Sequoia Scientific Inc. Provides 13 LISST-200X Particle Sizing Instruments for the Ocean Observatories Initiative
Sequoia Scientific Inc., a leading provider of cutting-edge oceanographic instrumentation, proudly announces an agreement for purchase to The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), the manager of NSF’s Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI). WHOI is an independent non-profit dedicated to ocean research, exploration, and education. WHOI’s scientists and engineers push the boundaries of knowledge about the ocean to reveal its impact on our planet and our lives. 13 LISST 200X instruments with BioBlock accessories were delivered to their facilities in Woods Hole, MA.
The LISST-200X is a self-contained submersible laser diffraction particle size analyzer, designed for measuring suspended particle size and concentration in the aquatic environment – oceans, rivers, lakes, streams. The LISST-200X also takes a variety of measurements such as temperature, depth, and optical transmission. Sequoia’s Bioblock accessory, when attached to the LISST 200X, utilizes a copper shutter to prevent biofouling, enhancing the instruments’ performance during extended deployments such as those being done for the OOI.
The Ocean Observatories Initiative is a National Science Foundation sponsored research facility with a network of platforms across both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans that collect continuous data real-time about the state of our oceans. One of these data collection sites was the Coastal Pioneer Array located about 75 nautical miles south of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. Plans are underway to relocate the Pioneer Array to the Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB) off the coast of Cape Hatteras, NC in spring 2024.
Among the science questions of interest for the Pioneer MAB Array are the nature of suspended particles and how they are distributed in the water column over time. A competitive procurement process, based on solicitation of information from multiple vendors and evaluation of the responses relative to pre-defined criteria, resulted in selection of the Sequoia product. The first planned deployment of the Sequoia instrumentation is in the spring of 2024. Data are to be available after instrument recovery in the fall of 2024.
This association between Sequoia Scientific, Inc. and WHOI emphasizes a shared commitment to advancing oceanographic research. It also shows that Sequoia products are the standard for such projects.