This project examines the feasibility of a novel approach to providing a highly sensitive sensor for analysis of nutrients in sea water. The concept employs the multiple internal reflection technique to IR detection of the family of nutrients. The sensor is to be compatible with an existing towed instrumentation platform called the Undulating Oceanographic Recorder which has undergone almost 15 years of refinement through use and has the ability to study both the horizontal and vertical distributions of plankton while being towed by ocean-going vessels. The nutrient sensor investigated in this project complements and expands the capabilities of the Undulating Oceanographic Recorder by providing capabilities for real-time analysis of sea water for phosphate, nitrate, nitrite and carbonate at the parts-per-billion level.
