Daily Journal

September 16, 2004:
Teachers at Sea

HyperTSRB (Tethered Spectral Radiometer Buoy)

The TSRB is an instrument used to measure, among other things, the amount of light reflected from the surface of the water. It can also measure temperature of the ocean. This allows scientists to compare the amount of chlorophyll microscopic organisms contain. This data can then be analyzed to further understand the role of phytoplankton in the ocean. Light data from the TSRB can also be compared to the light readings obtained from satellite imagery.

Some satellites are programmed to read images reflected from the earth's surface. For example, satellites can map great basins of ocean chlorophyll. The data is used to estimate the amount of chlorophyll. Satellite maps of the earth can show the relationships of parts of the earth's surface to the whole. This has given us an entirely new vision of our Planet Earth.

Information logged from the TSRB is compared to satellite data of the same area. The satellite, because of its great distance from earth, is accurate only to within 1 square kilometer. In an area smaller than this the data becomes garbled and images can overlap, rendering them less useful. Scientists attempt to compare and contrast data from the TSRB with satellite data. If the data does not correlate, then scientists look for factors that may have created these discrepancies. These factors may be atmospheric conditions such as fog, clouds, smoke, or dust.

The technology of the TSRB is amazing to learn about. Equally fascinating for us was the opportunity to see these instruments being deployed (put into the sea) and then to see scientists retrieve the instruments from the edge of a deck on a moving ship in 10-12 foot swells.

Above left: Sam and Daryl preparing
the TSRB for deployment into the sea.

Above right: Getting ready to retrieve the TSRB.

Amanda, Sam, and Kristin putting the TSRB away.

Annie and Susan keeping an eye on the TSRB.

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