Registration of Phytoplankton Fluorescence Using an Experimental Sounding Probe

Abstract

The main optical characteristics of phytoplankton and colored dissolved organic matter are described. The necessity of simultaneous registration of fluorescence of phytoplankton pigments and colored dissolved organic matter in seawater in situ is substantiated. Commercial recording devices, realizing registration of signals of phytoplankton fluorescence intensity in situ, are considered. This paper presents the developed experimental probing autonomous multichannel multichannel meter of fluorescence and light scattering in seawater (FR1). The paper presents the functional scheme of the developed meter, describes its main assemblies and principles of its operation. The developed meter allows quasi-simultaneous registration of a large set of parameters: excitation spectra of phytoplankton fluorescence, fluorescence intensity of phytoplankton pigments (chlorophyll-a, phycoerythrin, phycocyanin, β-carotene), as well as fluorescence intensity of colored dissolved organic matter and spectra of light scattering index at an angle of 90°. Registration of all these parameters is carried out from one measuring volume, where the same composition of suspended matter is located in the process of probing at each specific moment of time. The paper presents the results of approbation of the developed meter and suggests the direction of further research using it.