In situ monitoring of eutrophication
Contents
Introduction
In situ monitoring is the observation and / or measurement of events in its original place (Latin: situs). Oceanographic instruments containing different types of sensors are used to monitor eutrophication in coastal waters. Sensors detect and respond to electrical or optical signals and convert the physical, chemical or biological parameter into a signal which can be measured electrically.
Oceanographic instruments
CTD
The CTD[1] - Conductivity (salinity), Temperature and Depth (pressure) recorder - is the standard oceanographic tool for continuously measurement of physical properties of sea water. The CTD is mostly attached to a frame with water-collecting Niskin bottles (CTD rosette). From the deck the rosette is lowered on a cable down to the seafloor and once in the water data are transferred via a conducting cable connecting the CTD to a computer on a ship. The Niskin bottles are closed at prefined depths. Other sensors to measure chemical or biological parameters such as dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll fluorescence (phytoplankton concentrations) can be added to the cluster.
Sensors
In this section we focus only on the sensors that measure parameters that need to be monitored in the frame of the OSPAR Eutrophication Monitoring Programme: [2]
- Nutrients
- Temperature
- Salinity
- Phytoplankton chlorophyll-a
- Phytoplankton indicator species
- O2-concentration
- Macrophytes
- Benthic communities
Oceanographic instruments
CTD
References
- ↑ [1] http://www.whoi.edu/instruments/viewInstrument.do?id=1003
- ↑ OSPAR Commission (2005), Agreement on the Eutrophication Monitoring Programme (Reference Number: 2005-4)[2]
http://www.whoi.edu/instruments/viewInstrument.do?id=1003
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