Rugged, low-cost, and lightweight rosette water sampler for ocean profiling and mooring deployment.

Area of Science:

• Oceanography
• Marine Science
• Climate Change Research

Background:

• Oceanographic studies require seawater samples from various depths for climate change and marine ecosystem analysis.
• Existing rosette water samplers are often large, heavy, and require specialized equipment, limiting their use on smaller vessels.
• There is a need for compact, lightweight samplers for efficient deployment in coastal areas and from small boats.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and present a small, lightweight, and rugged rosette water sampler.
• To enable efficient collection of small-volume seawater samples from small boats without heavy lifting equipment.
• To provide a cost-effective solution for oceanographic data collection in diverse marine environments.

Main Methods:

• Design and construction of a compact rosette water sampler weighing 16 kg.
• Development of a system capable of collecting 13 samples of 20 mL each per cast.
• Field testing of the sampler to a maximum depth of 250 m.

Main Results:

• The developed sampler successfully collected small-volume seawater samples (20 mL) at multiple depths.
• The instrument demonstrated efficient deployment from small boats without the need for heavy lifting gear.
• Successful field campaigns were conducted in Northeast Greenland and along the East Greenland coast between 2021 and 2023.

Conclusions:

• The new lightweight rosette water sampler is a practical tool for oceanographic research on smaller vessels.
• This innovation addresses the limitations of traditional samplers, offering a more accessible and cost-effective solution.
• Further development could enhance weight reduction and usability for broader applications in marine science.