Publication Date:
2019-05-21
Description:
Ocean warming severely impacts oxygen distribution, because it reduces oxygen solubility and increases stratification in the upper ocean. Quantifying changes of oxygen levels will improve the understanding of chemical, biological and physical processes, especially in Oxygen Minimum Zones characterized by intensification and spatial expansion.
Despite existing optical sensors (optodes) that accurately measure ocean oxygen levels, users wish for an improved spatial and temporal measurement resolution from profiling platforms. We demonstrate the utility of a novel, commercially-available optode that shows a temperature-dependent response time (t63%) of about 4 seconds, which is significantly faster compared to other optical oxygen sensors. This optode can be used on a wide range of observation platforms such as ships, time-series stations, unmanned surface vehicles and autonomous underwater platforms such as floats and gliders.
We aim to characterize this optode regarding oxygen, temperature, salinity and pressure dependence, long-term stability and drift, response time and air-calibration compatibility. Results build on data from laboratory experiments and field deployments in the Tropical and Southern Atlantic. Underway, mooring, float and CTD-cast applications promise high quality observations including fast oxygen level changes on small scales.
We will conclude with a status update on our general optode technology developments.
Type:
Conference or Workshop Item
,
NonPeerReviewed
Format:
text
