[BATS sediment trap particle flux] - Determination of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus content in sinking particles at the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) site from December 1988 to December 2024 using a Particle Interceptor Trap System (PITS) (Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study)

The BATS program uses a method developed by Knauer et al. (1979) which was used extensively in the VERTEX program. In summary, to trap oceanic sediment flux, BATS uses a floating array comprised of polycarbonate tubes (7 cm diameter by 53 cm height) containing a buffered brine solution, with polycarbonate filters at the bottom to collect flux.

Four tubes are deployed at each depth (150, 200, and 300 meters) and three additional tubes for blank counts are prepared but not deployed. The floating sediment trap array with collection tubes is deployed during monthly BATS cruises for a target time of 72 hours, but deployment time is subject to change depending on weather and/or emergency conditions. After recovery, the filters are examined under a microscope to remove swimming zooplankton caught on the traps to prevent skewed end results.