ESP Test Deployment

Last week, a joint team led by NOAA NWFSC's Stephanie Moore and UW-APL's John Mickett went out on the R/V Robertson to test deploy a new Environmental Sampling Processor (ESP). This inconspicuously named robot both samples and analyzes water in situ to remotely determine if harmful algal species are present and if so, how toxic the bloom is. It then transmits this data in near real time to scientists on shore. 

This robot is part of a monitoring strategy that will help health authorities and shellfish growers be proactive in their response to harmful algal blooms (HABs). For more info, check out the NANOOS HABs info page.

Check out NWFSC's video for more information:

Last minute preparations aboard the R/V Robertson. The ESP is housed in the large orange cylinder under the A-frame.

First the surface buoy is deployed where an intake tube will sample water near the surface and bring it down to the ESP, around 20m below.

To prime the sampling tube, a small group goes out in the Zodiak to collect the surface buoy and pump water through the line, getting rid of all air bubbles.

One of the team's divers checks that the ESP is sampling in it's new home for the next two weeks. Photo credit: Eric Boget

The ESP will be deployed for real next year on UW-APL’s Cha’Ba mooring off the coast of La Push and data will be available on NVS. Stay tuned!

WADOH Sensors on NVS

11 new assets from WA Department of Health

Water temperature data for monitoring shellfish safety from WA Dept. of Health (WADOH) is now on NVS. WADOH deploys sensors seasonally to monitor for high temperatures that increase the risk of growth of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a bacteria that sickens humans via contaminated shellfish. WADOH, tribes, and shellfish growers are reducing this risk to human health by restricting shellfish harvest when environmental conditions are ideal for Vibrio growth. NANOOS joins the partnership to increase data access.

Visit the NVS Shellfish Growers App for data from the new sensors.
Learn more about Vibrio parahaemolyticus at the WADOH Vibrio information page.

7 days of water temperature data from South Sound, Pickering Passage near Graham Point

7 days of both salinity and water temperature data from Samish Bay. Visit: http://nvs.nanoos.org/ShellfishGrowers