SINKER: An Imaging System Linking Biological and Physical Processes in Ocean Carbon Sequestration

This paper details the development of the SINKing Ecology Robot (SINKER), an imaging system that connects physical observations of sinking particles to their biological origins. SINKER uses two imaging approaches to simultaneously measure the size distribution, sinking speed, and flux rates of sinking particles. It then combines these measurements with onboard image processing to identify and classify particles. When cabled to shore, SINKER can make these data available in near real time. Over the last year, this instrument has been field tested in California's Monterey Bay. The system will transition to scientific use in 2026, enabling continuous monitoring of particle flux across seasonal cycles in Monterey Bay, advancing our understanding of ocean carbon export dynamics.