How scientists retrieve water samples from 4,500 meters

Ship technicians, suited up in safety gear, prepare to bring up the CTD.
Ship technicians, suited up in safety gear, prepare to bring up the CTD.

Ever wonder how scientists are able to collect water from the deep sea and ensure that their samples only have water from that exact depth?

The study …

CTD deployment and water collection

The CTD emerges from the deep blue water, suspended by a thick wire cord that is reeled in from the wheelhouse. Technicians onboard the vessel use hooks on broomsticks to control the CTD as it exits the water to guide