LOBO: Satlantic’s complete turnkey water quality monitoring system

LOBO Land/Ocean Biogeochemical Observatory

The ultimate answer to the need for routine, robust and accurate water quality measurments, particulary in sensitive and diverse ecological areas such as estuaries and inland waters.
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Satlantic’s complete turnkey water quality monitoring system, the LOBO (Land/Ocean Biogeochemical Observatory), addresses the need for routine, robust and accurate water quality measurements, particularly in sensitive and diverse ecological areas such as estuaries and inland waters. Developed in collaboration with MBARI, the LOBO is designed to create a real time sensor network for aquatic systems.
 
The LOBO comes complete with instrument frame, optional floating platform, power and wireless telemetry system, integrated sensor suite, automated processing software and web based data visualization/display software. 
 
 
Parameters measured by the LOBO include: 
 
Physical: temperature, depth, salinity (optional), current profiler (optional) and turbidity. 
 
Chemical: chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), nitrate, and dissolved oxygen. 
 
Biological: chlorophyll fluorescence with options for additional ancillary pigments.
 
System Features:
  • Easy to install and operate for both rapid and long term deployments.
  • LOBOviz software package for real-time and archived data viewing through a simple web based interface, PDA or Google Earth (See Live LOBO Data).
  • Highly robust, accurate and stable sensor packages with fully integrated and proven anti-biofouling systems.
  • Floating platform available in shallow (RiverLOBO) and deep water (BayLOBO) configurations.
  • Platforms also available for attaching to fixed structures (DockLOBO) or placing directly on the bottom (BenthicLOBO).
Read a recent paper presented at OCEANS 2007 that describes the LOBO and shows data from an on-going deployment in Nova Scotia. (Monitoring the Spring Bloom in an Ice Covered Fjord with the LOBO)

We invite you to talk to us about your applications and how this exciting new system can help solve your monitoring requirements.

LOBO PLATFORM SPECIFICATIONS

Specifications

Bay LOBO

River LOBO

Dock LOBO

Benthic LOBO

 

Weight (air) (kg

84

68

45

91

Reserve Buoyancy (kg)

168

59

-25

-70

Height (m

3.3

1.7

0.3

0.9

Length (m

0.9(diameter)

1.4

1.2

1.2

Width (m

0.9 (diameter)

0.5

0.5

0.5

Draft (typical) (m

1.4

0.3

0.5

0.9

Mast Height (m

1.9

1.4

N/A

N/A

Deployment Depth

(typical) (m)

5 – 40

1 – 20

1 – 50

1 – 200

Wave Conditions (typical

max) (m)

2

1

N/A

N/A

Current Conditions

(typical max) (m/s)

1

1.5

N/A

N/A

Duration (typical)

51Ah battery, hourly

sampling

5 – 6 weeks

5 – 6 weeks

5 – 6 weeks

Shore Power

Anchor Weight (typical)

(kg)

270

180

N/A

N/A

Typical Deployment

Environment

Protected coastal waters

Rivers and estuaries

Docks and pilings

On bottom with 500m of

shore

Anti-Biofouling Systems

Bleach injection

EPA Approved TBT Cartridge (optional)

Copper cladding

Antifouling Paint (optional)

Bio-wipers

 

 

 

LOBO Standard Instrument Specifications

Instrument

Manufacturer

Parameter

Range

Accuracy

Resolution

NITRATE

Satlantic

0-2000 μM

(0-28 mg/l)

2 μ M (0.03

mg/l) or 10%

of reading

0.05 μ M

(0.7 μ g/l)

 

WQM

WET Labs

See website

See website

See website

See website

ECO

CDOM

WET Labs

CDOM

Fluorescence

0-120 QSU

0.05 QSU

0.05 QSU

Aquadopp

Nortek

Velocity profile

0-10 m/s

0.5 cm/s or

1% of

reading

0.1 cm/s

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

River LOBO in northern fjord River LOBO on deck ready for deployment LOBO autonomous buoy system moored in a northern ice field LOBO buoy system unaffected by ice
River LOBO buoy system in coastal inlet LOBO autonomous buoy system suitable for high latitude deployments servicing the SUNA UV nitrate sensor on the LOBO autonomous buoy LOBO autonomous real-time buoy system recovered from 1 year deployment
servicing the SUNA UV nitrate sensor on the LOBO coastal buoy LOBO autonomous buoy system deployed in coastal estuary mooring connection for the LOBO buoy system LOBO coastal buoy providing real-time water quality monitoring data
LOBO buoy system monitoring water quality in real-time Replacing batteries in the LOBO

LOBOviz

LOBOviz is a web based data management and visualization package for LOBO buoy systems. This real-time power gives system users rapid and easy access to the LOBO network to help make informed decisions.

  • Access, view and plot data in real time
  • Compare multiple sensors in time series
  • Compare data from multiple sites simultaneously
  • Display up to the minute values
  • View in Google Earth and mobile devices
  • Monitor sensor health and battery reserve
  • Configure QA/QC alert thresholds with email notification

Check out these LOBOviz servers in action and view real time LOBO data now:
Interface Specification

LOBO Platform Specifications

Thursday, February 4, 2010
LOBO-Platform-Specifications-4Feb10.pdf
Product Manual

LOBO Manual

Saturday, December 24, 2011
LOBO-Rev B-Manual.pdf
White Paper

Monitoring the Spring Bloom in an Ice Covered Fjord with the Land/Ocean Biogeochemical Observatory (LOBO)

The Land/Ocean Biogeochemical Observatory (LOBO) system was initially developed by MBARI under the NSF Biocomplexity program to monitor the land/ocean interface for coastal zone management. The system utilizes highly robust and accurate sensors to provide sustained monitoring of critical watershed habitats in challenging environmental conditions in real time.

Saturday, September 29, 2007
LOBO-Oceans-White-Paper.pdf

How do I return my Satlantic instrument for service?

Before returning your Satlantic product to us for service please contact our support team either by calling us or by filling out the Support Contact Form on the left menu of this page.  Many times, we can troubleshoot problems remotely and pre-empt the need to send your equipment back to us.

If we determine that you do, indeed, need to return your equipment we will assign you an RMA (Return Materials Authorization) number and provide you with shipping instructions.

  • Ryan, J, Greenfield, D, Marin III, R, Preston, C, Roman, B, Jenson, S, Pargett, D, Birch, J, Mikulski, C, Goucette, G, Scholin, C. (2011) Harmful phytoplankton ecology studies using an autonomous molecular analytical and ocean observing network. American Society of LImnology and Oceanography, Inc 56(4), 1255-1272 doi:10.4319/lo.2011.56.4.1255
  • Milbrandt, E.C., Coble, P.G., Conmy, R. N., Martignette, A.J., Siwicke, J.J. (2010) Evidence for the production of marine fluorescence dissolved organic matter in coastal environments and a possible mechanism for formation and dispersion, Limnol. Oceanogr., 55(5), 2037-2051.
  • Jannasch, H.W., Coletti, L.J., Kenneth, S.J., Fitzwater, S.E., Needoba, J.A., Plant, J.N. (2008) The Land/Ocean Biogeochemical Observatory: A robust networked mooring system for continuously monitoring complex biogeochemical cycles in estuaries Limnol. Oceanogr. Methods 6 263-276 Read Now
  • Adams L.G., Matsumoto, G.I. (2007) Investigating coastal processes and nitrate levels in Elkorn Slough using real-time data, Oceanography 20(1), 200-204