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MBARI Research

MBARI engineers and scientists have developed a variety of amazing instruments that can perform chemical analysis and even DNA analysis in the ocean. In some cases, they adapted laboratory-based instruments for use in the deep sea. In other cases, the instruments were developed specifically for MBARI's use but have applications far beyond oceanographic research.

• The Environmental Sample Processor (ESP)—An automated underwater biochemistry laboratory
• The laser Raman spectrometer—An underwater device that uses a laser to determine the chemical composition of many solids, liquids, and gases.
• The in-situ ultraviolet spectrometer (ISUS)—An automated sensor for monitoring nitrate and other important nutrients in seawater.
• The Monterey ocean-bottom broadband (MOBB) seismometer—An ultra-sensitive earthquake detector buried in the seafloor off Monterey Bay.
• The osmosampler—A compact instrument that can collect water samples continuously for up to two years.

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The Environmental sample processor is an automated molecular biology laboratory that fits in a pressure housing about the size of a garbage can. Floating in the open ocean or moored in the deep sea, it can detect microbes and other tiny living organisms using their DNA. It can also detect other biologically important compounds such as toxins generated during harmful algal blooms.

• MBARI researchers perform first automated analysis of genetic material in the deep sea (News brief)
• Robotic DNA lab helps scientists study microscopic marine life on Earth and other planets (Feature story)
• New instrument enables remote detection of toxic algae in real time (News Release)
• Molecular probes link sea lion deaths to toxic algal bloom (News Release)
• Deep-Sea Environmental Sample Processor--An automated DNA lab looks for life in the deep sea (MARS ocean observatory web site)
• Undersea genetics lab detects marine microbes and toxins (20th anniversary article)
• Undersea genetics lab detects marine microbes and toxins (PDF file--Article from 2006 Annual Report)
• The Environmental sample processor--Putting an analytical laboratory in the sea (Researcher web site)
• Detecting harmful algal blooms using DNA (researcher web site)

MBARI principal investigator in this field:
Chris Scholin (Molecular Biologist)

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By shining a specially tuned laser beam on almost any object or substance--solid, liquid, or gas--a laser Raman spectrometer allows scientists to determine the subject's chemical composition and molecular structure.

• The laser Raman spectrometer—shedding new light on ocean geochemistry (Feature story)
• The laser Raman spectrometer (Featured image)
• The deep-ocean laser Raman in-situ spectrometer (DORISS) (20th anniversary article)
• Logbook from 2006 expedition to study methane hydrates on the seafloor off Vancouver Island
• Description of 2003 expedition to study methane hydrates in the Gulf of California using the laser Raman spectrometer (Researcher web page)
• Logbook from 2003 expedition to study methane hydrates in the Gulf of California
• Laser Raman Spectroscopy (Researcher web site)

MBARI principal investigator in this field:
Peter Brewer (Ocean Chemist)

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The in-situ ultraviolet spectrometer is one of several instruments developed by MBARI chemist Ken Johnson and his research team to perform chemical analyses of seawater automatically. The ISUS is particularly good at measuring concentrations of nitrate, which acts as a fertilizer for marine algal blooms.

• Subtropical oceans add oxygen to atmosphere (News brief)
• MBARI and Satlantic offer new in-situ nutrient analyzer (News release)
• The in-situ ultraviolet spectrometer (ISUS) (MBARI 20th anniversary article)
• Sensing the land-sea nitrogen Cycle (PDF file--Article from 2004 Annual Report)
• Apex profiling float/ISUS nitrate sensor (Researcher web site)
• In-situ ultraviolet spectrophotometer (ISUS) (Researcher web site)
• The MBARI Chemical Sensor Program (Researcher web site)

MBARI principal investigator in this field:
Ken Johnson (Chemist)

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MBARI engineers and geologists worked with researchers at U.C. Berkeley to design and install an ultra-sensitive earthquake detector beneath the seafloor off Monterey Bay. From this location, the instrument provides a unique perspective of earthquakes on the western side of the San Andreas Fault Zone.

• Undersea seismometer captures clear signals of big quake (News brief)
• MOISE tests new ways to "listen" to earthquake noise (News release)
• Seafloor seismometer (Web page from MARS observatory web site)
• Monterey ocean-bottom broadband project (MOBB) (Researcher web site)

MBARI principal engineer:
Paul McGill (Electrical Engineer)

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This compact instrument, developed by MBARI engineer Hans Jannasch, can collect water samples continuously for up to two years. It has been used to collect fluid samples from hydrothermal vents, methane seeps, and even from boreholes in ocean crust, hundreds of meters below the seafloor.

• Sampling fluids from Earth's crust (Feature story)
• Deploying an osmosampler at a hydrothermal vent (Log page from 2000 expedition to the Juan de Fuca Ridge)
• Recovering an osmosampler from a hydrothermal vent in the Gulf of California (Log page from 2003 expedition to the Gulf of California)
• OsmoSamplers: in-situ long-term continuous osmotic water samplers (Researcher web site)

MBARI principal engineer:
Hans Jannasch (Senior Research Specialist--Biogeochemical Instrumentation and Chemical Oceanography)

 

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