First Generation: ESP (1G)
The original environmental sample processor--known as ESP-1G--was developed at MBARI, by scientists, and mechanical, electrical, and software engineers (Scholin et al., in press.). The analytical capacity of the first-generation instrument was focused on a suite of marine planktonic organisms--ranging from heterotrophic and photosynthetic bacteria, archaea, and eucarya to small invertebrates found in the upper ocean.
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| Core of 1G as rendered in three-dimensional graphic | 1G ESP in the laboratory | 1G ESP ready for deployment |
ESP-1G deployments
The prototype ESP-1G was first deployed in the Gulf of Maine and subsequently in Monterey Bay. Some results from those deployments can be seen at the links below
Conclusions from 1G deployments
- The ESP concept is valid.
- Deployments in Gulf of Maine and Monterey Bay were successful
- Monterey Bay deployment showed the potential for detecting invertebrate larvae in situ, in real time.