Latest FastOcean Sensor Used at Photosynthesis Algorithm Evaluation Workshop

West Molesey, United Kingdom, July 04, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Dr Kevin Oxborough last week participated in a workshop at the NIOZ labs in Yerseke, The Netherlands. The aim of the workshop was to validate a recently published algorithm (Oxborough et al. 2012, Limnology and Oceanography: Methods) that permits accurate estimates of the concentration of PSII reaction centres from active fluorometers. Validation of this algorithm is a key step towards providing accurate and autonomous measures of photosynthetic electron transport. Scientists used the full range of Chelsea active fluorometers from the early FastTracka MkI and MkII instruments through to the very latest FastOcean sensor and FastAct Laboratory Unit.

The aim of the PROTOOL project (funded under the EU Framework 7 programme) is to develop and adapt technology to measure primary production of phytoplankton with automated optical techniques, so that they can be placed on ships of opportunity (SOOP, ferries, container ships).