Biospherical Instruments Inc. (BSI) products

C-OPS (Compact-Optical Profiling System) is a radiometer system for determining apparent optical properties in aquatic systems. It consists of two 7 cm diameter radiometers: one measures in-water upwelling radiance, and the other either downward irradiance or upward irradiance, pressure/depth, and dual axes tilts. Both radiometers are equipped with up to 19 optical-filter microradiometers (selected from 29 different wavelengths)and are mounted on a unique free-fall, kite-like backplane. To avoid influences from the shadow of the boat or dock, the backplane can be optimized for either slow descent rates for work in very shallow (e.g., 3 m) and coastal waters, or faster descent rates for observations in the open ocean. C-OPS is so lightweight it can be hand deployed by almost anyone, and the system can be operated from either small or large vessels. An above-water surface reference instrument is also available to measure global irradiance.

Biospherical Instruments’ BIC, and BIR multichannel radiometers are scaled-down versions of our widely used profiling radiometers. The BIC features a cosine irradiance collector and the BIR features radiance collection optics. Both radiometers measure in four wavebands selected from over 20 10-nm wide wavebands ranging from 305–875 nm and PAR.

Our natural fluorometers are integrated optical systems specifically designed to measure natural fluorescence — the fluorescence from the phytoplankton crop stimulated by available sunlight. Starting with research conducted at Biospherical under a NASA SBIR Contract and followed on with considerable additional studies has shown that this measurement is related to photosynthetic rates and chlorophyll concentrations. Unlike strobe fluorometers, a natural fluorometer measures fluorescence emitted under the ambient light conditions that are driving photosynthesis in situ.