MAT SAMPLER
The Microbial Mat Sampler allows for discrete, controlled material collection from complex microbial structures, vertical-profiling within thick microbial mats and particulate and fluid sample collection from venting seafloor fluids (Breier et al. Deep Sea Research, 2012). It has a reconfigurable and expandable sample capacity based on magazines of 6 syringes, filters, or water bottles. A magnetic coupling system allows these sample magazines to be interchanged during the course of a deployment. Multiple magazines can be used such that 12 to 36 samples can be collected routinely during a single dive and as many as 108 samples if the dive is dedicated for this purpose. For seafloor mat material, discrete volumes from 100 mL to <3 mL can be collected using standard plastic syringes. Using the Mat Sampler and the ROV manipulator, these volumes can be precisely collected from three-dimensional seafloor features or while profiling vertically through a mat deposit. The Mat Sampler can also be used to sample suspended particulate and whole water from associated diffuse flow fluids in order to assess the geochemical environment of the mat system. The sampler is also capable of hosting in situ physical, electrochemical, and optical sensors, including temperature and oxygen probes in order to guide sampling and record critical environmental parameters at the time and point of sample collection.Image: Sampling of diffuse hydrothermal flow with the Mat sampler at Mid-Cayman Rise. Blurring is the Schlieren effect. (photo credits: Chris German, WHOI, NSF)
CHIP BREIER: GEOCHEMISTRY & ENVIRONMENTAL ROBOTICS