Acoustic Zooplankton Fish Profiler (AZFP) for Ecosystem Research
The US Naval Research Laboratory has purchased an Acoustic Zooplankton Fish Profiler (AZFP) autonomous echosounder to conduct observations of small zooplankton for ecosystem research. The internally powered scientific echosounder will store acoustic backscatter data. It will be mounted to an apparatus that will move the instrument up and down the water column in order to observe the dynamic behaviour of zooplankton.
The technology employed by this echosounder uses multiple high frequencies to ensonify the small particle sizes of the zooplankton.
The Navy will use the instrument to support ongoing research in coupled, ecosystem-circulation modelling, underwater optics and remote sensing.
