Design and Application of New Low-Cost Instruments for Marine Environmental Research

Abstract

The development of low-cost instrumentation plays a key role in marine environmental studies and represents one of the most innovative aspects of current oceanographic research. These kinds of devices can be used for several applications, ranging from vertical profilers to stand-alone systems, and can be installed on different platforms (buoys, Voluntary Observing Ships, underwater vehicles, etc.). The availability of low-cost technologies enables the realization of extended observatory networks for the study of marine physical and biological processes through an integrated approach merging in situ observations, forecasting models and remotely sensed data. We present new low-cost sensors and probes developed to measure marine temperature, conductivity, chlorophyll a and Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter fluorescence, focusing on sensing strategies, general architecture, laboratory trials, in situ tests and comparison with standard instruments. Furthermore, we report the expendable (New T-FLaP), vertical profiler (T-FLaPpro) and stand-alone (Spectra) applications of these technological developments that were tested during several oceanographic surveys in the Mediterranean Sea.

T-FLaP advances: instrumental and operative implementation

“…These improvements have now made it possible to equip the expendable probe with two new applications: the recoverable vertical profiler and the Spectra mini-ferrybox system (Marcelli et al 2014). …”

“…During the project, the ADR0208 survey was conducted and five prototypes of the expendable probe were used to test the optical components and combinations and analyse instrument accuracy. The five prototype T-FLaPs, calibrated before the survey (Marcelli et al 2014), were launched just after the standard CTD (SBE 911, Aquatraka III fluorometer) casts along the Dubrovnik-Bari transect (Figure 4). …”

“…T-FLaP was realised with the aim of adding chlorophyll a fluorescence profiling measurements to the temperature profiles gathered by commercial expendable bathythermographs (XBTs), which have long been successfully adopted by oceanographers as an easy way of collecting data by using commercial ships (Goni et al 2009). In recent years experimental activities have rapidly evolved, both in terms of technological advances (Marcelli et al 2008;Marcelli et al 2014) and field operations.…”

Integrated Observing Systems Supporting Civitavecchia Port Development

“…More specifically, the analysed features focused on the distribution of bacterial pathogens along the bathing zone [9], as well as on the potential impact of dredging performed within the Civitavecchia port on the benthic environments in terms of P. oceanica meadows, soft bottom benthic assemblages and water quality [10]. Moreover, the LOSEM developed and in situ tested new technologies for environmental monitoring, working at limited costs [11].…”

Application of Open Source Electronics for Measurements of Surface Water Properties in an Estuary: A Case Study of River Jadro, Croatia

“…For instance, a new multi-sensor buoy system was developed by enabling the remote monitoring of marine pressure, temperature, and atmospheric pressure [43]. Later, it was broadened to multiple other parameters, such as chlorophyll a and Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter fluorescence [44].…”