Assessing Plankton and Particles with an Autonomous Imaging LOPC

We wish to characterize and quantify particles and plankton in the pelagic ocean, to enable an understanding of their dynamics and their roles in ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles. Characterization and quantification are also necessary to describe the distribution and abundance of particles and plankton in the sea in relation to the environment, including its acoustic and optical properties. Our objective is to integrate the Laser Optical Plankton Counter LOPC with a video imaging system, REFLICS REal-time Flow Imaging and Classification System, and deploy this on a motored autonomous underwater vehicle AUV. The result will be an instrument capable of autonomously assessing the distribution, abundance, size, and type of plankton and particles of 100 micrometers - 2.5 centimeters equivalent spherical diameter esd. The novelty and strength of our work derives from combining video imaging, with its high resolution, the LOPC, with its high sampling rate, and the AUV, with its autonomous and quiet performance, to provide data useful for predictive models. Computer analysis of video images allows the classification of the plankters and particles that comprise dominant features of the size spectrum measured by the LOPC. Our intent is that this system will be commercialized for general use in measuring properties necessary to understand and predict optics and acoustics of coastal seas.