The Autonomous In-Situ Biogeochemical Sensor System (ABISS)
The deck crew of R/V Falkor successfully deploys the ABISS Lander from the aft deck. (Mary-Linde Parker)
The ABISS lander deployed at Pt. Dume, California seep sites. (Peter Girguis / Schmidt Ocean Institute)
One of the primary obstacles to furthering our understanding of microbial activity in situ is the limited number of systems available to collect co-registered geochemical and microbial data and samples. There is certainly a long history of fluid sampling systems in marine science, and a variety of sensors available to measure microbially relevant compounds. However, we posit that we can better ally microbial identity and activity to biogeochemical cycles by developing a robust system that A) enables simultaneous collection of samples for microbial and geochemical analyses across an appropriate range of spatial and temporal scales, and B) allows the user to actively control the sampling system and instrument runtime programs.
The ABISS an “open source” autonomous vehicle lander (AVL) that collects co-registered samples and in situ data for allying microbial diversity and gene expression (via DNA and RNA analyses, respectively) with microbial activity (via in situ stable isotopic tracers and analyses) and geochemistry (via in situ and lab-based geochemical measurements). The field-proven core components include an in-situ mass spectrometer, a pH/Eh meter, an in-situ methane/DIC isotope analyzer (optional), an oxygen optode, and a state-of-the art optical modem with “broadband” transmission rates through water. This is a lander built around a heavily modified WHOI seafloor elevator and carries lithium batteries that provide up to 18kWh to the underwater mass spectrometer, fluid samplers, in situ pH and oxygen sensors, and a high-performance optical modem for broadband transmission through water. It is designed for both shorter-term, higher-power deployments and longer-term ultralow power deployments. It also served as a testbed for developing more sophisticated optical communication protocols that might be of value to future missions to the outer ocean moons of our solar system.
All parts and drawings are available upon request.
