Video Plankton Recorder Functionality

The video tutorial explains the operation of the Video Plankton Recorder (VPR), a tool used to capture images of plankton in the ocean. It details the VPR's components, such as the camera and strobe light, and describes how it moves through water at 10 knots, capturing images 30 times per second. The focus is on studying trichodesmium colonies, which are cyanobacteria that fix nitrogen. The VPR provides high-resolution data on the distribution of these colonies over long distances. The tutorial also covers the data acquisition process, including image processing and analysis, and concludes with the successful results obtained from the VPR, highlighting its effectiveness in identifying trichodesmium patches.

What is the primary function of the video plankton recorder?

• To capture images of plankton

• To measure water temperature

• To track fish movements

• To record underwater sounds

At what speed does the video plankton recorder move through the water?

• 15 knots

• 10 knots

• 20 knots

• 5 knots

How often does the video plankton recorder capture images?

• 40 times a second

• 30 times a second

• 20 times a second

• 10 times a second

What is the size range of plankton that the recorder can film?

• 10 microns to 1 millimeter

• 200 microns to 2 centimeters

• 100 microns to 1 centimeter

• 50 microns to 5 millimeters

Which type of plankton is of particular interest in this study?

• Diatoms

• Dinoflagellates

• Trichodesmium colonies

• Copepods

What is the significance of trichodesmium colonies?

• They produce oxygen

• They fix nitrogen

• They clean the water

• They are a food source for fish

What does the flight control program allow the instrument to do?

• Hover in one place

• Move in a circular pattern

• Undulate between the surface and 150 meters

• Dive to the ocean floor

How many TIFF images per second are captured during the cruise?

• One

• Three

• Two

• Four

What is the role of the additional computer in the data processing?

• To store images

• To communicate with the ship

• To process and identify images

• To control the recorder

What has the mission successfully achieved?

• Mapping ocean currents

• Measuring water salinity

• Identifying fish species

• Locating trichodesmium patches