Solution for deep-sea time series sediment capture device

Marine particulate matter records a lot of information about biological activities, physical and chemical processes during its formation, transformation, and deposition. Therefore, it is of great significance for the study of particulate matter flux, marine sedimentology, and marine environmental monitoring research. The sediment trap is a sampler that collects suspended particulate matter that has settled in the water environment. This type of trap acts as a water filter, collecting and storing various particles and elements for researchers to analyze in the future. This sampler has been widely used in the following areas: (1) measuring the vertical flux of organic and inorganic particles between the nutrient generation layer and the nutrient decomposition layer; (2) Explore the relationship between the sedimentation of phytoplankton and organisms and benthic communities; (3) Measure the settling velocity of phytoplankton during periods of massive reproduction; (4) Conducting research on the dynamics of benthic organisms; (5) Measure the mineralization of plankton and pollen deposition; (6) Control and monitoring of harmful substances, etc.

In the past 20 years, practice has proven that the application of sediment traps has played a certain role in promoting the development of chemical oceanography and biological oceanography. The sediment trap can only sample settling particles within a single time period. To obtain samples with temporal resolution, multiple injections are required, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive. The time series sediment trap is a sampling device that sinks to a certain depth in water and automatically collects sediment particles according to a pre-set working program. It also has high time resolution, making it an important means of collecting marine sediment particles.

The time series sediment capture device imported by Germany's KUM, which is an agent for the ocean, is suitable for both marine and inland waters.

The German KUM time series sediment trap offers multiple models of sediment traps to adapt to environments with different sediment fluxes. The number of collection bottles ranges from 14, 21 to 41, and the sample bottle capacity is 400ml. Multiple sample converters support funnel diameters of 0.25m ² or 0.5m ², with each hopper angle of 34 °. All sediment traps are equipped with honeycomb nets (as funnel covers) and connected by single-sided suspension. Suitable for water depths of 3000m, 6000m, and 12000m. The work period is 12 months or 24 months.

The control of the sample changer is executed by programmable microprocessor electronic devices. The residence time of a single bottle under the funnel can be set between 1 minute and 12 months (optional, 24 months).

Programming is driven by a menu on a PC and connected to the sediment collector through the RS 232 standard interface. After programming, the sediment trap enters sleep mode and can be disconnected from the PC.