Early deployment of the Bathysnap time lapse camera system. In 2010 the camera system is going digital and will be deployed at PAP as a stand-alone system and as part of the seafloor demonstration mission MODOO

Deployment of the sensor frame. This is submerged at 40 m depth and is fitted with sensors measuring concentrations of carbon dioxide, nutirents, phytoplankton as well as salinity and temperature.

Deployment of the main buoyancy for the Physical mooring.

Recovery of a sediment trap. This has collected settling samples for the previous 12 months at a depth of 3000m. The samples are collected in sampling bottles which move under the yellow collecting funnel at present time intervals.

The ocean is a harsh environment and microorganisms quickly colonise any new surfaces. This can cause problems for the sensors. But the effects of biofouling can be minimised. For example the optics of a fluorometer sensor is covered by a copper shutter. This prevents the optics being fouled by the growth of algae or other organisms. The shutter opens every 2 hours to allow an optical measurement to be taken. This is used as a proxy for phytoplankton concentration.

The SAMI sensor for measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide after 1 year in the water at 40m depth.. Although there is severe biofouling, this has not affected the measurements.The PRO-Oceanus pCO2 sensor is being deployed in 2010.

Biofouling is not the only hazard. These are fishing hooks recovered from a severely damaged mooring in July 2006. Most of the mooring had been destroyed by the long line fishing industry.

Captain Roger Chamberlain, Dr David Billett and Dr Richard Lampitt on the foredeck of
RRS Discovery at the PAP observatory in July 2005