Submersible In-Situ Grain Sizing Device

A novel, miniaturized optical sensor for in-situ monitoring of underwater sediment grain size is described. This device employs light scattering measurement techniques previously developed by Physical Sciences, Inc. (PSI) for the U.S. Navy in a compact, powerful tool for acquiring quantitative information on particle size. Combining this innovative, miniature and inexpensive technology with undersea sampling hardware suitable for towed sled or cable immersion will allow continuous demersal observation of sea floor sediment grain size. PSI has already demonstrated the use of chip-level COTS CCD array detectors for high-resolution particle size determination without expensive digital image analysis. This detection modality will be able to provide near-real-time particle size information with an instrument costing only hundreds, rather than thousands, of dollars and with an analysis package no larger than a 12 ox soda can.