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US 5,473,952 AGranted
Benthic flux sampling device
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsStephen H. Lieberman, David B. Chadwick, David R. Bower
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Abstract
A method for sampling toxin flux rates across a benthic boundary relies upon deploying an apparatus having a frame which houses a container having an open bottom for isolating a volume of fluid above a benthic fluid boundary. A sampling system periodically samples and stores samples of the isolated fluid and an oxygenation system maintains a constant dissolved oxygen level within the container. The device is then retrieved and the samples analyzed. In this way, the toxin flux rate across the fluid boundary may be determined.
Claims35
A method of sampling benthic flux of a body of water comprising the steps of:
- (a) enclosing a volume of said body of water within a container having an opening closed by a portion of floor beneath said body of water;
- (b) maintaining an oxygen level in said volume of water substantially equal to the ambient level of said body of water;
- and
- (c) extracting samples of water from said volume of water.
1 more element
A method of sampling benthic flux comprising the steps of:
- isolating a volume of water adjacent a water body floor in a benthic flux sampling device having a container supported by three adjustable legs, each leg having a disk-shaped foot for appropriately positioning said container on said water body floor to enclose said volume and to minimize disturbing said water body floor, and provided with an open bottom having an edge engaging said water body floor, said step of isolating including embedding said edge of said container in said water body floor to enclose said volume of water in said container;
- sampling said volume of water periodically with a water sampling system to deliver periodic samples of said volume of water from said container to sample receptacles attached in fluid communication with said container;
- and
- maintaining ambient dissolved oxygen levels in said volume of water during the periodic sampling with an oxygenation system attached in fluid communication with said volume of water in said container.
1 more element
A method for sampling water to determine benthic flux comprising:
- deploying a benthic flux sampling device on a water body floor, said benthic flux sampling device having:
- a frame,
- a container mounted on said frame, said container having an open bottom engaging said water body floor,
- sample receptacles secured on said frame,
- a water sampling system mounted on said frame in fluid communication with said container and said sample receptacles, and
- an oxygenation system attached to said frame, said oxygenation system being in fluid communication with said container and said container, said sample receptacles and said water sampling system being fabricated from non-contaminating materials;
- and
- isolating a volume of water in said container by placing said open bottom against said water body floor;
- oxygenating said volume of water at a constant oxygen level with said oxygenation system;
- periodically sampling said volume of water isolated in said container with said sampling system and storing each sample in a separate one of said sample receptacles;
- and
- retrieving said benthic flux sampling device.
9 more elements
A method for sampling water to determine benthic flux comprising:
- deploying a benthic flux sampling device on a water body floor, said benthic flux sampling device having:
- a frame,
- a container mounted on said frame, said container having an open bottom engaging said water body floor, said open bottom of said container being formed with a knife edge periphery and a skirt extending horizontally outwardly from the perimeter of said open bottom, said skirt and said knife edge periphery engaging said water body floor when contact is made between said open bottom and said water body floor,
- sample receptacles secured on said frame;
- a water sampling system mounted on said frame in fluid communication with said container and said sample receptacles, and
- an oxygenation system secured to said frame,
- said oxygenation system being in fluid communication with said container and said container, said sample receptacles and said water sampling system being fabricated from non-contaminating materials;
- isolating a volume of water between said container and said water body floor by placing said open bottom against said water body floor;
- maintaining a constant oxygen level within said container by selectively employing said oxygenation system to introduce oxygen into the water held in said container;
- periodically sampling water isolated in said container with said sampling system and storing each sample in a separate one of said sample receptacles;
- and
- retrieving said benthic flux sampling device.
9 more elements
A method for sampling water to determine benthic flux comprising:
- deploying a benthic flux sampling device on a water body floor, said benthic flux sampling device having:
- a frame,
- a container mounted on said frame, said container having an open bottom engaging said water body floor,
- sample receptacles secured on said frame,
- a water sampling system mounted on said frame in fluid communication with said container and said sample receptacles, and
- an oxygenation system secured to said frame, said oxygenation system being in fluid communication with said container and said container, said sample receptacles and said water sampling system being fabricated from non-contaminating materials;
- and
- isolating a volume of water between said container and said water body floor by placing said open bottom against said water body floor;
- maintaining a constant oxygen level within said container by selectively employing said oxygenation system to introduce oxygen into the water held in said container;
- periodically sampling water isolated in said container with said sampling system and storing each sample in a separate one of said sample receptacles;
- retrieving said benthic flux sampling device;
- drawing water from said container with a flow-through sensor system attached to said lid;
- monitoring and periodically recording the temperature, pH and salinity of the water drawn from said container;
- and
- returning the drawn water to said container.
12 more elements
A method for sampling water to determine toxin flux rates through benthic sediments at a water body floor comprising:
- deploying a benthic flux sampling device on a water body floor, said device having;
- a frame formed with a base;
- a container mounted on said base, said container having an open top surface and an open bottom, said open bottom being formed with a knife-edge periphery for sealing against said water body floor;
- a hinged lid mounted on said open top surface for closing against said open top surface to isolate water between said container and said water body floor;
- a water sampling system in fluid communication with said container and attached to said frame, said sampling system having a plurality of sample bottles mounted on said frame and attached in fluid communication with said container for storing water;
- and
- an oxygenation system attached in fluid communication with said container for delivering oxygen to said container to maintain the dissolved oxygen content of water in said container;
- isolating a volume of water between said container and said water body floor;
- delivering oxygen to said volume of water with said oxygenation system;
- periodically sampling said volume of water with said sampling system;
- and
- retrieving said benthic flux sampling device.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.