Measurements we make
Seawater is sampled from RV Investigator's port drop keel and supplied to laboratories for analysis, research and use. Continuous data collection provides important baseline data for scientists to observe changes in oceanographic properties, such as temperature, salinity, acidification, oxygen and chlorophyll levels over time.
Scientists on board also use this data to make correlations between in-situ measurements and observations of, for example, seabirds and marine mammals.
We also regularly use underway samples to make comparisons and calibrations with measurements taken from various deployable equipment such as the CTD or Triaxus.
Key equipment and capabilities
Seawater is first pumped into RV Investigator via the port-side drop keel. The water flows through the ship at consistent flow rates to various laboratories including the Underway Seawater Laboratory and General Purpose Wet Laboratory (Dirty). From there, it gets diverted to various seawater instrumentation, including our fluorometer, pCO2 and thermosalinograph.
Drop keels
RV Investigator has two drop keels that can be lowered 4 m below the hull, which equals approximately 8 m below the waterline. The drop keels can be used to mount acoustic sensors and acoustic transducers, and the port-side drop keel contains an inlet for the pumped seawater sampling system.
Thermosalinograph
The thermosalinograph (TSG) continuously measures surface temperature and salinity along the track of the ship using the underway seawater supply system. The TSG is located in the Underway Seawater Laboratory.
Fluorometer
The fluorometer provides chlorophyll-a which is an important indicator of active phytoplankton biomass and chlorophyll concentrations, and also provides coloured dissolved organic matter (CDOM). This instrument is located adjacent to the TSG.
pC02 system
The pCO2 system measures surface water CO2 concentration, an important measurement for understanding ocean acidification. This instrument is located adjacent to the TSG in the Underway Seawater Laboratory, and is calibrated against daily against reference gas standards stored in-situ.
Other equipment typically available on RV Investigator includes:
- SST Radiometer – Sea Surface Skin temperature that provides accurate and reliable measurements of the radiative sea surface temperature.
Laboratories
RV Investigator is fitted with various specialised equipment for underway seawater sampling and analysis, and several specialised laboratories including:
- Underway Seawater Laboratory
- General Purpose Wet Laboratory - Dirty
- General Purpose Wet Laboratory - Clean.
The constant supply from the underway seawater supply services the back deck, container spaces, deck Level 2 and the General Purpose Wet Laboratory - Dirty.