BIOFOULING CONTROL FOR OPTICAL BACKSCATTER SUSPENDED SEDIMENT SENSORS

The use of optical backscatter instruments for measuring water turbidi ty for extended periods has been very limited due to the debilitating effect of biological fouling. This is particularly the case in tropica l coastal waters. We describe a simple wiping mechanism attached to a logging nephelometer which can usually control fouling for up to a mon th even under conditions most favourable for fouling. Without a wiper deployment periods can be limited to only a few days. Scratching of th e nephelometer by the wiper is not a major contributor to nephelometer error.