Folger Deep Platform and its instruments -1

We arrived on board with just fifteen minutes for lunch so we rushed into the mess (mess is the place where you eat on ship). It is a cozy place with lots of food! After lunch we had emergency training in the Science Lab. Meanwhile, we cruised on to Folger Passage and stopped for the mission. Thanks to Maia, saying "you need to see something quick," we rushed on to the deck just in time to see ROPOS dive until it disappeared under water. We then ran to the ROPOS lab (also called Hydro Lab) and watched its trip all the way down to 100 meters (for ROPOS, this is not too deep). The deepest a recreational SCUBA diver can go is about 30 meters, while 100 meters is about as tall as a 30-story building!

ROPOS off the deck. Photo by Goksenin Sen

Mini parenthesis here for the newcomers: ROPOS is a kind of robot which can function deep in the ocean, up to 3000 meters!! ROPOS is my favorite - it has two arms which are more dexterous and stronger than human arms. Its elbow can turn 360 degrees. One of its hands holds things while the other works. It really is amazing! ROPOS stands for “Remotely Operated Platform for Ocean Science.”

ROPOS manipulators, close up. Photo by Goksenin Sen

Here in Folger Passage there are two platforms, each with different positions and instruments: Folger Deep and Folger Shallow. A platform is a big open cage to which different measurement instruments can be attached. Today, ROPOS removed the Folger Deep platform from a depth of 100 meters.

 Folger Deep Platform and its instruments. Photo by Goksenin Sen.

Folger Deep has four measurement instruments:

1. CTD: What is CTD? It is "Conductivity, Temperature, Depth" measurement instrument and it takes real time data about the conductivity, temperature and depth of the deep ocean.

-- C stands for conductivity of the ocean water, which is closely related to the temperature and salinity values. Salinity is the amount of dissolved salts in water. Ocean water contains many different chemical combinations (compounds) of salts. Pressure also affects conductivity.

-- When you see a capital T, especially in physics, it is most likely related to (T)emperature. Small t can be (t)ime, though there are other different ts in marine science as well. But remember - with a capital T, (T)emperature is always a good first guess;)

-- D stands for depth. Depth measurements are used when deploying the CTD.

CTD and the oxygen optode attached. Photo by Goksenin Sen.

2. Oxygen optode: As the name implies, this instrument measures the saturation and concentration of oxygen in water.

 …to be continued… 

Goksenin Sen

Marine Educator