Delta Exchange

The Air Surface Water and Ocean Topography (AirSWOT) is an airborne instrument suite developed to support calibration efforts for the SWOT satellite mission. AirSWOT comprises three components: Ka-band SWOT Phenomenology Airborne Radar (KaSPAR), Digital Camera System, and Precision Inertial Motion Units (IMU). The KaSPAR- the main element of AirSWOT- collects across-track interferometry data to produce digital elevation models over land and water surfaces. It operates at the 35.75 frequency and has a spatial resolution of 3.6 m.

The Airborne Visible InfraRed Imaging Spectrometer - Next Generation (AVIRIS-NG) is an airborne imaging spectrometer developed by Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to operate alongside and eventually replace the AVIRIS Classic. AVIRIS-NG has been designed to operate aboard NASA’s ER-2, a Twin Otter, and a B-200. AVIRIS-NG operates between 380 nm - 2510 nm with 5nm spectral resolution. AVIRIS-NG has a spatial resolution of 18 m at 20 km altitude and is often used for terrestrial ecology research investigations.

The Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) is an in situ acoustic sensor used to measure ocean currents. ADCP uses the Doppler effect to detect sound waves to provide measurements of the speed and direction of currents throughout the water column. ADCP can easily be mounted on different water platforms such as ships, buoys, and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). It also can be deployed on the seafloor to provide profile measurements of ocean currents.

The LISST Submersible Particle Size Analyzer is a water-based in situ particle analyzer manufactured by Sequoia Scientific. It is a laser-diffraction-based particle size analyzer that measures suspended particle size and concentration in aquatic environments, such as the ocean, rivers, lakes, and streams. It provides particle size distribution from 1 μm to 500 μm in 36 size ranges. It has a maximum operating depth of 600 m at a resolution of 0.01 m and a typical sampling rate of 1 Hz. The laser within the instrument operates at 670 nm and has an optical path of 25 mm.

Spectrometers are instruments used to separate and measure the spectral components of a substance. They are typically used to measure the electromagnetic radiation that has been reflected, absorbed, or transmitted by the physical sample. Spectrometers can operate across the ultraviolet to infrared spectrum. The most common types of spectrometers are optical, nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectrometers. They can be deployed on aircraft, research vessels, vehicles, and other ground-based platforms

Turbidity sensors are in situ water quality sensors that measure the cloudiness, or turbidity, of a liquid caused by suspended particles. Turbidity sensors are nephelometers that emit light and detect the amount of light scattered by particles within the water sample. These sensors are used for assessing sediment levels and pollution in rivers and lakes, and monitoring the water quality of drinking water and industrial processes.

Singlebeam Echo Sounder System (SBES) is an in situ acoustic sensor used to measure the water depth to the seafloor. SBES determines the water depth by measuring the travel time of a sonar signal in two directions. SBES operate at a single frequency in the 24-33 kHz range for deeper water surveys and the 200-400 kHz range for shallow water surveys. They can operate in water depths under 100 meters up to 6,000 meters.

Turbidity sensors are in situ water quality sensors that measure the cloudiness, or turbidity, of a liquid caused by suspended particles. Turbidity sensors are nephelometers that emit light and detect the amount of light scattered by particles within the water sample. These sensors are used for assessing sediment levels and pollution in rivers and lakes, and monitoring the water quality of drinking water and industrial processes.