Author :
Steeves, George ; Siddall, Greg ; Awalt, Garon ; Hargrave, Barry
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Fisheries & Oceans, Bedford Inst. of Oceanogr., Dartmouth, NS, Canada
Abstract :
The `SMARTRAP´ is an autonomous instrument designed to measure the downward vertical flux of particles as a function of various physical parameters including absolute pressure, temperature, conductivity, vector-averaged current, and elapsed-time. A sampling strategy implemented by an on-board computer algorithm selects one of 13 vials into which a large steepsided funnel concentrates the settling particles. This allows the investigator to correlate environmental parameters with the nature and quantity of particles collected at known times. The principle system components include: a turn-key microcomputer with large data store and serial data communications, an EG&G SACM (smart acoustic current meter), and an electro-mechanically actuated carousel resistant to marine fouling with precise position feed-back. The instrument´s design is described in detail and field test results of a current activated experiment are presented which verify the performance of the device
Keywords :
geophysical equipment; geophysical techniques; geophysics computing; oceanographic techniques; seafloor phenomena; sedimentation; sediments; SMARTRAP; autonomous instrument; carousel; computer algorithm; downward vertical flux; funnel; marine geology; measurement equipment; ocean; particle; sampling strategy; seafloor; sediment trap; sedimentation; settling particles; turn-key microcomputer; vial; Acoustic devices; Conductivity measurement; Current measurement; Data communication; Instruments; Microcomputers; Particle measurements; Pressure measurement; Sampling methods; Temperature;
Conference_Titel :
OCEANS '93. Engineering in Harmony with Ocean. Proceedings
Conference_Location :
Victoria, BC
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-1385-2
DOI :
10.1109/OCEANS.1993.326016
