In contrast with almost all other Sequoia instruments, the LISST-RTSSV is not a standalone instrument. It was designed and optimized for one application only: monitoring the effect of deep-sea mining’s impact on the benthic environment when integrated onto deep-sea ROV’s, mining vehicles or other deep-sea vehicle types.
Using a dual camera system, the instrument measures particle settling velocity distributions together with particle concentration data. These measurements help researchers understand transport, deposition, and flocculation mechanisms of the sediment resuspended by deep-sea mining operations: settling velocity is one of the most important parameters governing how sediments move and accumulate in aquatic systems. Deep-sea mining operators can use this information to estimate how much their operations impact the deep-sea benthic environment.
Typical customers include deep-sea mining companies and government regulators that need to estimate the impact of deep-sea mining on the deep-sea benthic habitat. Alternative uses could be general deep-sea sediment transport studies.
