Weekly Snapshot: Microscopic Chaos - March Madness Unveiled
In a remarkable discovery, a plankton bloom has been captured on camera by the Scripps Plankton Camera System (SPC), a prototype automated microscope that photographs tiny ocean organisms. The images, part of the Photo of the Week 2016 gallery, were shared by Jules Jaffe, a research oceanographer at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
The SPC, mounted underwater at the end of Scripps Pier, is an innovative underwater imaging system designed to capture detailed images of plankton and small marine particles in situ. The system's primary purpose is to contribute to our understanding of plankton blooms, a key element of the marine ecosystem.
The latest version of the SPC was funded by an anonymous donation and has been instrumental in capturing the intricate details of the chain-forming diatoms during the recent plankton bloom.
One of the technical challenges in such underwater imaging systems is to ensure the camera’s field of view remains free of unwanted obstacles, such as debris, bubbles, or instrument parts. This is crucial to avoid image contamination and misclassification of objects. The SPC development efforts involve designing the camera housing and optical path to minimize intrusion, employing mechanical structures to reduce particles, and using software approaches to detect and remove artifacts caused by obstacles.
Despite these efforts, the aquatic environment's dynamic nature poses a significant challenge. Suspended particles and biological material can easily enter the field of view, and movement of the platform can cause turbulence and bring debris close to the optics. Maintaining a clear view often requires a tradeoff with other design constraints like instrument size, pressure resistance, and power consumption.
The SPC website provides details about the development of the system and the challenges of keeping fish and other obstacles out of the field of view. For more detailed technical specifics, reports or papers from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography or the original developers of the system would be the best sources.
Researchers are always trying to improve their understanding of plankton blooms, and the SPC creates a continuous record of the type and number of plankton in the area. This week's plankton bloom, happening in the spring, is another valuable addition to this record.
The images of this plankton bloom serve as a testament to the SPC's capabilities and its role in advancing our knowledge of the marine ecosystem. The captivating images of individual plankton from the bloom are a reminder of the beauty and complexity hidden in our oceans, waiting to be discovered.
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