Collecting seawater samples for trace metal analysis is different than sampling for other ocean parameters such as temperature, salinity, carbon and so on. Why? The concentration of metals in seawater is naturally very low (hence ‘trace’ metals) and it is important to avoid sample contamination from the ships environment which is full of possible contamination sources.
Niskin bottles are metal free sampling bottles designed for trace metal sampling. We hand-tie six bottles at spaced intervals to a Kevlar wire which allows us to collect water from different depths in the water column. In this vessel, the trace metal sampling cable can extend up to 2,000 meters and carry more than 2 000 kg’s. We cannot use the traditional rosette and winch system which is full of metal parts.
We lower the open bottles to the required depths and seal them with a messenger, a weight, which slides along the rope. Back onboard, the bottles are transported to a metal free ‘bubble’, a plastic room constructed within one of the ship’s labs. The bubble is kept at high pressure using filtered air, this way ship’s ‘dirty’ air does not enter the sampling environment. We also wear ‘clean suits’ to avoid introducing contamination from our clothing and hair.
Sampling depths are chosen according to the depth of the seafloor, location of different water layers (water masses) and interesting biological features such as the depth of maximum phytoplankton abundance (assessed used fluorescence measurements). Trace metal sampling is always carried out after sensors have been deployed in the water column. This means that when the Niskin bottles are deployed we already have a good idea of the structure of the water column. Salinity, temperature, density, light, fluorescence, turbidity, dissolved oxygen and nitrate concentrations values are known from surface to bottom before trace metal sampling. Separate pressure and salinity sensors are attached to the Niskin bottles to confirm we sampled the intended depths.
The Niskin bottles are used to sample the water column but is not an efficient method to get high resolution surface data because the ship has to be stationery for each deployment. We therefore also use a ‘towfish’, a torpedo shaped sampler which is towed off the side of the ship while underway. Tubing connects the towfish to an onboard pump and finally to the bubble where a constant stream of surface seawater is flowing. The towfish is towed outside of the ships wake and all tubing is thoroughly cleaned with detergents and acid to avoid contamination. As a result, we can collect surface samples at rapid intervals without the ship stopping.
Measuring tiny amounts of metal in seawater… not so easy on a metal ship
This fall, Ocean Conservancy is celebrating its 41st annual International Coastal Cleanup® (ICC), once again bringing together volunteers to protect the beaches and waterways we all love. Ocean Conservancy recently hosted flagship events in Long Beach and Washington, D.C. that celebrated this global movement close to home.
Over the past four decades, nearly 20 million volunteers have rolled up their sleeves to remove more than 405 million pounds of trash from beaches and waterways around the world. And their impact extends far beyond what they collect. ICC volunteers have documented nearly 440 million individual items, creating the world’s largest marine debris database and providing invaluable information that helps Ocean Conservancy and others better understand—and tackle—ocean plastic pollution.
This year’s celebration continued that incredible legacy. At Alamitos Beach in Southern California, more than 150 volunteers gathered on September 19 and removed 1,109 pounds of trash, alongside members of Team USA Artistic Swimming and Olympic and Paralympic athletes. In Washington, D.C., 439 volunteers gathered on September 26 to remove 2,182 pounds of trash from Anacostia Park along the Anacostia River.
“I am so grateful to all of the volunteers who came out today for our ocean—and every volunteer who has made the last 41 years of impact possible,” said Ocean Conservancy’s Senior Director of Conservation Cleanups, Allison Schutes. “Every piece of plastic collected helps protect marine animals and habitats and contributes to research and advocacy.”
And the impact doesn’t stop when the cleanup ends. During International Coastal Cleanup events, volunteers do more than remove trash: They document what they find, helping build a clearer picture of the plastic pollution threatening our waterways and wildlife. Through the Clean Swell® app or paper data sheets, ICC volunteers contribute to Ocean Conservancy’s online, open-access database, the world’s largest repository of marine debris data. These records help scientists, conservation groups and governments understand pollution trends and identify solutions.
That data can also drive meaningful policy change. ICC data were recently used in a peer-reviewed study showing that plastic bag bans lead to reduced plastic bag pollution. The data have also helped advance policies ranging from California’s SB 54 to Florida’s balloon release ban and the federal Farewell to Foam Act. From a neighborhood cleanup to statewide action, every piece of documented trash helps build the evidence needed to tackle plastic pollution at its source.
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Want to get involved?
Whether you join a local cleanup, record the trash you find using the Clean Swell app, or take action to reduce plastic pollution, you can be part of this incredible collective effort to protect our ocean. Here are a few ways to make an impact:
- Find a cleanup near you.
- Download our Clean Swell app to easily record the trash you collect.
- Take action to reduce plastic pollution.
- Explore our Wildlife Impact Calculator to estimate the potential benefits of your cleanup for marine wildlife.
- Donate today to Ocean Conservancy to help us fight plastic pollution for years to come!
The post Celebrating 41 Years of the International Coastal Cleanup® appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.
For generations, stories of people being swallowed by enormous sea creatures have painted awe-inspiring tales of human survival and perseverance. From the biblical account of Jonah to the legendary battle of Hercules and Cetus to the timeless story of Pinocchio, these legendary tales have captivated people since time immemorial.
But all these stories raise the question: Could someone really be swallowed by a whale? With the premiere of the film Whalefall on October 16, 2026, you may find yourself in conversations about this very situation. Based on the bestselling 2023 thriller authored by Daniel Kraus, the film tells the story of a scuba diver who is accidentally gobbled up by a sperm whale while searching for the remains of his late father. With only an hour of oxygen left in his tank, the diver must fight to escape the whale’s gut before time runs out.
The answer to whether it’s anatomically possible for a whale to swallow a person is actually a bit more complicated than you might think.