Model UVP5 DEEP -Underwater Vision Profiler

The Underwater Vision Profiler or UVP (CNRS patent) is designed to study large (>100 µm) particles and zooplankton simultaneously and to quantify them in a known volume of water. The UVP system makes use of computerised optical technology with custom lighting to acquire digital images of zooplankton IN SITU down to depths of 6000m. The UVP5 acquires only in-focus images in a volume of water delimited by a light beam issued from red light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in 100µs flashes. The typical light beam illuminates an area of 4x20 centimetres which gives a sampling volume of 1 litre per image. When interfaced with conventional CTD measuring devices, the distribution of particles and fauna can be displayed in real time integrated with the CTD metadata. The high-resolution digital image can then be processed by the computer.