Spectral Irradiance Sensor

Since the late summer, 2015, each of the three cabled Shallow Profiler Mooring winched science pods have made >7000 cycles from 600 ft water depth to just beneath the oceans' surface. Real-time command and control of these systems through the Internet provides response capabilites such that the science pods can be stopped to take key measurements in response to events that include the passing over of biologically-rich thin layers. Credit: University of Washington, NSF-OOI/ROPOS, V15.

The Spectral Irradiance sensor (Satlantic OCR-507 multispectral radiometer) measures the amount of downwelling radiation (light energy) per unit area that reaches a surface. Radiation is measured and reported separately for a series of seven wavelength bands (412, 443, 490, 510, 555, 620, and 683nm), each between 10-20 nm wide. These measurements depend on the natural illumination conditions of sunlight and measure apparent optical properties. These measurements also are used as proxy measurements of important biogeochemical variables in the ocean.

Spectral Irradiance sensors are installed on the  Science Pods on the Shallow Profiler Moorings at Axial Base (SF01A), Slope Base (SF01A), and at the Endurance Array Offshore (SF01B) sites. Instruments on the Cabled Array are provided by Satlantic – OCR-507. The profiling science pods have made >30,000 profiles since 2015. They are recovered and replaced annually using a remotely operated vehicle.

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