biospherical.comWelcome to Biospherical Instruments Inc.

Biospherical Instruments Inc. Biospherical OCULLAR Prototype featured in NASA’s Cutting Edge COAST 2011 used a modified UV-18A Twin Otter (from CIRPAS). Shown is the twin otter at 100 ft off the deck, flying over the science team that was deployed in a coastal research vessel in Monterey Bay. The team was tasked with obtaining "sea truth" for the aircraft overflight. The inset photo shows two of the three C-AIR instruments (BSI’s BioAIR series) onboard. (UV-18A photo: Juan Torres; inset photo: BSI) The C-OPS ™ profiler, deployed by Dr. Stanford Hooker (NASA) in the Arctic as part of the Malina field campaign. The instrument is shown close to the ice edge to emphasize the ability to sample in optically complex waters, wherein a thin layer of melt water (approximately 1 m thick or less in many instances) significantly influences near-surface optical properties. Summit, Greenland. Biospherical SUV-150B High Resolution Spectroradiometer in foreground with GUV behind. This is part of Biospherical’s UV network and, along with Barrow, became part of NSF’s Arctic Observing Network in 2009. C-OPS Class instrument measuring light penetration under floating plastic balls in a Los Angeles Reservior. Radiance calibration bench. Transfer radiometer seen viewing calibrated plaque illuminated by NIST-traceable FEL Standard. ICE-Pro, a purpose-built, modified C-OPS for work under the ice, on ICESCAPE 2010. The LuZ/EdZ profiler is the red cylinder on the left. A radiometrically matching Ed0 solar reference is mounted atop the tripod, which also aids in deploying a single-channel reference sensor (QCD-2100) just beneath the ice. Dr. Karen Frey deploys ICE-Pro, a purpose-built C-OPS for work under the ice on ICESCAPE 2010. The USCGC Healy (background) is fitted with a Biospherical Surface Ocean Reflectance System (BioSORS, S. Hooker/NASA) above-water ocean color monitor on the bow, and a Telescoping Mount for Advanced Solar Technologies (T-MAST) on the bridge, supporting the solar surface reference radiometer. You are here: Home  COVID-19 CA Executive Order Closes BSI These are difficult and unprecedented times. Governer Gavin Newsom of California, the state where Biospherical is located, has issued an executive order instructing all residents to stay-at-home starting at midnight on March 20. By law, Californians are required to stay home except for essential purposes. The order is in place until further notice. As a result of this order, Biospherical Instruments is closed. No work will be performed until the stay-at-home order is lifted. BSI’s offices will remain officially closed until further notice. Please do not ship anything to our Riley Street address without prior authorization. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you have any questions or to receive an update. The XRR – Adaptable instruments for optically diverse environments XRL being deployed in Mission Bay, CA Biospherical Instruments Inc (BSI) has released the newest member of the Expandable Technology for Radiometric Applications (XTRA) class of high performance field instruments called the XTRA Reflectance Radiometers ( XRR ) . The XRR is an economically priced multiwavelength radiometer for determining apparent optical properties in aquatic systems. B elonging to the instrument class that also includes the Compact Optical Profiling system (C-OPS), among other microradiometer-based instruments, the XRR is designed to fill the niche that was occupied by the PRR-600 and PRR-2600 as well as the PRR-800; they are very similar in shape to the PRR-600/PRR-2600 instruments, but are smaller in diameter, weigh less, and have greatly improved performance. XRRs are available in two measurement geometries: XRL and XRE. The XRL, the most common configuration, features 10 optical-filter microradiometer wavebands (selected from 29 different optical filter wavelengths ) of in-water downward irradiance (E d ) and 10 wavebands of in-water upwelling radiance (L u ). The XRE nominally uses 10 wavebands of downward irradiance (E d ) and 10 wavebands of upward irradiance (E u ). XRRs also take advantage of a new free-fall flotation collar called the X-SLOWS,” which affords excellent near-surface sampling in an instrument with a traditional "rocket-shaped" design. XRRs use the same microradiometer detector technology as C-OPS, and thus has the same outstanding radiometric performance specifications as C-OPS. Microradiometers also mean that the XRR can use all of the same software, surface solar reference, and all of the C-OPS cables and accessories such as the BioSHADE and BioGPS. Instrument development and testing phases have been completed, and the XRL or XRE are now ready for procurement and delivery. GUVis-3511 Ground-based UV/Visible 19 Waveband Radiometer GUVis-3511 radiometer configured with BioSHADE and BioGPS. Biospherical Instruments has released the GUVis-3511 , the latest member of BSI’s line of atmospheric radiometers . The GUVis-3511 is based on BSI’s proprietary microradiometer technology and available with up to 19 channels, ranging from 305 to 1,640 nm. The instrument can also be equipped with a shadowband accessory to determine the direct solar irradiance. Depending on configuration, the GUVis-3511 affords the measurement of the UV Index and the retrieval of aerosol optical depth, cloud optical thickness, and total column ozone. Click here for more information and here for a paper published in Atmospheric Measurement Techniques using the instrument for shipborne measurements of aerosol optical depth. Compact Optical Profiling System (C-OPS with C-PrOPS) C-OPS is a next-generation optical profiling system for determining apparent optical properties in aquatic systems. It consists of two 7 cm diameter radiometers: one measures in-water upwelling radiance , and the other either downward irradiance or upward irradiance , pressure/depth, and dual axes tilts. Both radiometers are equipped with up to 19 optical-filter microradiometers (selected from 29 different wavelengths ) and are mounted on a unique free-fall, kite-like backplane. To avoid influences from the shadow of the boat or dock, the frame can be optimized for either slow descent rates for work in very shallow (e.g. 3 m) and coastal waters, or faster descent rates for observations in the open ocean. C-OPS is so lightweight it can be hand deployed by almost anyone, and the system can be operated from either small or large vessels. The new Compact-Propulsion Option for Profiling Systems ( C-PrOPS ) thruster accessory is available to add ROV-like capabilites to the profiling system. An above-water reference irradiance instrument is also available to measure global irradiance. Download : C-OPS from the NASA Technical Memorandum "Advances in Measuring the Apparent Optical Properties (AOPs) of Optically Complex Waters," NASA Tech. Memo. 2010–215856. Biospherical OCULLAR Prototype featured in NASA’s Cutting Edge OCULLAR sensor at sunset Biospherical Instruments has developed a novel instrument that is capable of measuring light over 14 decades of dynamic range. The prototype sensor, known as the Ocean Color Underwater Low Light Advanced Radiometer (OCULLAR), resulted from a collaboration between Biospherical Instruments and NASA/GSFC scientist Dr. Stanford Hooker. The instrument pairs a miniature photomultiplier tube (PMT) with a Biospherical microradiometer coupled to a silicon photodetector. A microprocessor embedded in the microradiometer activates the PMT when low-light conditions are detected, and is powered off under higher light conditions where the silicon detector microradiometers take over. The first field campaign using the prototype successfully collected data under moonlit skies, including using a BioSHADE (shadowband) accessory to measure direct and diffuse components of moonlight. The prototype successfully proved the concept but had only one channel. A commercial product...