WET Labs’ popular Environmental Characterization Optics (ECO) series tools determine bio-optical and physical parameters within natural waters. These instruments are designed as a modular suite of sensors with special features for specific application support. The ECO series incorporates a common set of options with a single basic design to make the sensors ideal for a wide variety of deployments.

The ECO BB9 is a flexible sensor system for measuring optical backscattering at nine wavelengths. The BB9 was developed to compliment the WET Labs family of spectral attenuation and absorption meters: the ac-9 and the new ac-s. Based on the successful line of ECOBB sensors, the BB9 uses a centroid angle of 117 degrees, which minimizes the error in extrapolating to the total backscattering coefficient1. As part of an IOP package, the combination of a BB9, an ac-s and an ac-9 equipped with a 0.2 3m filter can define a, b and c: the inherent optical properties of the water column.

The BB9 is designed as a flexible system. The BB9 can be customized with any of the ECO line of optical configurations. For example, scattering can be measured at seven wavelengths as well as CDOM and chlorophyll fluorescence. See the Triplet specifications sheet for details on the available options. Further customization of the instrument is possible with pressure and temperature sensors to provide a stand-alone profiling tool.