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Deployment Procedures

Profile Deployment

Seabird and RBR CTD Profiler (XR-620, Concerto and Maestro with fast sensor) provides high quality water properties profiles. However, to maximise the quality of those profiles and facilitate the data processing we present here Hakai’s specific guidelines:

  1. Turn on the instrument on deck in the air, make sure you hear the instrument getting turned on.
  2. Confirm that the sensors are working (ex: Blue light on the fluorescence sensor)
  3. Confirm that the attachment to the CTD is appropriate before bringing it over board (rope, knot and rigging equipment).
  4. Soak Period (2 minutes): Lower the instrument to around 2m depth and leave it there for at least 2 minutes.
  5. Confirm station location, depth and target depth to reach with the instrument: Station, Bottom Depth (m) and Line Out Depth (m)
  6. (Optional) Record secchi depth: Secchi Depth (m)
  7. After at least 2 minutes, raise the instrument to just below the surface.
  8. (Thresholding Activated instruments only!!!) Confirm that the instrument is running by inspecting auxiliary sensors (Fluorescence sensor).
  9. Note the start time and location of the profile: Start Time and Start Location
  10. Start lowering the CTD at a target profiling speed of 1 m/s
    1. Lowered by freefalling it (prefered)
    2. Lower instrument by hand or using a winch
  11. Stop the instrument at the target depth. DO NOT HIT THE BOTTOM
  12. Record Bottom Time and Bottom Location
  13. Bring the instrument back to the surface either by hand or using a winch (prefered).
  14. Once near the surface, bring the instrument back on deck in a vertical position.
  15. Note the End Time and End Location
  16. (Twist Activation) Turn off the instrument.
  17. Fill the rest of the information on the tablet form
  18. Copy metadata information to a paper copy (Log Sheet).

Static Deployment [RBR instruments only]

To record a Static Measurement, Hakai processing tool consider the following conditions:

  • Instrument must be at least 20cm below the surface
  • Instrument must be at a constant depth for at least 3 minutes
  • 2 minutes of soak time
  • 1 minute of recorded data

We present here a step-by-step procedure to a dedicated Static Measurement Deployment:

  1. (Twist Activation) Turn on the instrument on deck in the air, make sure you hear the instrument getting turned on.
  2. Confirm that the sensors are working \ (ex: Blue light on the fluorescence sensor)
  3. Confirm that the attachment to the CTD is appropriate before bringing it over board (rope, knot and rigging equipment).
  4. Soak Period: Lower the instrument to the target depth and leave it there for at least 2 minutes to precondition the instrument. Deployment considerations:
    1. The instrument needs to be at least 20cm off the bottom.
    2. If the instrument is deployed closed to the bottom, using a non metallic platform to support the instrument on the ground is recommended. Milk boxes are perfect!
    3. All the auxiliary instruments need to be submerged in the water, 20cm below the surface at least.
    4. If the technician needs to be in proximity of the instrument, he should be downstream from the instrument and should avoid any shadow on the unit.
  5. Confirm Station, Target Depth, Height over ground and Location on the tablet.
  6. Mark the Start Time and Location Time on the tablet
  7. Leave the instrument record data for at least one minute.
  8. Mark the End Time and End Location
  9. Bring the instrument back on deck.
  10. Turn off the instrument.
  11. Fill the rest of the information on the tablet.
  12. Copy metadata information to a paper copy (Log Sheet).