SMILE Project (Coastal Instrumented Measurement System, for the Environment)
SMILE is an innovative and unifying high-frequency instrumentation research program serving the scientific community. The step one of the SMILE programme, carried out by the Unicaen in partnership with Ifremer and NKE instrumentation, was funded by AESN and FEDER Lower Normandy. The step 2 is financed by the AESN.
The SMILE buoy is very innovative, it is powered by swell energy and solar panels, it allows measurements of primary phytoplankton production and nutrient salts at high frequency.
The general objectives
SMILE's objectives are multiple: High-frequency measurements performed should:
-a better understanding of phytoplankton population dynamics through conventional physical-chemical measurements (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, light and fluorescence), photosynthetic parameters, and in Phase 2 of nutrient salts (nitrates, silicates, phosphates and ammonium),
– to have a tool to estimate the state of the marine environment, especially in terms of eutrophication and to meet the expectations of the DCSMM.
– to have continuous data to calibrate hydrodynamic models, and satellite images to quantify chlorophyll a. The refinement of hydrodynamic models is essential especially for a fine understanding of the dilution of the plumes of the seine mainly, but also of the orne and the veer, and their contributions of pollutants and sediments of soil origin. in the marine environment.
– to develop a technology platform for the development of innovative in-situ sensors.
– SMILE is a unifying program that brings together researchers and engineers from the University of Caen-Normandie, Ifremer Port in Bessin, Brest (engineering and environmental modelling), industrialists such as nke-instrumentation, and GEPS Techno, managers with the strong involvement of the NASA.
As part of the study of the seine/Manche continuum the SMILE buoy is displayed in the PHRESQUES programme carried by GIP Seine Aval. The buoy is thus integrated into networks at regional (PHRESQUES), national (SOMLIT ( CNRS) – COAST-HF) and European (H2020 JERICONEXT) networks.
- Structure and equipment of the SMILE buoy.
– The anchorage consists of a 5t dead body, an intermediate surface float and the buoy itself. The buoy is connected to the float by a 4m chain; The aim of this device is that the buoy's movements are not limited by the voltage caused by the tidal current, and thus to optimize the production of current by the houlomotor system. The axial anchor point allows for better hold at sea and therefore better accessibility
Figure 1: The aluminum float and its platform (without the solar panels)
Sensors
- A SPICE System composed:
A multi-parameter probe such as MPx nke-instrumentation and a chlorinator installed on a pole allowing easy maintenance.
- Temperature
- Conductivity/Salinity
- Dissolved Oxygen – Aandera Sensor
- Turbidity – Seapoint Optical Sensor
- Fluorescence – Chlorophyll a in vivo – Turner Design Optical Sensor
- Ph
- A weather station (air temperature, wind speed and direction) – being installed
- A PAR (Photosynthetic Active Radiations – Measurement of incident light between 400 and 700 nm. Wavelength usable for photosynthesis)
- A primary production sensor of fast Repetion Rate Fluorometer – FRRF, ACT2; Chelsea Technologies (West Molesey, United Kingdom), in combination with the FastAct 2 (Chelsea Technologies) system. The fluorimeter is equipped with a peristaltic pump, allowing a sample of seawater to be pumped to the measuring chamber. Once the measurement is complete, the sample is pumped out of the measuring chamber and evacuated to allow for the following measurements. A second pump allows a circulation of water to ensure that the temperature of the measuring chamber is the same as that of seawater. The FRRF is controlled by a PC on board the buoy. A dedicated compartmentalization has been carried out. This compartment formed of a waterproof box and positioned on the buoy.
- Systea-Wiz Sensor
This sensor is a set of different systems of coupled measurements allowing analysis of nitrate, silicate, phosphate and ammonium autonomously and automatically. The Systea-Wiz sensor uses the following protocols:
-Nitrate/nitrite: Di Leo-Nollet method (2000) with UV nitrate-reducing (Zhang-Wu 1986) and spectrophotometry measurement at 525 nm (Strickland – Parsons, 1972, Grasshoff, 1976). A new method is available. It is based on measurements in the UV (pending accuracy from the manufacturer).
-Ammonium: fluorimetry (Z[370–390 nm excitation; 420 nm emission]hang and Wu, 1986; Holmes et al., 1999).
-Orthophosphate: Use of a molybdate and ascorbic acid solution that forms a phosphormolybdenum complex that is measured not spectrophotometry at 880 nm (Murphy and Riley, 1962; Strickland and Parsons, 1972; Grasshoff, 1976).
- Optical Nitrate Sensor / OPUS – TRIOS
TRIOS' OPUS sensor is a new generation of sensor. This type of optical measurement is not matrix-sensitive (concentration of dissolved organic and inorganic matter) but the results presented in the publications show good data reliability especially low-frequency monitoring can be used to assess possible drifts.
Access to data:
The data is free to access. The data produced by the "Spice" system can be found on the CORIOLIS website:
http://www.ifremer.fr/co-en/eulerianPlatform?contextId=395&ptfCode=6200310&lang=en#+qcgoodonly.
In the long run, the other data will also be available.