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Chlorophyll a measurement instruments

Chlorophyll is the most ubiquitous molecule on the planet and is visible from space. Earth is not just a “Blue Planet” – due to the absorption and scattering of light in the oceans – it is a “Blue-Green Planet” due to the Chlorophyll found in all vegetation. Chlorophyll‐a is responsible for 75% of the green pigment found in nature.

Chlorophyll a is key to photosynthesis – the conversion of sunlight and Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) into Oxygen (O₂) and simple sugars – the universal energy currency of cells. It is therefore present in all in photosynthetic cells: plants, phytoplankton and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae).

Chlorophyll absorbs strongly in the blue and red regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, accounting for its pronounced green colouration. Most of the absorbed light is converted to sugars during photosynthesis, though a small fraction is lost as fluorescence, the re-emission of absorbed light at longer wavelengths – around 690 nm (deep red). The amount of fluorescence varies depending on physiological factors – light intensity, temperature, “stress” etc.

A Chlorophyll fluorometer shines a beam of blue light into the water and measures the amount of red light that returns. This is used as a proxy for the amount of chlorophyll in a water sample and the concentration of phytoplankton.

Chlorophyll levels determine primary production – the base of the aquatic food web, and can also be used identify algal bloom events which can negatively affect water quality (Harmful Algal Blooms HAB or e.g. Red Tides).

MIDAS CTD+

Perfect for both profiling or fixed mooring applications, the MIDAS CTD+ is a revolutionary Multiparameter CTD with a wide choice of standard sensors.

SWiFT SVPplus Chlorophyll a

Valeport's SWiFT SVPplus Multi-Parameter Profiler with a Chlorophyll a sensor combines survey-grade sound speed, temperature and pressure sensor technology with Fluorometer observations.

Hyperion Chlorophyll a

Valeport’s Hyperion Chlorophyll a Fluorometer sensor delivers high-performance measurements of Chlorophyll a, in a compact & robust package ideal as a standalone sensor, for ROV and AUV integration or used as part of a multi-sensor array and data logger.

rapidPro CTD

The rapidPro CTD has been developed for the rapid collection of conductivity, temperature (Thermistor) and depth without compromising the quality of the data.