Sequoia Launches New Ocean Color Remote Sensing Technology

hResearch and innovation continue to thrive within the science and engineering teams at Sequoia Scientific, Inc. (Sequoia), which announces the Hyper-bb product offering. Sequoia scientist Dr. Wayne Slade has developed a hyperspectral backscattering instrument (Hyper-bb) through a NASA Phase II SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) grant. A prototype has been delivered to NASA for testing. This is Dr. Slade’s and Sequoia’s second SBIR-funded development and delivery in 2019.

Hyperspectral backscattering has been identified as a measurement gap in closure and validation studies for planned hyperspectral ocean color sensors, such as NASA’s planned Plankton, Aerosols, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission. Hyper-bb employs technology similar to existing backscattering sensors used in the ocean optics community, but extends the spectral coverage using continuously varying bandpass technology. Hyper-bb’s backscattering measurements with higher spectral coverage complement other currently available instruments measuring hyperspectral optical properties, including absorption, beam attenuation, and radiometry.

The Hyper-bb is a submersible instrument, rated to 600 meters, with internal data storage, and is easily integrated into existing moored and profiling packages. The backscattering measurements collected by the Hyper-bb are highly relevant to ocean color remote sensing and ocean biogeochemistry research.

The Hyper-bb product is expected to be available for order in Q1 2020. For more information, contact Sequoia.