Instruments and sensors
Oceanography is a science that is highly dependent on observations and on measurements. The Ocean Technology and Engineering Groupis at the forefront of enabling scientists to make measurements and observations where and when they require.
Developing new instruments and sensors is also an important part of our work. We cannot yet buy instruments that will measure everything that interests scientists, and if their research is being held back through lack of this capability, we will work with them to create new instruments. The main gaps these days are in instruments that can be left for long periods in the sea to measure chemicaland biological variables. By bringing together many new technologies, working in collaboration with others, the Centre for Marine Microsystems, based at NOC’s Southampton site, is at the forefront of innovation in designing, creating and using novel sensors and instruments.
Chemical microsensors
It is a common phrase, 'the salty sea'. Common salt, sodium chloride, makes up the bulk of the dissolved substances in seawater, but many more chemical substances are present, right down to trace quantities of gold and rare earth metals. A number of substances are essential to life in the oceans. For example, the main nutrients of nitrate, phosphate and silicate. Others are essential trace elements for life, including iron.
Chemicals also act as tracers of certain activities in the ocean. For example, high levels of dissolved manganese can indicate proximity to hydrothermal vent sites. Dissolved gasses such as carbon dioxide are intimately linked with the ocean’s role in climate.
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Biological microsensors
Our biological sensors and systems miniaturise and simplify technologies that currently require expensive and large instruments run by highly specialised personnel. The scientific target is to detect and analyse marine organisms in their environment using low-cost devices.
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Marine meteorology instruments
Understanding the interaction between the atmosphere and the oceans means that we have to be able to make measurements in air as well as in the sea. Instruments may be mounted on research and voluntary observing ships or on buoys, which may be moored or free to drift. In addition to these near-surface measurements, research ships may launch balloons carrying instruments into the upper atmosphere (troposphere) for a more complete picture.
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Measuring sea level
There are a number of methods of measuring sea level close to the shore and in the deep ocean. One method is to use a pressure sensor. The sensor is mounted at a fixed position in the sea and the pressure (amount) of water above the sensor is measured and recorded at periodic intervals – typically every fifteen minutes.
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Sensors Group
The Sensors Group is at the forefront of research, development and introduction into service of novel sensors and instruments for ocean science. The Group has grown significantly over the last six years, winning major research awards from the NERC, EPSRC and the EU.
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