On October 29th, SECOORA joined USF COMPS Systems Engineer, Jeffrey Scudder, and YSI Senior Applications Specialist, Mike Lizotte, as they hosted a tour of the USF COMPS Clam Bayou water quality station. A University of South Florida St. Petersburg environmental science lab applied classroom knowledge about water quality systems to the field.
During the tour, the students learned about the new YSI Xylem EXO2 Multi-Parameter Water Quality Monitoring sonde. The sonde system measures salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, water temperature, turbidity, chlorophyll, blue green algae, and fluorescent dissolved organic matter and depth. This water quality data augments the station’s wind, air temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, and barometric pressure measurements.
Mike and Jennifer Bishop, YSI Quality Engineer, showcased a new sensor array they were incorporating into the Clam Bayou station. They installed an YSI WaterLog bubbler and radar water level sensor. Both sensors measure water level using different technologies. Clam Bayou is serving as a developmental site to show how these sensors could be used in a coastal environment to measure sea level rise accurately. Data can also be used by the weather service for storm surge measurement. Bubblers and radars are mainly found in freshwater water quality and level monitoring systems. Pictured below is the system installed.
—-
Images Credit: Jennifer Bishop, Xylem YSI
Related news
Funding Opportunity: Accepting Applications for 2026 Vembu Subramanian Ocean Scholars Award
Established in memory of Vembu Subramanian, this award supports the next generation of ocean professionals through mentorship, networking, and meaningful engagement at our Annual Meeting. Applications are due April 21, 2026.
2026 SET Community of Practice Workshop
The SECOORA Surface Elevation Table (SET) Community of Practice will convene for its 2026 in-person workshop on July 16 – 17, 2026, in Charleston, South Carolina.
Board Nominations Now Open
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Board of Directors election. Help shape the future of coastal ocean observing by submitting materials by April 10, 2026 at 5 PM ET.