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Launching the CTD-Rosette System
During the 2026 Mapping Shakedown, the expedition team will also test an upgraded system for measuring conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) and collecting water samples. The CTD-rosette system shown here during the 2022 Caribbean Mapping expedition served us well for many years, but the system on board in 2026 features a new frame and a new water sampler, which holds 24 10-liter Niskin bottles, doubling the capacity of the previous system. Another addition to the CTD-rosette system is a photosynthetically active radiation sensor that measures the intensity of sunlight available for plant life at different depths.