ocean Biological Carbon Pump. Oceanography , 22 (2), 182-193.
| Brief Description |
Optical (multiple imagine methods), detects organic and inorganic carbon components of flux on hourly basis for seasons to one year. Fully autonomous (Iridium profiling float + OSR). Response time < 4 s. Available for commerciallization via Technology Transfer.
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| Platforms: |
underway systems, profiling floats
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| More information and contact | http://www-ocean.lbl.gov/NOPP.html Contact: Dr. Jim Bishop |
References:
Bishop, J. K. B. (2009) Autonomous Observations of the Ocean Biological Carbon Pump. Oceanography , 22 (2), 182-193.
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| More information and contact | https://www.aanderaa.com/productsdetail.php?SeaGuard-O2-29 Contact: [name and email] |
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| More information and contact | https://www.km.kongsberg.com/ks/web/nokbg0240.nsf/AllWeb/2052B2A42B415092C1257EDD00269390?OpenDocument Contact: [name and email] |
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| More information and contact | http://www.seabird.com/sbe63-optical-dissolved-oxygen-sensor Contact: [name and email] |
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| More information and contact | https://www.seabird.com/nutrient-sensors/suna-nitrate-sensor/family?productCategoryId=54627869922 Contact: [name and email] |
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| More information and contact | https://www.seabird.com/nutrient-sensors/deep-suna-ocean-nitrate-sensor/family?productCategoryId=54627869924 Contact: [name and email] |
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