Sequoia LISST-Tau Transmissometer
Features
- Measures optical transmission and beam attenuation
- RS-232 and analog real-time outputs
- Integrated temperature compensation & ambient light rejection
- Expedited repair and warranty service
- Lifetime technical support
- More
Overview
LISST-Tau is a high-precision transmissometer for underwater vehicles, profiling packages, CTDs, and other systems. With high-quality optics and a carefully selected LED source, it transmits a collimated beam through the water, and precisely measures the light transmitted through its 15 cm path. Light modulation with synchronous detection rejects ambient light, while oversampling and averaging yield better than 16-bit resolution. LISST-Tau’s digital controller applies calibration coefficients, corrects for temperature effects, and transmits data from both digital and analog outputs. Included software provides real-time display of data, and functions for checking and updating pure-water calibrations. An optional flow-through chamber simplifies calibrations and experiments. LISST-Tau advances the state of the art for in-situ transmissometers.
Remote Monitoring
The LISST-Tau transmissometer offers a plug-and-play interface to the NexSens X3 data loggers and telemetry systems. The X3 is available for pole-mount/buoy-based deployments with solar charging or connected to the X3-SUB submersible data logger with alkaline battery pack for subsurface deployments.
Parameters Measured
- Optical transmission
- Beam attenuation
Operating Ranges and Stability
- Operational temperature range: -3 °C to 40 °C
- Storage temperature range: -20 °C to 60 °C
- Beam attenuation range: ~0 m-1 to 30 m-1
- Linearity (concentration): >99 %
- Short-term stability (typical standard deviation over 1 minute)
- Transmission: 0.003 %FS (Green) / 0.005% (Red)
- Beam attenuation: 0.0002 m-1 (Green) / 0.0004 m-1 (Red)
- Long-term stability (6 hr test)
- Transmission: ~0.003 %FS/hr
- Beam attenuation: ~0.0002 m-1∙hr-1
Technology
- Optical path length: 15 cm
- Source wavelength: ~532 nm (Green) or ~650 nm (Red) LED
- Source spectral bandwidth: <10 nm FWHM
- Acceptance angle (half angle, in water): 1.0 °
- Optical transmission @ 16-bit resolution
Mechanical and Electrical
- Dimensions [Ø x L]: 5.1 cm x 40.6 cm (2.00″ x 16″)
- Weight [air / seawater]: 1.140 kg / 0.585 kg (2.5 lbs / 1.3 lbs)
- Depth rating: 2,000 m
- Sampling rate: 1 Hz
- External power input: 7 VDC to 25 VDC
- Current drain @ 12V: 42 mA average during sampling
- Connector: SubConn MCBH6M
- LISST-Tau transmissometer
- LISST-Tau 2-meter integrated communication and external power USB cable
- Windows software for real-time display of data, and functions for checking and updating pure-water calibrations
- Shipping case
In The News
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Manages Monitoring Efforts in Morro Bay
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly, SLO), has been monitoring Morro Bay for decades, and while the monitoring program has changed over the years, the dedication to monitoring the bay has remained the same. 
 
The project started in 2006 as a Packard Foundation-funded initiative to monitor water quality flowing in and out of Morro Bay. The goal at the time was to use the data collected to develop and inform an ecosystem-based management plan in collaboration with the Morro Bay National Estuary Program (MBNEP). 
 
Since the estuary was the focus at the time, researchers were monitoring water flowing into the estuary from Chorro Creek and Los Osos Creek.
Read MoreGreen Water in Green Bay: Using Data Buoys to Monitor the Southern Bay
While the bay of Green Bay has been referred to as the largest freshwater “estuary” in the world, the watershed hosts intensive agriculture and contributes one-third of Lake Michigan’s total phosphorus load. 
 
 The Fox River flows into the bay, carrying excess nutrients largely the result of non-point source runoff from the watershed. With a history of deterioration extending well into the last century, the bay ecosystem suffered significant declines in water quality. 
 
 This, in turn, stimulated major clean-up and ongoing restoration efforts to improve water quality. Tracking these changes is an important aspect of ecosystem management.
Read MoreCross-Border Sewage Contaminated Flows: Monitoring the Tijuana River
The Tijuana River runs across the US-Mexico boundary, flowing into and throughout southern California, carrying with it nutrients and contaminants throughout the estuary. In recent decades, the flows have been heavily polluted with untreated sewage from the City of Tijuana. 
 
The wastewater enters the greater Tijuana River estuary, impacting coastal communities and disrupting the natural environment. In order to better understand these cross-border flows, researchers out of San Diego University sought to monitor the waterway test the capabilities of in-situ sensors to measure the contaminated water. 
 
Natalie Mladenov and Trent Biggs were two of the researchers involved in the project, deploying a real-time monitoring system in May of 2021.
Read More